Twenty-seven central Illinois organizations that help the poor have received grants from the Diocesan Campaign for Justice and Hope (DCJH) sponsored by the Springfield diocese. The awards were made by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki at a luncheon June 3 at the Catholic Pastoral Center in Springfield.

The DCJH was announced in September 2012 by Bishop Paprocki and the first of what will be annual collections was taken up in parishes of the diocese on the weekend before Thanksgiving.

In its inaugural year, the campaign raised over $83,000. All money raised stays locally to help organizations and projects meet the needs of the poor in the diocese. This year's grants ranged in size from $1,000 to $5,000 and were awarded on the basis of a grant application process.

Bishop Paprocki told those attending that he was pleased by the success of the new collection, which will "help those who need our help and also strengthen and encourage the ties of these efforts to parishes in the diocese."

Not-for-profit organizations applying for grants must be located in the Springfield diocese and the application must be signed by a local pastor or parishioner sitting on the board of the organization. Priority is given to organizations or projects that address the root causes of poverty and programs that promote stable family life and the protection of human life from conception to natural death.

Organizations that receive grants may not participate in or promote activities that contradict the moral and social teachings of the Catholic Church.

This year's grant awardees were:

• St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Francis Parish, Jerseyville, and St. Patrick Parish, Grafton, for assistance of food, clothing and utilities;

• Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry of St. Patrick Church, Pana, for food assistance in Pana and surrounding areas;

• Jesus Loves You Ministry, Pana, for transportation to court appointments for individuals caught up in drug addiction;

• Beardstown/Rushville Immigrant Families/Day Care Center, (start-up funds) for a day care center for immigrant families working different shifts at a nearby meat packing plant;

• Pregnancy Care Center, Springfield, to fund "Happy 'Birth' Day" childbearing and parenting classes for at-risk women and their children;

• MERCY Communities, Springfield, for housing, education and supportive services to homeless mothers and their at-risk children;

• Mt. Olive Care Center/Food Distribution, for assistance of food and sometimes utilities;

• Open Door program of Illinois Coalition for Community Services, Charleston, for monthly training workshop and transportation on employment issues, nutrition, budgeting, etc.;

• Compassionate Clothing Closet free clothing ministry, Paris, for utilities, insurance, repairs etc.;

• Food Pantry and Clothes Closet of St. Joseph Parish, Ramsey, to meet needs of families unable to provide food and clothing;

• Highland Area Christian Service Ministries, for educational workshops to address root causes of poverty, such as healthy cooking, math skills, budgeting, interviewing, etc.;

• Hispanic Ministry Leadership Empowerment of St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Springfield, to empower leadership among Latino members of the parish;

• St. Hedwig House of Hospitality, Charleston, to help maintain the Catholic Worker house, which provides shelter for women and children in need in Coles County;

• New Start/Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program, Springfield, to provide out-of-pocket expenses for low-income Latino and Hispanic students;

• Med Assist Program, Effingham Catholic Charities, to provide assistance to people in need to acquire prescription medications at reduced cost;

• Fulfill Your Destiny: A Ministry of Encouragement/Grounds of Grace: Overcoming Human Trafficking, Springfield, to support a safe house for women involved in human trafficking or who have been forced into prostitution;

• Food Pantry, St. Francis Parish, Quincy, to supplement grocery orders by providing necessary hygiene items not included in food stamps, or for fresh meat or cheese;

• Hearts United Association, Litchfield, to provide emergency assistance, counseling, education, temporary housing, goods and services to those in need;

• New Directions-Heating and Cooling Center, to be used for a life skill and job training coordinator salary;

• Diocesan Immigration Council, for a diocesan-wide program to serve undocumented and/or noncitizen immigrants; grant to be used to assist with fees associated with gaining legal status;

• Community Mission Center, St. Patrick Parish, Pana, to provide clothing, furniture, household items, bedding and personal hygiene items for people in need;

• Summer Activity Camp, St. Patrick Catholic School, Springfield, to provide an affordable option for summer care, offering engaging activities and nutrition;

• St. Clare Center, Litchfield, to serve individuals from Montgomery and Macoupin counties in need of food assistance;

• House of Hope, Cottage Hills/Granite City, to fund "Adopt a Night" Hope Awareness Campaign to offer seven to 10 seminars on poverty and homelessness to churches through northwest Madison County;

• Mobile Food Pantry, Catholic Charities, to help fund refrigerated food trucks to establish food distribution sites, working with churches and organizations throughout the diocese;

• Med Assist Program, Carlinville Catholic Charities, to provide assistance to people in need to acquire necessary prescriptions at reduced cost;

• All Saints Church, White Hall, to update a directory of services available to persons who are unable or do not have funds to make home repairs.

For more information on the Diocesan Campaign for Justice and Hope, visit the diocesan website at www.dio.org/dcjh. Or, call (217) 689-8500 x 167 or email .