Funds will be used to provide support at Lawton regional office
LAWTON – Catholic Charities of Oklahoma City’s Lawton regional office will be able to provide better help to families in Southwest Oklahoma thanks to a $15,000 donation made by the Arvest Foundation.
The donation was announced prior to a board meeting at the organization’s regional office in Lawton last Wednesday.
Catholic Charities Executive Director Patrick J. Raglow expressed gratitude to Arvest’s continued support and explained that those funds will be used to help support families in need to pay utility bills and rent.
“It costs maybe $200 or $300 to keep someone in a home, whereas it might cost $1,000 to get them back in a home because of losing deposits on rent, water, electric and gas,” said Raglow.
“If we can use these funds not only to help with the utilities but also build relationships so that we can help them tie into the community’s resources, then we all win,” he said.
Catholic Charities operates in 46 counties throughout central and western Oklahoma.
The funds will be used in the Family Support Services programs. The programs, called HOPE (Help, Organize, Prioritize, Empower) and Emergency Rent and Utility Assistance, both aid low-income families at risk of facing homelessness.
HOPE is a long-term, case-management program intended to promote independence and empower families and/or individuals to overcome obstacles and gain self-sufficiency.
The Emergency Rent and Utility Assistance program is used to avert a utility shut off or eviction.
“Arvest Bank and the Arvest Foundation are proud to support the mission and programs of Catholic Charities of Oklahoma City,” said President and CEO of Arvest Bank Southwest Oklahoma David Madigan. “Through their programs, they work tirelessly to meet the daily and long-term needs of many Oklahomans. Being able to support an organization with those values is very important to Arvest Bank.”