Catholic Charities responds to potential federal funding freeze

3 weeks ago 59

SAN JUAN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested President Donald Trump signed an executive order to permanently cut funding for non-governmental agencies (NGOs) like Catholic Charities.

Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley executive Director Sister Norma Pimentel says any cuts in funding will have major impacts on the help they give. However, some RGV residents have different views when it comes to the President's actions.

“How do you turn back or say no to crying children? How do you say no to people that are hungry," says Jacob Howell, who has helped fundraise for Catholic Charities.

He adds that he has seen how the organization helps many people, both locals and migrants seeking asylum in the United States.

“Whether you're red or whether you're blue, we all gotta just come together and to help humanity and help people in general and those that are less fortunate," Howell said.

Others, like McAllen Resident Timothy Wilkins, feel a freeze in federal funding is necessary.

“I think Catholic Charities had a noble purpose on its inception, but again, you know, they, they streamlined the illegal immigration process and incentivized it to the degree we had millions of people stream across our borders," Wilkins said.

According to financial documents from 2023, Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley gets about 70% of its funding from federal and state grants.

Pimentel, who oversees the organization, says they only help migrants who have been processed by Border Patrol and have been allowed to stay in the country.

“We assist them with a space where they can be safe, so they can eat and rest while they make arrangements themselves to try to get to their final destination," Pimentel said. "You know, whether it's here in the in our community, or beyond.”

She says Catholic Charities does not only help migrants but also others experiencing homelessness and people who are on the verge of losing their home.

“If they don't give it to us, I'm sure that more families will end up being homeless, you know, families from our own communities that are struggling to to make ends meet, to be able to to pay for all their bills," Pimentel said.

Pimentel says federal funding also helps them hire people. Without it, they would only depend on volunteers and that is something she is betting on if this does not get resolved.

“We definitely will always stay afloat, because we what we operate is the care of our community that come together as one to care for people who need our help," Pimentel said.

Sister Pimentel says the organization will continue monitoring the situation. In the meantime, her staff will continue helping and operating as usual.

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