Catherine's Club Giving Circle surpasses $50,000 in grant awards

Anne-Marie Welsh
07/12/2024

 ERIE, Pa. — “You mean I get my own box of cereal?!”

          That was the incredulous exclamation of a student benefiting from the WiNS Project, a program started by teachers in the Crawford Central School District ten years ago. Students in all five elementary schools now receive a backpack filled with nutritious food for two breakfasts, two lunches and two snacks each weekend. The food, packed by volunteers, mirrors what students receive on school days based on economic need, and has a significant impact on physical, mental and academic well-being.

          WiNS was one of seven organizations receiving grants from the Catherine’s Club Giving Circle this year at a reception held at the Sisters of Mercy Motherhouse in Erie May 21. The club awarded more than $12,000 in grants supporting projects that promote the economic self-sufficiency and well-being of women and young girls. The organization, founded through the leadership of Sister Bernadette Bell, RSM, is sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. In just six years, it has now awarded over $50,000 in grants,

          In addition to the WiNS Project, this year’s recipients included:

• Community of Caring, which plans to install a metal detector for its women’s shelter
• Erie DAWN, in support of it’s “Lean on Me” peer group mentoring pilot program;
  
  
• Mercy Center for Women, which will now be able to help clients secure drivers licenses, an important step toward self-sufficiency;
  
  
• Mercyhurst University, for its Laptop Lending Library program assisting adult students;
  
  
• The Sight Center of Northwest Pennsylvania to enhance its preschool vision screening efforts;
  
  
• and the Crime Victim Center, to support its counseling work, including age-appropriate counseling options.

           This year’s reception also featured a surprise salute t

o Sister Bernadette for her foresight and dedication in bringing the Catherine’s Club Giving Circle to the Diocese of Erie. Members presented her with a spiritual bouquet of Masses, prayers and rosaries they had offered for her personal intentions throughout the year. A stuffed “Energizer bunny” also was presented as a symbol of her tireless dedication.

          “Catherine McAuley saw the needs of the poor were great, even overwhelming, especially for women and children,” said Kathy Dahlkemper, who currently chairs the circle. “In that spirit, Sister Bernadette has devoted her expertise to aiding those most vulnerable. Sister Bernadette has truly lived out her fourth vow of the Mercy charism — service to the poor, sick and uneducated.” True to form, Sister Bernadette credited what she called her “dynamo” committee for the success of the organization to date.

          The Catherine’s Club Giving Circle, founded six years ago, has 74 members, with the goal of growing to 100 women who each pay $100 in dues toward the annual grants. Membership applications may be obtained by writing to the Sisters of Mercy, 444 E. Grandview Blvd., Erie, PA, 16504.

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