In these final days of the year, our CEO Kaleen Deatherage is reflecting on the lives changed through Catholic Charities of Oregon and preparing, together, for the challenges and hope that lie ahead.
As we move through the final days of the year, I hope your holiday season has been filled with moments of warmth, connection, and rest.
Here at Catholic Charities of Oregon, this time between Christmas and New Year’s is both reflective and forward-looking. It’s a moment to take stock of what we’ve accomplished together and to prepare for what comes next.
In 2025, because of supporters like you, we:
- Continued serving women experiencing homelessness with meals, showers, and individualized support, often when no other options existed.
- Helped refugees, asylees, and survivors of trafficking navigate legal pathways, find housing and employment, and begin new lives in Oregon.
- Adapted quickly amid shifting policies and funding disruptions, ensuring that services continued without interruption.
- Strengthened partnerships and community connections so we could respond more effectively to rising need across the state.
These accomplishments matter not because they check a box, but because they represent real people finding stability, dignity, and hope.
As we look toward 2026, we know challenges remain. But we also know this: Catholic Charities of Oregon is agile, mission-driven, and ready. Ready to respond. Ready to adapt. Ready to walk alongside those who need us most.
If you’ve already made a year-end gift, thank you. If you’re still considering one, there is time to make a meaningful difference before December 31.
Your generosity helps ensure that hope doesn’t fade with the holidays but carries forward into the new year.
With deep gratitude and optimism,
Kaleen Deatherage
Chief Executive Officer
Catholic Charities of Oregon