Catholic Charities Ventura Region

Catholic Charities is committed to manifesting Christ's spirit through collaboration with diverse communities, by providing services to the poor and vulnerable, by promoting human dignity, and
by advocating for social justice.

Description:
Clients come to Catholic Charities for emergency food and clothing, low-cost before-and-after-school childcare, Older Adult Services and rental/utility assistance. Service locations that need volunteers are downtown Ventura, downtown Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Moorpark and Simi Valley. Volunteers are needed to assist with general office tasks and direct client service working with persons who are homeless, elderly or school-aged. Volunteers are also welcomed to participate in fund-raisers or to make donor appeals or personal donations. All services are available regardless of a client's race, ethnicity, income, gender or religious belief.

History:
The agency was established in 1919, as a response to the problems of poverty, crime, hunger and unemployment in Southern California. Its purpose was to meet the needs of families, coordinate existing health and welfare facilities as one, and initiate new service programs as required. When the agency officially became the Catholic Welfare Bureau in 1926, it served the extensive territory of Monterey, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles and Orange counties. In later years, Monterey and Orange counties developed their own Catholic Charities’ agencies. The Catholic Welfare Bureau name was changed to Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc., in 1986.

Contact people:

Michael Perry, Regional Director, (phone), (email) Patrice Esseff, Regional Coordinator, (email)

Office fax number: (805) 643-4781

Address:

303 N. Ventura Ave Ventura, CA 93001 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.catholiccharitiesla.org

Directions:

From Main Street in Ventura, turn north onto Ventura Ave. Follow Ventura Ave. North approximately .5 miles. Building is on the left.   Nearest Bus Stop: Ventura Ave 300 block, 30 seconds minute walk

Last updated on June 7, 2010