Dinner salutes donors to Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri

The Rev. Edward Rice, bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, joined a dinner for area donors Sunday evening hosted by Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri at Katy O'Ferrell's restaurant.

He said while the St. Louis division of Catholic Charities has a rich saga, the diocese that encompasses Cape Girardeau County has significantly less history. But that doesn't stop it, Rice said.

"[You're] just as much out there as they are in St. Louis," he said.

He said nine of the 10 most impoverished countries fall within the purview of Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri.

"We're always going to have people who are hungry," he said. "It's not a burden. It's our opportunity."

Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri executive director Maura Taylor said the organization helps more than Catholics; it provides a variety of services such as pregnancy help, housing assistance for veterans, coordinating care for the disabled and more.

"Some of our programs receive no grant funding, so donors like these are critical," Taylor said. "We rely on our donors."

And even for programs that operate with grant funding, she said, often the organization is required to provide matching funds, making donations all the more important.

Cape Girardeau is especially important, she said, because several residents serve on the organization's board of directors.

During the event, Saint Francis Medical Center presented the organization with a check for more than $12,000. That money will be a great help in allowing her organization to reach out to low-income individuals, Taylor said.

"A lot of people don't have hope when they come into our offices," she said. "One of the things we do is give them hope."

Kyle Schott, regional director, said the organization serves about 400 clients in Cape Girardeau County alone. The organization also maintains offices in Sikeston, Van Buren and Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

tgraef@semissourian.com

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