Catholics United for the Poor

2008 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

	2008	2007
Revenue	$43,071	$243,760
Program Expenses	167,864	171,190
Management & General	7,956	6,595
Fundraising	14,106	15,297
Net Assets	$315,007	$411,184

CUP Agency Reports

Bethany House Services (BHS) helps to provide a full range of housing, education and assistance programs to homeless and disadvantaged women and children. In 2008 the staff, board and volunteers at BHS provided emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing, and offered programs such as Life Skills Literacy, Parenting Plus, Post Shelter Support, and Second Chance Initiative, to 843 individuals. The Family Shelter Partnership Program, a BHS initiative, coordinated assessment, case management and essential stabilization services for 787 high risk families. BHS supervised 10,289 shelter nights, prepared 20,038 meals, and fielded 10,687 requests for information or referral. BHS also administers the CAP Line so that one phone number directs callers in need of shelter to a central point of communication; BHS served 7,989 callers in 2008.

Mary Magdalen House, believing that hope goes hand-in-hand with dignity, is an oasis of hospitality, offering a safe, pleasant place to shower, shave, brush their teeth, use a phone and receive messages and mail. Mary Magdalen House also provides clean clothes and laundry services to those who need them. In 2008 the generous staff, together with volunteers, who gave 4800 hours of their time, and benefactors, provided 20,709 showers and laundered nearly 20,000 bags of laundry for more than 2,100 brothers and sisters in need.

Mercy Franciscan at St. John works to improve the health of our community, with a focus on the poor. The agency offers emergency assistance and self-sufficiency programs that served a total of 85,371 people in 2008. St. John's Social Services Department provided support to 5,312 individuals. Temporary shelter benefited 612 individuals, food and clothing more than 6,379, and the Sandwich Window served 70,614 free lunches. The Bridges Program, a job training program specializing in computer skills and professional development, trained 118 adults. The new Family Development Program counseled 26 families. The Positively Empowering Parents Program graduated 28 families. There were 487 active participants in our Youth Development Programs and the annual Circle of Giving program distributed gifts to 442 families during the holiday season.

Our Daily Bread has been providing food and hospitality to the poor of Over-the-Rhine and surrounding neighborhoods since January 1985. Our Daily Bread feeds those who are hungry for dignity, friendship and community, in addition to food. Located across from Findlay Market, Our Daily Bread serves more than 500 mid-day meals, Monday through Friday. It operates with the help of volunteers and a staff including individuals who have been guests themselves, and encountered obstacles finding employment elsewhere. Our Daily Bread also offers a supplemental food pantry, "Lunch on Legs" for neighborhood seniors, an after-school "Kids Café," and social activities including Bingo and Movie Days. A licensed social worker is available to assist guests with their other needs beyond food.

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 welcome and preserve their dignity during a trying time in their lives. Each month, with the help of over 1,450 volunteers, the Kitchens serve approximately 14,000 meals and the Pantry distributes over 925 bags of groceries to individuals and families.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been serving the community since 1869. In 2008, SVDP's Emergency Assistance, Food Pantry, Community Pharmacy and 63 parish-based volunteer groups helped over 81,000 people. Fan and coat drives and programs such as Adopt-A-Family help provide necessities to needy families. Operation BootStrap, a job readiness program, encourages self-sufficiency.

For 24 years, Tender Mercies has provided housing and support services to homeless individuals who have histories of mental and/or emotional disabilities. In 2008 Tender Mercies served over 225 individuals, preparing and serving 87,600 individual meals and offering 111 recreational activities. Tender Mercies also assisted 80 residents with medication, 131 with SSI and/or Medicaid applications, 9 with voter registration, and 14 with obtaining a birth certificate. Volunteers gave 21,564 hours of their time.

Visions Community Services provides crisis intervention, case management, and counseling to low-income young parents to enable them to escape poverty. Through parenting groups and other programs, VISIONS encourages parents to finish school and/or pursue employment. These services benefited 143 parents in 2008. VISIONS also offers nationally accredited early childhood education for children 6 weeks to 5 years old. In 2008 VISIONS helped to prepare 174 children to succeed in school.

CUP Board of Trustees

Officers of CUP