CATHOLIC CHARITIES

Oklahoma is welcoming more Afghan refugees than any state besides California and Texas. The state Republican party opposes it, but elected GOP leaders are defying it and eager to help new arrivals.

President Biden has portrayed the Afghan airlift as a mission to save heroes who aided America. But it’s more complicated than that.

Help is needed to resettle more than 300 refugees from Afghanistan who will begin arriving in San Antonio starting Wednesday.

FEMA awarded the City of Laredo almost $2 million in reimbursement funds for the...

By BERENICE GARCIA and VALERIE GONZALEZCatholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley reversed course on plans to expand their respite center in McAllen, explaining that the decision to withdraw a conditional use permit request was because the extra space was not currently necessary. Asylum seekers are typically dropped off at the respite center after they’ve been released from custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Those who test negative are taken to the respite center. The number of migrants released in the area could soon change, too. Citing such opposition, the city’s planning and zoning commission voted to recommend commissioners not to approve the conditional use permit request.

The item sparked a heated conversation among council members.

Communities along the U.S.-Mexico border are scrambling to house a growing number of migrants seeking legal asylum.

In an effort to find a more permanent solution for the lack of capacity for the growing number of migrants, local officials set up a new emergency shelter in Anzalduas Park to temporarily house migrants who tested positive for COVID-19.

A lot of the news from the last few days — about the Legislature, about COVID-19 and about immigration — has a real déjà vu quality to it. And there’s a good reason for that.

Greg Abbott’s new order restricting migrant transport by civilians. “I can just see catastrophic problems arising because of this,” Pimentel, the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley said Thursday. The governor signed an executive order instructing Texas Department of Public Safety troopers to stop, even impound, vehicles transporting migrants if the drivers are not federal, state or local law enforcement officers. The Texas Department of Public Safety also shared a statement Thursday. “The Texas Department of Public Safety is committed to securing our border under the direction of Governor Greg Abbott and through the Executive Order applicable to DPS,” the statement read.

“So now there’s no buffer between the federal agencies and us because Catholic Charities has reached capacity and there’s no other entity available. That led to a temporary halt in migrant transfers from the Valley to that area in order to ease overcrowding there. Asked whether Hidalgo County would consider a similar declaration, Cortez said he was uncertain how taking such action would be beneficial. Around 7,000 migrants were held in overcrowded facilities across the Valley on Sunday, which represents about double the holding capacity. However, migrants staying in detention centers close to the Valley account for about 30% of active COVID-19 cases in ICE custody.

“So now there’s no buffer between the federal agencies and us because Catholic Charities has reached capacity and there’s no other entity available. That led to a temporary halt in migrant transfers from the Valley to that area in order to ease overcrowding there. Asked whether Hidalgo County would consider a similar declaration, Cortez said he was uncertain how taking such action would be beneficial. Around 7,000 migrants were held in overcrowded facilities across the Valley on Sunday, which represents about double the holding capacity. However, migrants staying in detention centers close to the Valley account for about 30% of active COVID-19 cases in ICE custody.

The Department of Agriculture is sending $1 billion to the country’s food bank networks, seeking to expand the reach of the system and revamp the way food banks acquire and distribute aid.

Sister Norma Pimentel, the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, says families are "hopeful that entering the United States may be safe, and that's what they're looking for."

Now that the number of migrant youths at the Freeman Coliseum Expo Hall has doubled in less than a week, Catholic Charities will have to provide 24-hour volunteer support.

SAN ANTONIO – Catholic Charities says the 500 migrant teens who arrived in the city on Monday are being welcomed by people who care in the San Antonio community. “They’re bringing personalized gifts with notes that say, ‘We love you, and we’re praying for you, and we hope you’re well,’” said Tara Ford, spokeswoman for Catholic Charities. AdShe said about 1,000 people already have offered to volunteer, but more are needed since more migrant arrivals are expected over the next several weeks. “We’ll understand a little bit more over the next few days about what is needed,” Ford said. “We’re very grateful to our community in San Antonio for stepping up and always serving with us,” Ford said.

