EFFINGHAM — Effingham Catholic Charities picked up a C.E.F.S. Community Service Excellence Award recently for being an outstanding community partner in serving the needs of low income households, seniors and persons with disabilities.

C.E.F.S. (which stands for Clay, Effingham, Fayette, Shelby) noted what really set Catholic Charities apart was its willingness to assist with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

“We had a person on staff already familiar with this program and so we agreed to offer assistance,” said Sister Carol Beckermann, OSF, Catholic Charities area director. The collaboration, Sister Carol said, just may blossom into something more, “… for us to pursue offering the tax assistance program here at Catholic Charities next tax season. If this dream comes to fruition, Catholic Charities and C.E.F.S. can serve twice as many people.”

Catholic Charities also accommodated the VITA requirements by providing secure email and use of a vault to ensure confidentiality of tax returns. “Catholic Charities went above and beyond to accommodate C.E.F.S.’s VITA program … and found a way to make it work,” said Cindy Mayer, C.E.F.S. Effingham County outreach coordinator. When C.E.F.S. did not receive anticipated state funding, the agency referred homeless people to Catholic Charities which provided emergency shelter in a hotel. When a C.E.F.S. client was unable to pay the good faith effort needed for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance program, Catholic Charities supplied the payment to avoid disconnection.