Catholic Charities of Terre Haute

The goal of our strategic plan is to ensure administrative consistency across all programs, improve community awareness and demonstrate improved outcomes.

We will improve consistency across the Agency by refreshing our mission statements and aligning activities against our new mission. Improving operational processes and procedures across all programs will be implemented and monitored.
We will improve community awareness of what we do and how we help as well as timeliness of financial reporting.
A new business plan will be implemented to address decreasing contributions by grant agencies and new outcome measures for each program will be defined and followed.

Our programming staff has years of experience in education and social issues. Working one-on-one daily with our client base allows them to quickly identify areas of need and direct patrons to the most appropriate type of assistance.

Through our vast list of community partners, we are able to offer those needing assistance a full and complete experience. With wrap-around services and long-term solutions, our goal is to have our patrons feel welcomed with a positive and life changing experience.

Through our experienced staff, community partners, active volunteer base and advisory council, we have shown that our programs offer long term stability and solutions to the needy of our community.

The following accomplishments are for the 2020 fiscal year:

Bethany House Emergency Shelter has provided safe housing for 45 adults and 15 children
Our Clothes Closet distributed gently used clothing and household items to 7,077 people
The Christmas Store made Christmas possible for 484 families (1,903 individuals)
Fishes & Loaves Soup Kitchen served 65,646 meals and 10,375 weekend sack lunches
Through the programs at Ryves Youth Center, 842 children participated in a variety of activities (sports, scouting, tutoring, preschool and reading programs)

We are extremely proud of the success stories that come from the people that we serve and each day. We know that our programs are making a positive impact in the lives of those in most need.

When James* was first introduced to Catholic Charities, it wasn’t as a volunteer, but as a patron. He was a resident of Bethany House and frequented the programs at Ryves Youth Center and enjoyed meals from the Fishes & Loaves Soup Kitchen with his family. His times and experiences with Catholic Charities stayed with Josh over the years and he now enjoys giving of his time to serve others. Josh is currently the Assistant Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 22 out of Ryves Youth Center and he volunteers with the Foodbank and soup kitchen as well – always taking on each task with a ‘yes and big smile!’

Raised by her aunt from a young age, Jane* was like most teenagers, rebellious and thinking she knew everything, she dropped out of school during the 7th grade. Feeling like she had no other option, Mary’s Aunt dropped her at Bethany House when she turned 18. As she sat on the back steps of the Bethany House, Mary shares, “I didn’t know where to go or what to do, I knew I was homeless.” With the assistance of our program, she was able to receive proper identification, birth certificate, a social security card, food stamps and Medicaid – and most importantly, a safe place to sleep and a roof over her head. During her time at Bethany House, Mary secured a job and was taught to save and budget, she enrolled in adult education courses and recently earned her high school diploma!