Charity groups to assess Guam situation

Charity groups to assess Guam situation

Wednesday, 17 February 2010 03:23
Variety News Staff

(CSS) -- Catholic Social Services has invited Catholic Charities USA to Guam to learn about the community’s needs during the week of Feb. 22 to 26. This series of planning and information meetings is part of CSS ongoing efforts to plan for the future of Guam in the context of the unprecedented military buildup currently underway.

Catholic Charities is sending two senior representatives to Guam in order to learn about the issues facing Guam’s community arising from the military buildup and assist CSS in future planning and advocacy efforts with the federal government.

CSS and Catholic Charities representatives will work together to learn from island stakeholders, including island mayors, users of CSS services, Island clergy, and other Island leaders and supporters.

“For over 30 years, Catholic Social Services has done whatever it can to help those in need and those that fall between the gaps in our community,” executive director Cerila Rapadas.

“We serve all on our Island in need in the name of human dignity and respect. As we plan for our next 30 years, we must contend with the social impact of a huge influx of workers and their families from off-island. We’re very pleased and excited that Catholic Charities USA is stepping forward to help us meet this challenge,” she added.

Catholic Social Service is a non-profit organization serving persons with disabilities, the homeless, victims of family violence, persons needing emergency food and clothing, the poor, the elderly and disadvantaged families and individuals for the entire island of Guam.

Catholic Charities USA, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, is the national office for over 1,700 local Catholic Charities agencies and institutions nationwide, including CSS on Guam.