Catholic Charities of Central Louisiana

10/14/2026

10/06/2026

Ready to quit va**ng or to***co? We’re here to help — at NO COST.

Catholic Charities of Central Louisiana is now offering FREE Va**ng & To***co Cessation Services, funded by The Rapides Foundation.

Our trained facilitators provide confidential, evidence-based support to help individuals who are ready to quit. Sessions are available in person, by phone, or via Zoom, making it easier to get help in the way that works best for you.

We can also partner with local clinics and medical practices to provide group sessions.

Scan the QR code on the flyer to register or contact us directly:
318-445-6424 ext. 506
[email protected]

There is no cost to participate. Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with someone who may benefit!

Funded by The Rapides Foundation

09/22/2026

We are incredibly grateful to the Central Louisiana Community Foundation for awarding Catholic Charities of Central Louisiana an Impact Award to support our Basic Needs Program!

This generous support will help us continue assisting individuals and families in our community when they need it most.

A special thank you to our past Director of Operations, Jennifer Gilchrist, applying for this award and helping make this opportunity possible. We are so thankful for her efforts and for the continued generosity of our Central Louisiana community!

Together, we are making an impact.

We’re excited to announce Catholic Charities of Central Louisiana as a recipient of our 2026 Impact Award! 🎉

This grant will support the Bridge to Stability program, serving families facing financial hardship across Rapides, Avoyelles, and Grant parishes.

The program provides rent and utility assistance while also offering budgeting education to help families build long-term financial stability.

09/10/2026

We are excited to welcome Lynn Roy to the Catholic Charities of Central Louisiana family! 💙

Lynn has joined Restore Counseling, our Catholic faith-based counseling ministry, where she will help us continue our mission of providing compassionate, professional, and affordable counseling to individuals and families throughout Central Louisiana.

We’re grateful to have Lynn’s experience, heart, and dedication as part of our team!

Take a few minutes to watch her interview and learn more about Lynn and the services available through Restore Counseling.

Welcome to Catholic Charities, Lynn! We are so glad you’re here.

Restore Counseling Center is a division of Catholic Charities of Cenla.

09/02/2026

There would be no Catholic Charities of Central Louisiana without Jennifer!

On Monday, August 31, colleagues, family and friends gathered at the St. Joseph Catholic Center to congratulate Jennifer Gilchrist on her retirement from the position of Director of Operations of Catholic Charities of Central Louisiana. Before arriving at Catholic Charities, Jennifer worked for several other community organizations to help those in need.

08/27/2026

The Food Bank is looking for schools in our 11-parish service are who are interested in providing the BackPack Program for their students. Please contact our Child Nutrition Coordinator at 318-445-2773 for more information.

08/25/2026

08/20/2026

Today, the Catholic Charities staff and volunteer, Greg Wasson, provided breakfast and coffee to attendees at the Volunteers of America Cenla August H20 Homeless Outreach event.

Made possible from a food grant by Healthy Blue!

08/18/2026

FEMA Rental Assistance is available to eligible Louisiana renters and homeowners who cannot live in their homes because of damage caused by Tropical Storm Arthur from June 17-24. It’s important to spend money you receive only on approved rental costs and to save all receipts. Learn more: https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/fema-rental-assistance-available-0

08/18/2026

Avoyelles Parish Sheriff's Office

➡️Community Information Share: FEMA Disaster Assistance Notice
Sheriff David L. Dauzat and the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff's Office are sharing the following official disaster recovery announcement issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regarding Rental Assistance for local residents:

➡️FEMA Announcement: Rental Assistance Available
FEMA has announced that Rental Assistance is available to eligible Louisiana renters, homeowners, and students who are unable to live in their primary residences due to damage caused by Tropical Storm Arthur from June 17–24.

➡️What the Grant Provides: FEMA Rental Assistance is a temporary grant to help pay for temporary housing—such as a house, apartment, recreational vehicle, or other option—while your permanent home is being repaired, rebuilt, or while you search for a new place to live.

➡️Eligible Parishes: Avoyelles, Lafourche, Pointe Coupee, St. Landry, St. Tammany, and Terrebonne.

➡️FEMA Guidelines: Covered vs. Non-Covered Expenses
FEMA emphasizes that grant funds must be spent strictly on approved rental expenses and all receipts must be retained.

➡️Covered Costs: Temporary housing rent, security deposits, and essential utility costs (gas, electric, water).
➡️Costs NOT Covered: Internet and cable television services , replacement of personal property (such as lost food or clothing) , home repairs, or transportation and fuel costs.

➡️Assistance Duration & Insurance Documentation
Assistance Duration: Initial grants are determined on a case-by-case basis and cover one to two months. Continued Temporary Housing Assistance may be granted for three-month periods upon submitting receipts and documentation proving prior funds were used properly.

➡️If You Have Insurance: If your policy includes Additional Living Expenses (ALE) or temporary housing benefits, you must provide FEMA with your insurance claim settlement, proof of exhaustion, or denial documentation to determine grant eligibility.

➡️How to Apply Directly with FEMA
Application Deadline: Thursday, October 1
All applications and case reviews are managed directly by FEMA:
➡️Online (Fastest): Visit DisasterAssistance.gov.
➡️FEMA Mobile App: Download the official FEMA App on your smartphone.
➡️FEMA Helpline: Call toll-free at 800-621-3362. Phone lines operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with multilingual support (Press 2 for Spanish). Relay service users (VRS, captioned phone) can provide FEMA with their service number.

➡️Disaster Recovery Centers: Find an in-person center by entering your ZIP code at FEMA.gov/DRC.

➡️Additional Program Information: Visit fema.gov/disaster/4927.

This public safety notice is shared as a courtesy to our residents by the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff's Office.
For non-emergency law enforcement matters, APSO can be reached at 318-253-4000 or by email at [email protected].