Catholic Charities is the main organization in San Antonio that is providing and coordinating supportive services to the migrant refugees.

SAN ANTONIO – U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, Bexar County Precinct 1 Commissioner Becky Clay-Flores and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg toured a shelter for unaccompanied migrant children at Freeman Coliseum on Tuesday afternoon. The tour was held less than 24 hours after buses with about 500 migrant children who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border arrived at the Freeman Coliseum Expo Center. The group wanted to visit the facility to make sure the children were being given the proper housing and support. The U.S, Department of Health and Human Services is working to make sure the unaccompanied children are unified with their families or put with suitable sponsors in the U.S. Bexar County Precinct 1 Commissioner Becky Clay-Flores and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg appear at a news conference after touring a shelter for unaccompanied migrant children at Freeman Coliseum on Tuesday afternoon.

SAN ANTONIO – Buses filled with hundreds of migrant children who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border arrived at the Freeman Coliseum’s expo center Monday night. Roughly 500 children are now sheltered at the facility, which is expected to house as many as 2,400. The intake site is providing standards of care for the children, which includes clean and comfortable sleeping quarters, meals, recreational activities and access to medical services. AdVolunteers worked all weekend to help set up the facility and to make sure they have things like clothing and hygiene products. Wolff along with Congressman Joaquin Castro and Commissioner Rebecca Clay Flores, are expected to tour the facility later on Tuesday.

SAN ANTONIO – Bexar County leaders have entered a deal with the federal government to provide temporary shelter at Freeman Coliseum to migrant children who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border without an adult family member. As many as 2,400 unaccompanied migrant children will be housed at the expo halls at Freeman Coliseum starting next week, Wolff said. The county charged HHS the “standard rate” to rent the building and officials said the county would be reimbursed for any other costs incurred. The children will be tested for COVID-19 before coming to the Freeman Coliseum and then will be tested every five days while they’re here, Wolff said. The Pentagon announced on Wednesday that Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland would also be used to house unaccompanied migrant children, but Wolff said Lackland would not facilitate as many children as Freeman will.

SAN ANTONIO – Relief groups, many of them faith-based organizations, are appealing for help of their own to meet the needs that are growing along the border. “We’re seeing increased traffic, and we’re expecting that to continue,” said Dan Klein, chair of the Interfaith Welcome Coalition. Klein said those groups and the Interfaith Welcome Coalition itself still need more of the public’s help. The coalition is appealing for donations and volunteers on its Facebook page and specific items on its Amazon wishlist. So does the Val Verde Humanitarian Border Coalition, along with an appeal for donations and volunteers on its Facebook page.

When a garden is tended to feed a community in need, it’s also built on faith. The harvest from the St. Phocas Garden feeds predominantly Hispanic, low-income people living on the West Side of San Antonio — its vitality determining whether many families will be able to eat fresh produce. Named for the patron saint of gardeners, the St. Phocas Garden helps supplement a local food pantry operated by Catholic Charities of San Antonio. At St. Phocas, the sowing extends to the hollows of the multicolored painted concrete blocks that line 12 garden beds. In recent days, volunteers armed with wheelbarrows, shovels and hope returned to St. Phocas.

SAN ANTONIO Catholic Charities on Wednesday marked one year since it opened the St. Stephens Care Center. The center has a clothes closet and food pantry that helps people in need. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the center has been hosting drive-thru giveaways instead of allowing people to browse in the center. The center is located in the 2100 block of South Zarzamora.

They've suffered a bigger share of the job losses as social distancing rules have shut down the many service-related industries on which millennials rely. Millennials face particularly harsh economic damage from the coronavirus due to a compound hit from massive job losses and poor personal finances, according to a Federal Reserve analysis. "Millennials' financial fragility hurts not only these individuals, their families and others who rely on them but also the economy as a whole." Looking at job losses as a percentage of the workforce, Hispanics, women and those without a college degree suffered the most, especially in the initial March layoffs. "The current economic crisis also presents opportunities to pause and rethink how to best achieve household financial stability and resilience against future financial blows.

