tiffany_464's blog

The turmoil of 2020 brings to mind a passage from the Book of 1 Peter:

“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold.” — 1 Peter 1:7

Through the trials brought about by a global pandemic and economic uncertainty, our faith in our community—and its faith in us—stayed genuine.

As COVID-19 restrictions continue to ravage the food and beverage industry, Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada has redoubled its efforts to purchase food from local farmers, ranchers and food distributors hardest hit by the pandemic for its St. Vincent’s Food Pantry. 

In July, Catholic Charities received a CARES Act Grant to purchase locally grown food to supplement and expand its food distribution programs in the Reno/Sparks area and the rural, frontier and tribal communities as well. 

As the weather turns colder and the global pandemic's economic impacts continue, more individuals and families in northern Nevada are worried about how they will meet their basic needs. How will they find shelter from the snow and ice? How will they afford warm coats and clothes? How will they secure enough food to sustain themselves and the ones they love?

August is typically the time of year that we at Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada would be buttoning up the final details on our annual Plates to Ease Poverty gala. By now, the menu would be chosen, the décor designed, the invitations sent, and the recipients of the Bishop’s Humanitarian Award notified. We’d be well on our way to holding this cornerstone event that raises critical funds for our poverty assistance programs for those in deepest need in our community.

As our community continues to grapple with the ripple effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada continues on its mission to support all of those in need. For more than 70 years, we’ve been helping people of all cultures and beliefs rise out of poverty and overcome the barriers to self-sufficiency, while also protecting the health, safety, and well-being of our staff, volunteers, and community. 

Over the past month, the COVID-19 pandemic has touched every aspect of our community, state, country, and world. It has changed the way we connect to one another, and it has changed the way we give to one another.

As our community continues to adapt to the daily changes and challenges resulting from the Coronavirus, Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada continues to serve some of the area’s most vulnerable populations.

Many religions include a period of fasting or abstaining. During the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, fasting is observed between dawn and nightfall. On the most sacred day of the year in the Jewish faith, Yom Kippur, Jews fast for a day to reflect, repent and atone. Hindus observe fasts during festivals, as well as specific days of the week and month. In Catholicism, one of the most well-known traditions is the act of fasting during the Lenten season.