Catholics United for the Poor

2006 was another great year for CUP because of our donors and volunteers. Your hearts and hands made it possible for the member agencies of CUP to serve the needs of thousands of individuals and families. We couldn't have done it without you!

The agencies within CUP offer a variety of services to meet the needs of the diversified group of individuals and families in Greater Cincinnati. While the services are unique to each agency, the method of delivery is common. Each agency counsels and serves people in a Christian environment with personalized attention, and at minimum of administrative costs.

The mission of CUP is to raise awareness about the plight of the poor in the Cincinnati area.

Our goals:

1. To educate the public about the plight of the poor.
2. To raise funds for and awareness of member agencies.
3. To facilitate collaboration among agencies.

Financial Report

Summarized Financial Data

	2006	2005
Revenue	$224,121	$214,246
Program Expenses	154,376	146,369
Management & General	11,801	8,679
Fundraising	27,532	20,982
Net Assets	$411,184	$380,772

CUP Agency Reports

Bethany House Services (BHS) collaborates with others to provide a full range of housing, education and assistance programs to homeless and disadvantaged women and children. The staff, board and volunteers at BHS provided comprehensive programs of emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing as well as Life Skills, Literacy, Parenting Plus, Post Shelter Support, Second Chance Initiative and Nurse Aide/Home Care Aide Training Programs to nearly 600 individuals in 2006. The Family Shelter Partnership Program, an initiative of BHS, provided assessment and coordinated case management with related essential stabilization services to 821 high risk families served in the city's family shelters. BHS responded to 26,049 individuals on the 24 hour hot line and provided 14,951 instances of information and referral for services.

Mary Magdalen House, believing dignity is the beginning of hope, is an oasis of hospitality providing a safe, pleasant place for persons in need to shower, shave, brush their teeth, receive clean clothing and have clothes laundered, use a phone and a place to receive messages and mail. In 2006 the generous staff, volunteers (3,750 hours!) and benefactors provided over 20,850 showers to over 1600 brothers and sisters in need.

Mercy Franciscan at St. John works to improve the health of our communities with emphasis on people who are poor and underserved. The focus of the agency is on emergency assistance and self-sufficiency programs. During 2006, St. John helped a total of 88,000 people. Our Social Services Department provided support to 6,200 individuals. Temporary shelter was provided for 516 individuals; food and clothing to more than 7,325 and the Sandwich Window served 71,057 free lunches. The Bridges Program, a job training program teaching computer skills and professional development, taught 109 adults. There were 540 participants active in our Youth Development Programs and the annual Circle of Giving program distributed gifts to 480 families during the holiday season.

Our Daily Bread is a soup kitchen/hospitality center that has been operating since January, 1985. With the help of over 2000 volunteers, Our Daily Bread provides 130,000 mid-morning meals each year to the poor of Over-the-Rhine and surrounding neighborhoods. Additional services include a supplemental food pantry, an after school "Kids Café", a licensed social worker, who assists with transportation, housing, shelter and personal needs of our guests. Our Daily Breads provides a comfortable place for all who come, a place where all are invited to be a part of a community that is caring, supportive & welcoming.

Over-the-Rhine Kitchen, Walnut Hills Kitchen and Walnut Hills Pantry strive to help alleviate hunger in our community by feeding the poor in an environment of respect, care and hospitality. We call the people we serve our "guests", because we want them to feel welcomed and to maintain their dignity during what is a trying time in their lives. Each month, with the help of over 1,000 volunteers, the Kitchens serve approximately 10,000 meals and the Pantry distributes over 700 bags of groceries to individuals and families.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been helping to serve the community since 1869. In 2006, SVDP helped over 81,000 people through its programs including Emergency Assistance, Food Pantry, Community Pharmacy and 63 Parish-based Volunteer Groups. Special drives include fan, coat, and Adopt-A-Family to help provide necessities to needy families. Operation BootStrap, a job readiness program, encourages self-sufficiency.

For 22 years, Tender Mercies has provided housing and supportive services to homeless persons with histories of mental and/or emotional disabilities. While serving over 250 individuals in 2006, 93,659 meals were served by volunteers, 93 recreational activities were provided, 87 residents were assisted with Fare Deal cards, 45 with Medicaid applications, and 36 with SSI applications.

Visions Community Services provides services of counseling, crisis intervention, case management and support and parenting groups to low-income teen and young parents to enable them to finish school and pursue employment to assist them to escape poverty. These services were provided to 168 parents in 2006. VISIONS also provides nationally accredited, 2 Star State of Ohio rated early childhood education for children from 6 weeks to 5 years. In 2006 221 children received quality early education to prepare them to succeed in school.