July 29, 2022

Catholic Charities Bloomington seeking to raise $6,000 by Aug. 12 to be eligible for $100,000 grant

Criterion staff report

Catholic Charities Bloomington (CCB) is participating in a fundraising campaign called “A Community Thrives,” with a goal of raising $6,000 by Aug. 12. If successful, CCB will be eligible for a Gannet Foundation grant of up to $100,000 to recruit, hire, onboard and offer competitive wages for two new, clinically trained therapists to join its agency by September.

CCB offers counseling services in several Bloomington offices to make possible a comprehensive, integrated continuum of quality mental health care for children and adults struggling with a range of life issues.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five adults in the U.S. are experiencing mental illnesses that include depression and anxiety. In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control reported that suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-34 in the U.S.

CCB reports that in the past two years it has experienced a 300% rise in inquiries from individuals and families seeking mental health support. Its therapists are operating at maximum productivity, and the waitlist continues to accumulate with more frequent and urgent calls.

“This is such an exciting opportunity,” said Michael Stribling, a clinical director, mental health therapist and social worker for CCB. “It would be wonderful if we could get as many people as possible to make donations so we can reach our goal to be considered for the larger grant award.”

He noted that only contributions made through Aug. 12 will count toward the $6,000 goal, and all donations must be made online via credit card, PayPal or Venmo at cutt.ly/ACommunityThrives.

For more information on the campaign, contact Cheri Bush at 317-236-1411.

For more information on Catholic Charities Bloomington and their services, call 812-332-1262 or go to ccbin.org. †

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