ShareLife’s goal in 2008 was to raise $14.3 million through all of its campaigns. It came close by raising about $13.5 million. The same goal stands for 2009.
Steinburg added that ShareLife is always looking for ways to increase awareness about the need for funds. So in showing the full scope of the spending, which is distributed through the Catholic Charities office, ShareLife is keeping parishioners informed of the many needs in the Catholic community.
Here is the general breakdown of spending per category:
- Family services — $3,774,418;
- Services for people with special needs, immigrants and refugees — $1,286,684;
- Services for single and teen parents — $674,638;
- Services for the elderly — $954,883;
- Services for children and youth — $915,142;
- Third World development and missions — $2,450,000;
- Education of clergy — $1,450,000;
- Grants in aid — $520,000.
The annual report, available in parishes, provides a more detailed breakdown of the funds described above, supplying a list of all agencies within these categories and how much they receive of the total amounts. It also provides a sample of hours volunteered and people helped through a handful of agencies. The Street Haven at the Crossroads for example, provided shelter for 1,271 women in 2007 while serving 38,610 meals. It helped 107 women to overcome their addictions and assisted more than 4,400 women with the help of 130 volunteers.
“ShareLife activities reflect the diversity and breadth of our diocesan community,” Archbishop Thomas Collins said in a letter printed on the annual report. “The agencies funded by ShareLife serve people of all walks of life in a multitude of circumstances, regardless of their means or background.”