As we step into 2026, Catholic Charities of Oregon is grounded in both reflection and resolve. In this message, our CEO Kaleen Deatherage shares how the work of the past year has translated into real stability for the people we serve and how we are strengthening our programs, funding, and systems to meet the growing needs ahead.
Now that we have stepped into 2026, I want to take a moment to reflect on the year behind us and share how it is shaping the work ahead. The challenges we faced in 2025 did not pause at the turn of the calendar, but neither did our commitment to the people and communities we serve.
When the Work Was Hard, the Mission Held
2025 asked a great deal of all of us. Shifting political priorities, funding uncertainty, and rising community need created real challenges for organizations like Catholic Charities of Oregon. And yet, again and again, I see proof that compassion, commitment, and community are stronger than fear.
Over the past year, our assistance helped individuals meet urgent, otherwise unmet needs. For the people we served, that meant avoiding eviction, keeping utilities on, accessing medical care, or bridging a short-term crisis before it became a long-term emergency.
Our food pantry sites recorded more than 4,600 visits from January through October. Behind each visit was someone able to feed themselves or their family with dignity, often while navigating job transitions, health challenges, or the complexities of resettlement in a new country. Reliable food access creates stability, and stability creates room to move forward.
Across our homelessness, housing, refugee, and immigration programs, hundreds of people found not just services, but a path toward greater security. People moved from survival to stability, from uncertainty to clearer footing, from isolation to connection. Individuals experiencing homelessness entered safe housing. Refugees accessed consistent food and community support amid shifting policies. Immigrants worked alongside our legal teams to navigate increasingly complex systems with trusted guidance at their side.
But what matters most is not just what we did. It is what changed because of it. People were safer. Families were more stable. Individuals had support systems in place to take their next steps.
Building What Comes Next
We strengthened teams, improved systems, and deepened partnerships, all while staying grounded in dignity, choice, and respect. That foundation is what we are carrying forward into 2026.
In the year ahead, our focus is clear. We are continuing to grow and diversify our revenue base through a more comprehensive and resilient fundraising strategy. By ensuring our programs are supported by multiple revenue sources, we reduce the risk that the loss of any single funding stream could jeopardize a life-saving service. In a time of increasing uncertainty, this resilience is essential.
We are also sharpening how we deliver mission-driven programs, using both data and lived experience to remain responsive and effective. From supporting pathways to permanent housing, to ensuring food access for refugees affected by recent policy changes, to helping families navigate complex immigration processes, our goal is simple and demanding at the same time. We aim to meet people where they are and help them move toward lasting stability.
And just as importantly, we are investing in our people and systems. Strong programs require strong teams. In 2026 and beyond, we will continue building a culture rooted in collaboration, learning, and care for the people we serve and for one another.
The challenges ahead are real. But so is our collective capacity to meet them. Every day, I am reminded that hope is not passive. It is something we build together through action, persistence, and community.
Thank you for being part of this work and for believing in what’s possible.
With gratitude,
Kaleen Deatherage
CEO/Catholic Charities of Oregon