The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) stands with poor and low-income people, helping them create permanent solutions to poverty in their communities. Real, sustainable change is happening because of the support of parishioners across the country.

CCHD’s efforts are funded almost entirely through an annual parish collection. This year’s appeal will take place on the Nov. 17-18 weekend. We send 75 percent of the donations to the CCHD national office to support anti-poverty projects across the country. We keep 25 percent here in our diocese to fund self-help initiatives to benefit our local communities.

Organizations in our diocese who receive funding are Faith Action for Community Equity (FACE) whose most recent project is helping the Maui Interfaith Sponsoring Committee construct an organization capable of creating systemic change on the island of Maui. The other group currently receiving funding is Hawaii Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (HI.ACORN). Their “grassroots” membership formed Neighborhood Chapters in Kalihi, Kaneohe and Waipahu and are becoming more united as they rally together on campaigns such as predatory lending, tax credits, safer public parks and street lighting and other issues involving the betterment of their communities.

CCHD is committed to helping people find permanent solutions to the problem of poverty, but they cannot do it alone. Please join in solidarity with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development to put an end to poverty in our nation and our state. If we collected at least five dollars ($5) per wage earner for this year’s collection, we would be able to sustain programs that would break the cycle of poverty. Your generosity will help us reach our goal.

May God bless you with abundant peace.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

                                    Most Rev. Larry Silva

                                    Bishop of Honolulu