Catholic Charities aids thousands of families in West Side distributionArchbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller greets a recipient at the Catholic Charities mass distribution Wednesday night at St. Stephen's CARE Center, 2127 Zarzamora St. A Catholic Charities spokeswoman said the agency handed out food, diapers and faces masks to thousands of families during the event. less Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller greets a recipient at the Catholic Charities mass distribution Wednesday night at St. Stephen's CARE Center, 2127 Zarzamora St. A Catholic Charities spokeswoman said the agency ... more Photo: Courtesy Photo Photo: Courtesy Photo Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Catholic Charities aids thousands of families in West Side distribution 1 / 1 Back to GalleryPartnering with seven nonprofits and private corporations, Catholic Charities distributed food, diapers and face masks to thousands of households Wednesday night on the West Side. Cars began lining up at St. Stephens CARE Center for the distribution at 1 p.m., 4 hours before the scheduled start of the event, which also served walk-up clients without transportation. Catholic Charities will continue to distribute food and diapers from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays at St. Stephens CARE Center, 2127 S. Zarzamora St.Another mass distribution is set for May 21 at St. Stephens CARE Center. For more information about Catholic Charities, go to www.ccaosa.org.

Cornerstone Church, Catholic Charities helping those in need during pandemicElizabeth Davila holds a package of buns to give out during the April 24, 2020 San Antonio Food Bank drive thru food distribution at Toyota Field in San Antonio, Texas. Elizabeth Davila holds a package of buns to give out during the April 24, 2020 San Antonio Food Bank drive thru food distribution at Toyota Field in San Antonio, Texas. Photo: Josie Norris, The San Antonio Express-News / Staff Photographer Photo: Josie Norris, The San Antonio Express-News / Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Cornerstone Church, Catholic Charities helping those in need during pandemic 1 / 1 Back to GallerySAN ANTONIO - Cornerstone Church and Catholic Charities are among the San Antonio churches and faith-based organizations stepping up this week to help those in need during the coronavirus pandemic. Cornerstone also has provided more than 6,000 care boxes totaling more than 240,000 pounds of non-perishable food and other items to those in need. On Wednesday, Catholic Charities will partner with area nonprofits and private-sector organizations to provide 2,000 food bundles, diapers and masks at its Food from the Heart initiative.

click to enlarge Courtesy Photo / Komet Marketing CommunicationsBetween the economic hardship brought on by the pandemic and shortages on grocery shelves, it's been difficult for San Antonio families to get essential items they need.On Wednesday night, Catholic Charities teamed with Central Catholic High School students and adult volunteers to help address that dilemma and provide relief. In just two hours, they were able to raise 1.178 tons of food. That's 2,355 pounds for those of you need help with the math.The drive, which took place at the Marianist campus, collected canned goods and other non-perishable items.Per CDC guidelines, donors stayed in their vehicles as they made their way to the drop-off point. That was where volunteers in protective gear made the collections either through the car window, backseat or car trunk.

SAN ANTONIO - It wasnt just another meeting at Catholic Charities of San Antonio that Thursday morning. RELATED: Catholic Charities exaggerates number of clients served per year, employees sayIn speeches, newspaper articles, and grant essays, Catholic Charities of San Antonio claimed to have served more than 250,000 area residents. For example, early on there was this question:"If Catholic Charities and Antonio (Fernandez) have nothing to hide," he read, why does the CEO run away and not face the camera and tell the truth about Catholic Charities?" A Catholic Charities of San Antonio spokeswoman sent us the following statement:Over the past two years, Catholic Charities has experienced reduced funding to our agencies, along with other non-profits. Catholic Charities values the contributions and support of our partners and we keep that information confidential.

Nearly 100 Catholic Charities of San Antonio employees attended the Oct. 3 event known as the State of the Agency conference at the nonprofit's headquarters at 202 West French Street, just north of... Copyright 2019 by KSAT - All rights reserved.

