St. Jude Parish - Londonderry issued the following announcement on June 28

The Bishop’s Charitable Assistance Fund (BCAF) announced the distribution of $102,000 in grants to twenty-seven not-forprofit organizations in New Hampshire, providing support for poor and disadvantaged people struggling to afford basic needs such as food, shelter, and health care during the current public health emergency.

The $102,000 total, approximately three times the amount awarded in a typical quarter, was given under temporary grantmaking guidelines that directed funds to organizations directly involved in the response to COVID-19, an effort known as the Bishop’s Crisis Relief Emergency Fund.

“Many New Hampshire families are grappling right now with hardships caused by the COVID-19 crisis and we wanted to do what we could to help,” said the Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci, Bishop of Manchester. “These grants enable us to help meet the needs of the poor and disadvantaged by providing assistance in the most basic needs of buying food, maintaining household expenses, and meeting the spiritual and psychological needs of individuals and families.”

The BCAF accepts applications from qualified 501 (c) 3 organizations in New Hampshire, without regard to religious affiliation, for projects that help people meet their basic needs. The BCAF is operated by a volunteer lay board of directors who make recommendations to the Bishop of Manchester for grants to organizations whose mission is consistent with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and who meet the other grant guidelines. The Fund raises money through donations from individuals, businesses, and philanthropic organizations. During the past year, more than $234,500 has been distributed to 62 organizations.

“We have contributors from all over the state and from many different faiths all joining in this effort that enables the Catholic Church in New Hampshire to respond to calls for assistance to meet basic needs,” said Thomas Farrelly, chair of the Bishop’s Charitable Assistance Fund. “We are planning another fundraising campaign this summer so we can continue to help our neighbors in New Hampshire.”

If you would like to learn more, or to contribute to the Bishop’s Charitable Assistance Fund, please visit www.catholicnh.org/bcaf. If you would like to mail a donation, please make the check out to the Bishop’s Charitable Assistance Fund (BCAF), 153 Ash Street, Manchester, NH 03014. For more information, contact the Diocese of Manchester, Office of Development, at 603-669-3100 ext. 166 or menglish@rcbm.org.

Original source can be found here.