As the holiday season approaches, Catholic Charities is inviting community members and organizations to help spread Christmas cheer to local families in Chemung and Schuyler Counties. This year’s program offers several meaningful ways to get involved and make a difference.

Adopt a Family for Christmas
Participants can adopt a local family by completing a short form on Catholic Charities’ website indicating how many families they would like to shop for. Wish lists will be provided by staff, and donors are asked to deliver new, unwrapped gifts by December 4. Donors will be given a specific drop-off at the beginning of December, and any gifts can be dropped off during regular business hours on the date given to them.

To accommodate families staying in motels or safehouses, gifts should be delivered in a storage tote (no larger than 31 gallons) to help with organization and storage. Volunteers will wrap the gifts and label them to maintain confidentiality, and staff will handle delivery.

Additional Ways to Help
Host a Drive – Collect warm items such as hats, gloves, and coats (especially men’s and children’s sizes). Items should be new and unwrapped and delivered by December 30.

Donate Wrapping Supplies – wrapping paper, tape, gift bags, tissue paper, and gift boxes are always needed to prepare gifts for adopted families.

Provide Gift Cards – Cards to local restaurants, grocery stores, or for transportation (gas or bus tokens) are welcome.

Make a Monetary Donation – Financial contributions help meet urgent local needs during the holiday season.

For more information or to get involved, please contact Samantha Parsons at (607) 317-5625 or [email protected] or visit Catholic Charities’ website at CatholicCharitiesCS.org/give-help/christmas-donations/.

To Adopt a Family please visit https://bit.ly/CCCSAdoptAFamily2025

To Volunteer this Holiday Season please visit https://catholiccharitiescs.volunteerhub.com/vv2/lp/specialevents

To View Catholic Charities’ Christmas Wishlist please visit https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/WCH2SZI1AMCQ?ref_=wl_share

Each year in October, advocates, survivors, and supporters recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

This fall, Catholic Charities of Chemung and Schuyler Counties is joining the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) in their national combined campaign for Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) and GiveForDV.

The goal of these two joint initiatives is to start a coordinated national conversation about domestic violence and how we can all contribute to changing the narrative on this overshadowed, but fundamental topic, building on that conversation to raise awareness, increase donations and volunteer efforts, and deepen community engagement by connecting our work nationwide.

More prevalent than most realize, one in four women and one in seven men will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes. Anyone, regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status, can become a victim of domestic violence. This year’s campaign theme, #Every1KnowsSome1, strives to highlight how common domestic violence is and that it is more than physical violence.

Catholic Charities’ First Step Victim Services Program is asking local businesses, organizations, churches, and individuals to help “Shine the Light” on domestic violence by displaying purple ribbons, yard signs, or purple lights wherever they can during the month of October.

Lauren Lovett, Acting Schuyler Director, explains the campaign: “Purple ribbons are a powerful symbol of solidarity with survivors of domestic violence. They reflect our community’s commitment to raising awareness, supporting healing, and standing firmly against abuse in all its forms. By wearing or displaying a purple ribbon, we send a clear message: domestic violence has no place in our community.”

“Shine the Light on Domestic Violence” yard signs are available and can be picked up from the Catholic Charities offices during regular business hours (Monday – Friday from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm). Please call (607) 734-9784 to arrange pick up in Elmira (215 E Church Street) or 607-535-2050 in Watkins Glen (105 9^th Street).

Throughout October, Catholic Charities and NNEDV will be sharing content on their social media channels to help raise awareness and educate the public on the complex dynamics of domestic violence.

On Thursday, October 16, wear purple to show your support of domestic violence survivors and your commitment to ending abuse! Take a selfie in your purple and share it on social media with #PurpleThursday #DVAM #Every1KnowsSome.

Two local events will be held that will be an opportunity to remember those lost to domestic violence and educate ourselves on the reality in our community.

• In Schuyler County, join us on October 9 in LaFayette Park in Watkins Glen from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm.
• In Chemung County, the event will be held at Wisner Park in Elmira on October 16 from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm.

Attendees are encouraged to wear purple and visit the Catholic Charities’ table to pick up information on services.

Lastly, the Safe to Say Campaign, which started in 2020, is a partnership with local businesses and organizations to offer victims a safe place where it is “safe to say” what happened so that they can get the help they need. Training has been offered at multiple locations since 2020. The idea originated with the realization that many victims of domestic violence have no one to talk to and/or no one who knows what resources are available to help them. This campaign seeks to ensure places throughout the community can be ready with the right resources. If your business or location is interested in becoming a Safe to Say location, please sign up under the Events tab at www.CatholicCharitiesCS.org.

Free and confidential help is available 24/7 for individuals experiencing domestic violence. Those seeking help may contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at TheHotline.org or 1-(800) 799-SAFE (800) 799-7233) or our local First Step Victim Services Hotline at 607-742-9629 (call or text).

For more information on October’s events, contact Megan Gridley, Marketing and Communications Specialist, at Catholic Charities at 607-526-0091 or visit the Catholic Charities’ website or Facebook page.

ELMIRA, NY – In collaboration with the Elmira Pioneers, Catholic Charities is inviting the community to come out to Dunn Field on July 19^th for an enjoyable evening of baseball, while Catholic Charities brings to light how our community can become aware of and combat domestic violence.

