CEA JOINS WITH # GIVING TUESDAY
This year, on Tuesday, November 28, 2017, CEA is participating in #GivingTuesday, an international day dedicated to giving. Everyone, anywhere, can participate!
Join in – right here in Catonsville – by donating to CEA. Just click on the Donate button. But it can be so much more! See below.
All funds raised on #GivingTuesday go to help our clients keep their utilities on
CEA’s goal: raise $6000 on #GivingTuesday and during the following week. The CEA board will match the first $1800 received. All funds raised will go to help our clients keep their utilities on.
CEA will be able to help clients who have received a utility turnoff notice or those whose utilities have been turned off and need help paying the bill. This is so important in cold weather as not only are the lights and heat gone, but so is refrigeration and often the use of a stove on which to cook.
#Giving Tuesday harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide.
You can be part of the action.
*Donate to CEA at http://catonsvillehelp.org/onl
*Ask others to help. Ask friends and family members on social media or through email to donate and ask them to ask their friends.
*Share with others on social media the reasons why you’re giving and supporting CEA. Post your personal reasons for giving on CEA’s Facebook page. For example, some of our donors have told us:
“At first I didn’t realize that people here need help,” but they do”, so I’ve donated to CEA.
“Charity begins at home, and that’s why CEA is important to me.”
“Everybody knows someone who struggles, so you can make a difference by donating.”
“I give to CEA, because they help people here in Catonsville who need a hand.”
Post a selfie with a sign that says I gave on #GivingTuesday. Be creative! Last year one donor posted a photo of their dog with a #GivingTuesday sign. And someone else made a short video.
*Donate time. We’re happy to have you as a volunteer. Contact CEA at http://catonsvillehelp.org/donating-time/.
Meet some of our clients.
Ray is a young man in his 30s. Ray is a single father raising a young son. After an apartment fire, they lost everything. Although he works full time, he was struggling to pay the bills as he dealt with the aftermath of the fire and issues with the apartment management. CEA helped him with his BGE bill enabling him to pay it in full.
Ray and his son have gotten a new apartment, and while they come to CEA for food assistance, they feel like things are getting back to normal.
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Emma has lived in Catonsville for 40 years. She lives with her elderly mother who is bedridden. Taking care of her mother is now her full-time job.
Emma had been a bank manager for 27 years until she started having health issues of her own that made it impossible for her to continue working. She lost her job and got behind on her utility bills, which is a tremendous problem with a disabled, elderly mother to care for.
Emma said that CEA was the first place she turned when she needed help. She never had to ask anyone for help before. We helped her pay her back utility bill and then connected her with other useful services.