“You’re such a blessing.”
“Thank you so much.”
“You have no idea how much this means.”

Tracy Dalrymple, program manager for the Community Care program at Catholic Charities Fort Worth, received grateful responses like these nearly every time she sent a Walmart e-card for groceries to someone who had lost their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the government shutdown.

A second collection on Nov. 1–2 at all parishes in the Diocese of Fort Worth made this urgent and timely assistance possible. In a letter to parishes requesting a second collection specifically for food assistance, Bishop Michael Olson reminded parishioners:

“We who are faithful Catholics must know that the poor and hungry come first because they are Christ among us.”

Parishioners responded to Bishop Olson’s request with more than $165,000, which was divided between the diocese’s 19 parishes with food pantries and Catholic Charities Fort Worth. Outside of the special collection, the diocese donated an additional $100,000: $50,000 to CCFW and $50,000 split among parishes with food pantries.

Dalrymple said Catholic Charities Fort Worth was able to quickly disburse the funds by providing parishes with the phone number for a dedicated line and a link to a simple online application form.

“Parishes gave out that phone number, and some parishes even helped people submit their forms,” Dalrymple explained. “It was easy to attach copies of their ID and SNAP benefits letter.”

On Nov. 12, the day the online form went live, the agency immediately began receiving referrals from parishes and Society of St. Vincent de Paul groups.

“The requests came in quickly, and funds were dispensed quickly,” Dalrymple noted, adding that Walmart gift cards are easy to distribute and redeem.

Though not always able to provide the full SNAP benefit amount, the agency tried to offer as much assistance as possible, Dalrymple said.

“These funds are helping families that have been so affected by the loss of SNAP benefits and everything else going on economically,” she explained.

Rita Gauthier, director of Client Services at the Catholic Charities Fort Worth Northwest campus in Wichita Falls, said the Wichita Falls office also distributed special collection funds for food assistance. Once parishes were notified, “calls came in quickly,” she said.

Cindy Casey, director of Client Services for CCFW, pointed out that money from the special collection is returning to the parish level.

“We’re using those funds to assist people referred to us by Catholic parishes,” she explained. “This is an opportunity to offer assistance to people we would not normally be able to help. And we are deeply grateful to our diocese, our bishop, and parishioners who are assisting those in need.”