The center has assisted 32,200 people since it opened on March 30.The federal reimbursement was made available through the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill passed earlier this year at the urging of U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, and others. According to Walsh's memo, the board overseeing the measure's $30 million appropriation has only disbursed $7.8 million of the total. The city will continue to pursue additional reimbursement, she added. "According to a news release from Cuellar's office, Catholic Charities received an additional $361,000 of the funding for its work helping migrants in San Antonio. The San Antonio Food Bank also received $62,500 and the United Way another $12,900.The congressman also said he will continue working with local governments to make sure they are reimbursed.

SAN ANTONIO - A former vice president of Catholic Charities of San Antonio and other former and current employees say the organization is greatly misrepresenting how many people it serves each year. For example, the headline of a recent Express News article read "Team effort by Catholic Charities served over 250,000." Catholic Charities Annual ReportThat "stuff" is what some workers at Catholic Charities call a "unique system" for counting who is being served by the nonprofit's programs that they said was instituted after CEO Fernandez was hired in 2013. And I do believe that Catholic Charities San Antonio serves about the same and that's something to be very proud of." A Catholic Charities spokeswoman sent back the following statement:Regarding Catholic Charities' client counts, the numbers presented in the report account for duplicated and unduplicated, as well as direct and indirect clients.

To date, the city has awarded Catholic Charities more than $235,000 in funding and in-kind donations this fiscal year. Catholic Charities CEO Antonio Fernandez was listed as a speaker at the event but did not show up. Since Catholic Charities was not responsive, the AG placed a hold on its funding in May 2018. Instead, Higgs released the following statement:In May, the City of San Antonio placed Catholic Charities in 'high risk' status following a financial audit. Catholic Charities promptly responded with a corrective action plan, which the City accepted, and is currently in compliance.

The city of San Antonio placed Catholic Charities in "high risk" status and withheld more than $2,000 in funding after a review of the local nonprofit uncovered a list of concerns, according to an... Copyright 2019 by KSAT - All rights reserved.

As a condition for accepting federal funding for the foster grandparent program, Catholic Charities was required to have volunteers submit to a National Service Criminal History Check (NSCHC). The audit pointed out that Catholic Charities of San Antonio had insufficient NSCHCs for 54 people in its foster grandparent program. This program is in compliance with the background check requirements, and volunteers undergo four background checks. Catholic Charities' officials blamed many of the financial issues on substantial turnover within its accounting department during the year in question. The commission had awarded Catholic Charities $300,000 for both the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 grant terms.

An audit of Catholic Charities of San Antonio completed late last year reveals that more than 50 paid volunteers in its foster grandparent program did not have their backgrounds properly screened... Copyright 2019 by KSAT - All rights reserved.

An audit of Catholic Charities of San Antonio completed late last year reveals that more than 50 paid volunteers in its foster grandparent program did not have their backgrounds properly screened... Copyright 2019 by KSAT - All rights reserved.

Financial records leaked to the KSAT 12 Defenders paint a disturbing picture about how money is being handled by Catholic Charities of San Antonio, the charitable arm of the Archdiocese, which claims...

The commission had awarded Catholic Charities $300,000 for both the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 grant terms. Since material weakness was identified in its latest audit, Catholic Charities' application was deemed ineligible, TVC officials confirmed. Public records show the vehicle is registered to a Catholic Charities spokeswoman. The grant was closed out in late 2012, months before Fernandez was hired away from Catholic Charities of Chicago for the top post here. The San Antonio chapter of Catholic Charities appears to be not as transparent financially as other chapters in Texas and in other parts of the country.

Financial records leaked to the KSAT 12 Defenders paint a disturbing picture about how money is being handled by Catholic Charities of San Antonio, the charitable arm of the Archdiocese, which claims... Copyright 2019 by KSAT - All rights reserved.

SAN ANTONIO - The city of San Antonio and local nonprofit organizations took on a hefty mission that began March 28. "We saw hundreds of people being dropped by the Border Patrol," said Antonio Fernandez, president and CEO of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of San Antonio. "Catholic Charities spent over $120,000 just in helping these Congolese families," Fernandez said, adding that hundreds of thousands more dollars were also spent on other migrant families. So far, the overall price tag for Catholic Charities is an estimated $500,000 to help the influx of migrants. "Over $200,000, approaching 240,000, and part of that has been to help our nonprofit partners," said Melody Woosley, San Antonio human services director.

