Catholic Campaign for Human Development

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Our diocese will soon take up the national collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). Your support for this collection brings change to communities across the country and empowers those living in poverty to transform their communities into reflections of the Kingdom of God. One of the principles that has made CCHD successful at reaching people on the margins for more than 50 years is its support for community-based solutions rather than uniform, top-down programs that do not account for local needs or include local voices.

The Northwest Hub, in Oregon’s capital city of Salem, is one group that community members created to address the unique needs of local citizens. Oregon’s returning citizens face difficulty finding work. A “returning citizen” is someone newly released from incarceration in state correctional facilities or from treatment in the state psychiatric hospital, transitional living, and treatment facilities—all of which are concentrated in Salem. Their employment opportunities are further limited because the city’s public transit system does not operate on nights or weekends. The Northwest Hub began in 2013 in a church basement with a vision of making bicycle transportation accessible to anyone and of providing training in skills that empower community members. By providing community members with free access to bicycles, locks, and parts, as well as vocational training in bicycle mechanics, the Northwest Hub equips them with job skills and affordable means of transportation so they can pursue new opportunities.

Your support for CCHD helps local community groups like the Northwest Hub reach and empower people in ways best suited to the communities they serve. All CCHD national grants are approved by the bishop in the diocese where the funded groups operate. When you give to CCHD, 25% of your contribution stays in our diocese to help your own community continue CCHD’s successful work of reaching those on the margins.

Please prayerfully consider how you can help CCHD this year. If you would like more information about the collection and the people it supports, visit www.usccb.org/cchd.

Thank you for joining us to work on the margins and break the cycle of poverty.