Families in every community in the United States across age, gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds are impacted by domestic violence. In Chemung and Schuyler Counties, Catholic Charities’ First Step Victim Services Program assists innocent victims of crime, with a strong focus on victims of domestic violence. In 2024, First Step served almost 177 individuals with over 4,600 services. First Step’s local 24-hour hotline can be reached by calling or texting 607-742-9629 at any time.

At the Pioneers game on July 19^th, attendees are encouraged to wear purple, the color of domestic violence awareness. There will be purple shirts for sale, as well as face painting and a 50/50 raffle. All proceeds will help the First Step program continue to provide needed services to victims in our community. Call 607-734-2690 for your tickets. The game starts at 6:35 pm with gates opening at 5:35 pm. There will be giveaways for the whole family.

For more information on First Step, please visit the Catholic Charities website at www.CatholicCharitiesCS.org or call 607-535-2050 and speak with an Advocate.

Catholic Charities of Chemung/Schuyler is proud to join the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in observing Fair Housing Month this April, commemorating 57 years since the Fair Housing Act was signed into law.

This year’s theme, Fostering Secure and Diverse Communities, highlights the ongoing commitment to advancing equity in housing, combating discrimination, and protecting fair housing rights for all Americans. The Fair Housing Act remains a landmark civil rights law that guarantees the right to housing free from discrimination.

Catholic Charities Housing Counseling Services Fair Housing Year-Round:
• First-Time Homebuyer Opportunities: Learn more about first-time homebuyer programs in the City of Elmira with HUD-certified Housing Counselors.
• Financial Fitness Program: Reset household financial priorities with guidance from financial fitness counselors.
• Foreclosure Prevention: If you are behind on mortgage payments, foreclosure prevention counselors can help you explore options to preserve your home and assets.

Fair Housing Special Event:
• Date: Wednesday, April 23
• Time: 5:30 PM
• Location: 215 East Church Street, Elmira, NY
• Presentation: Fair Housing in our Region by Christy Bishop, Fair Housing Testing Coordinator for LAWNY
• RSVP: Kathy Healy

Catholic Charities of Chemung/Schuyler is dedicated to fostering fair housing and supporting our community year-round. For more information, please contact our Housing Counseling Services at 607-734-9784.

ELMIRA, NY – Catholic Charities is thrilled to announce the success of the 20th Empty Bowls Luncheon, that was held on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at Notre Dame High School. This year’s event, the largest fundraiser for The Samaritan Center, raised over $30,000 to support local poverty relief efforts. Over the past nineteen years, the Empty Bowls Luncheon has raised over $382,000, making a significant impact on our community.

Generous sponsorship from The Hilliard Corporation, Excellus BCBS, Chemung Canal Trust Company, Kennedy Valve, Visions Federal Credit Union, Wegmans and other local sponsors helped make this year’s event possible. The Empty Bowls Luncheon is unique, featuring handmade, commemorative bowls created by local potters. Guests also enjoyed delicious homemade soup provided by Barb & Mark McClure, owners of Barb’s Soup’s On Cafe in Elmira.

The Empty Bowls Luncheon featured delicious soup, a brief presentation, raffles, and an award presentation. The Longwell-McClure Award is named after Chris Longwell, Associate Professor of Art at Elmira College, and Barb and Mark McClure, Owners of Barb’s Soup’s On. As the first recipients of the award, Catholic Charities honored Chris as an individual who had supported Catholic Charities as well as the McClure’s as a business that had supported in unique and impactful ways over the years.

Professor Longwell has been making bowls for this luncheon for the last 20 years and was instrumental in starting this fundraising event at Elmira College, where it was held until 2022, when the event moved to Notre Dame. The McClures have been providing soup for this luncheon since the beginning, even providing to-go soup during the virtual Empty Bowls that was held due to COVID.

As a tribute to Professor Longwell and the McClures, Marta Santiago and The Hilliard Corporation were recognized for their dedication to our community.

Beautiful bowls were created and donated by the following:

• 171 Cedar Arts Center, Amanda Warren
• Gene Carr, Retired
• Corning-Painted Post High School Students and Megan Wukovitz
• David Webster’s Pottery
• Elmira College Students and Chris Longwell
• Elmira High School Students and Dianna Jones
• Doug Holtgrewe, Retired
• Horseheads High School Students and Cynthia Cratsley
• Loaves and Fishes, Mary Webber
• Notre Dame High School Students and Susan LaVelle
• Mary Purdy
• The Heart Studio, Bethany Conway
• Watkins Glen High School Students and Dawn Coleman

Notre Dame students assisted with setting up for the event as well as serving during the event. It was a perfect blend of excellent food, beautiful bowls, a worthy cause, and most importantly, our generous partners in our mission.

The Samaritan Center operates a food pantry five days a week, providing food, personal hygiene items, diapers, and wipes. Volunteers serve guests daily. If you’re interested in volunteering, please visit the Catholic Charities website to sign up. If you would like to donate to help Catholic Charities meet their fundraising goal, you may visit their website.

About Catholic Charities of Chemung/Schuyler:
Catholic Charities provides support to individuals and families in our community to help them live a more self-reliant life. They specialize in emergency services and housing support. For more information on services, please visit www.CatholicCharitiesCS.org or call 607-734-9784.