Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

As the year comes to a close, social service agencies report an increase in demand for assistance. They are urging individuals to become more informed about poverty and its causes.

Sister of Charity of Nazareth Paris Slapikas, director of Catholic Charities of Louisville’s Sister Visitor Center in the West End, stated, “Sometimes people don’t understand there are people in their city 20 minutes away” who need food and help to keep their utilities on. Some tend to think those things happen in “third-world” countries.

The Sister Visitor Center offers emergency assistance for rent and utility costs along with a "choice" food pantry. It receives approximately 300 requests monthly but can only meet about 35% of them. “Housing is such a huge need. We’re able to fill more of those needs (for utilities) than rent,” said Sister Slapikas.

Jennifer Clark, CEO of St. Vincent de Paul, echoed these concerns, stating that housing costs have "skyrocketed" while wages lag behind. The agency shelters homeless individuals through various programs and emphasizes the necessity for affordable housing solutions.

Clark suggests that community members can assist by making financial donations or volunteering their time. Raising awareness about homelessness is also vital: “Just being aware of the lack of housing and having compassion for their neighbors who are homeless” is important, she noted.

Food insecurity has also risen sharply. Sister Visitor distributed 500,000 pounds of food last fiscal year to over 25,000 people—a significant increase from three years ago when it served around 8,000 annually.

Both Catholic Charities' Father Jack Jones Food Pantry and St. Vincent de Paul's pantry have experienced growing numbers seeking food aid this year. Clark reported fluctuations in demand month-to-month but noted a clear upward trend compared to previous years when they served around 675 individuals weekly.

Vincent James, CEO of Dare to Care—which supports these pantries—stressed the importance of partnerships in addressing food insecurity: “We couldn’t do this important work without our partners.” Dare to Care has seen a 30% rise in food needs over three years.

Besides providing basic necessities like food and shelter, both organizations are involved in seasonal initiatives like distributing Christmas gifts and winter clothing. Catholic Charities seeks new toys and clothing donations through Dec. 9 via direct drop-off or an Amazon wishlist.

St. Vincent de Paul will hold its annual Santa Shop on Dec. 15 and continues accepting toy and clothing donations for this event.

For further information or donations: contact St. Vincent de Paul at www.svdplou.org/home or call them directly; visit cclou.org/sister-visitor-center/ for details on Catholic Charities' efforts.