During the Advent and Christmas giving season, Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan (CCSEM) has sponsored programs to help those in need such as the Adopt a Family monetary donation fund for families, and the Christmas Giving Tree in kind donation program to help CCSEM clients served by our various ministries. For the 2018 Christmas giving season, Catholic Charities is launching a charitable initiative to better serve families in need in our region at Christmas, as well as throughout the year. “The program is called the Saint Joseph Perpetual Help Fund, in honor of the CCSEM patron, Saint Joseph,” said Catholic Charities CEO, Dave Bartek. “While all our CCSEM ministries help individuals and families with many of their corporal and spiritual needs, this new program is specifically designed to simplify and distribute more readily monetary and in-kind donations to better help families in need in the six counties of the Archdiocese of Detroit, both at Christmas and year-round – hence the ‘perpetual’ nature of the fund.” Donations to the Saint Joseph Perpetual Help Fund will be used to provide for the needs of families who come to the attention of Catholic Charities through referrals from St. Vincent de Paul councils or Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit or through CCSEM ministries. The charitable program will also accept in-kind donations for Christmas for CCSEM ministries, specifically:

• Project Hope – Baby items including diapers, wipes, Infamil formula & clothing (0-18 mo. size)
• Foster Care and All Saints Soup Kitchen – Winter gear in adult and youth sizes including coats, hats, gloves, mittens and scarves. Also, storage containers and duffle bags.

After the Christmas giving season ends, donations to the Saint Joseph Perpetual Help Fund will continue to provide for the needs of individuals and families served by CCSEM ministries throughout the year. To donate to the Saint Joseph Perpetual Help Fund, send a check made payable to CCSEM with Saint Joseph Perpetual Help Fund in the memo line to our CCSEM main office at 15945 Canal Road, Clinton Township, MI 48038. Or donate online here.  Select the box stating: "I would like to designate this donation to a specific fund." Then scroll down the list and select the "Saint Joseph Perpetual Help Fund." Questions about how to participate in the charitable initiative should be directed to Kelly Luttinen at CCSEM at 248-548-4044 ext. 3621 or luttinenk@ccsem.org.