HEARTS TO SERVE INSPIRES HOTLINES IN THE DIOCESES OF ORANGE, SACRAMENTO AND SAN FRANCISCO TO HELP THOSE IN NEED DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
April 7, 2020  |  By:   |  Press Releases  |  

 

— Assistance from health care professionals, including social workers and RNs, are among the new services offered through the hotline opened in mid-March —

As COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases increase, so does the need of the community. Due to this need, a partnership originally launched in mid-March between the Office of Life, Justice and Peace of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, St. Vincent de Paul Society and Knights of Columbus is expanding to offer services to those in need, especially the elderly, homebound, and pregnant women.

Providence Community Health has joined the efforts of Hearts to Serve by including health professionals, such as social workers and registered nurses to help answer the hotline calls and to offer additional services to help navigate the healthcare system and have someone to talk with if they are experiencing anxiety.

“Hearts to Serve connects people in need with people who want to help. It is as simple as that,” said Kathleen Domingo, senior director of the Archdiocese’s Office of Life, Justice and Peace. “Behind the scenes, we are gaining partners every day. So many people want to get involved! Options United donated the hotline, St. Vincent de Paul Society’s trained volunteers to answer the phone, Knights of Columbus make deliveries, and volunteers from every part of our Catholic community are pitching in to find resources, donate items, follow-up on requests, and spend time talking with people. Most recently, Providence Community Health has opened professional resources to people experiencing anxiety or who need help navigating healthcare questions. Our Catholic community is coming together to make sure no one is left out or left behind at this time.”

Hearts to Serve has already served close to 150 people in Los Angeles and will continue to do so with these new services, which are now expanding to other dioceses in California, including the Dioceses of Orange, Sacramento and the Archdiocese of San Francisco. “Catholic communities are helping those in need in our parishes and schools, and I am glad that our efforts are having a ripple effect to other dioceses,” said Mrs. Domingo. “We are happy to let people know that we are here to help.”

Those in need of food, supplies or those who are experiencing anxiety can call the hotline at 855-423-6780 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. A Catholic community of volunteers will be ready to help with essential needs. They will connect callers with local resources for food and other household necessities. The services that will be provided include grocery and household items delivered to homes; provision of food and other necessities from local food pantries to those that might not be able to afford it at this time; and guidance for additional questions that need larger answers.

For more information on Hearts to Serve and for those interested in volunteering, please visit: https://lacatholics.org/hearts-serve/.

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Due to gathering and social distancing restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no media access at the Cathedral. A feed of all services and events from the Cathedral will be provided via livestream on the LA Catholics Facebook page and https://lacatholics.org/mass-for-the-homebound/. Masses are streamed live Monday through Friday at 7 a.m. in Spanish and 8 a.m. in English; and Sunday at 7 a.m. in Spanish and 10 a.m. in English. Latest video footage and photographs are available on Archdiocese social channels @lacatholics on Facebook, Instagram , Twitter and upon request (credit: Angelus News). The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is the largest and most diverse CatholicArchdiocese in the United States with approximately five million Catholics, serving the three counties of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara. For the latest news, events and to subscribe for media alerts visit media.la-archdiocese.org.