SAN ANTONIO - A $60 million proposal to reimburse nonprofits, border communities and the city of San Antonio for providing humanitarian aid to asylum seekers has turned into a $30 million compromise that awaits the president's signature. In announcing the outcome, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-District 28, said, "Even though I advocated for $60 million ... Antonio Fernandez, president and CEO of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of San Antonio, said, "Ill take anything. The city of San Antonio has spent nearly $200,000 after opening a migrant resource center in late March, serving an estimated 18,000 arrivals from the border. $30 million for humanitarian reimbursements to local communities"This bill also provides $30 million for direct reimbursements for local governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California who have incurred massive costs for providing humanitarian relief to the many migrants seeking asylum at the border.

EL PASO – A group of volunteers with Catholic Charities of San Antonio left for El Paso Monday night to assist the Diocese of El Paso with the increase in asylum seekers released from detention facilities, as well as individuals with the migrant caravan. READ ORIGINAL REPORT: Catholic Charities of SA needs volunteers to assist asylum seekersCatholic Charities said 2,800 asylum seekers arrived in El Paso shelters over the last two weeks, with approximately 90 percent of them from Guatemala. The volunteers will assist in distributing food, clothing and information. Antonio Fernandez, president and CEO of Catholic Charities of San Antonio, said he hopes the migrants, whose fates are uncertain, remember the smiles of the volunteers, whose core mission was to “give them love and dignity as a human being.”

SAN ANTONIO – At least two immigrant families were reunited at San Antonio’s Catholic Charities on Monday after days of anticipation. Catholic Charities CEO Antonio Fernandez confirmed that two immigrant families were reunited at their facility. An estimated 400 immigrant families who were separated at the border during the Trump administration's zero-tolerance policy are expected to be reunited in San Antonio. The organization has expecting families since the weekend; however, the first reunions occurred Monday night. The families arrive in separate buses -- one bus will be filled with children, the other with parents, Fernandez said.

SAN ANTONIO – Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller on Monday visited Catholic Charities where some 400 families are expected to be reunited sometime this week. Understanding circumstances of others:“People have the right to leave their countries. In this case, most of the people, not all, but most of the people, they leave their countries to live. They will not be able to move on here in the United states, doing good, if they are not integrated. We depend on the different layers of organizations in the country that respond to the government’s direction for us to receive children and families.”AdWhat Catholic Charities provides for refugee or immigrant families:

Antonio Fernandez, president of Catholic Charities, said the reunions will occur Monday afternoon. "We were told by ICE that we will have families come today, but we don't know how many. The good thing is we're ready, so as soon as people come, Catholic Charities will be there." But as of 5:15 p.m., no buses carrying immigrants, possibly from ICE detention center in Pearsall and Karnes County, had arrived at the Catholic Charities facility downtown. When the immigrants arrive, they will be clothed, fed and booked into a hotel before they head for their next destination, Fernandez said.

SAN ANTONIO – Catholic Charities anticipates 400 immigrant families will arrive at their non-profit over the next two week. “We just want to be part of it," said Michelle Quintero, a volunteer with Catholic Charities. Michelle Quintero said she and her daughter are inseparable and couldn’t imagine being apart. Christina O’Neill Higgs, Director of Fundraising for Catholic Charities, says the community has really pitched in to do their part. “It’s been in front of us for so long— everybody has reached out to help,” O’Neill Higgs said.

SAN ANTONIO – The federal government has reached out to Catholic Charities to help in assisting hundreds of immigrant families who are expected to be reunited several months after being separated at the border. Antonio Fernandez, Catholic Charities San Antonio director, said the reunions could begin as early as Saturday. Catholic Charities San Antonio is one of four sites selected for reunions. The children and parents had been separated by the Trump administration's "zero-tolerance policy," which has affected more than 2,000 undocumented immigrant families. The Catholic Charities of San Antonio has been hard at work getting ready for a reunion that will feature around 400 families who have been separated at the border.