Food, live music, face painting and the Catholic Charities community celebrate The Loft’s first year in operation at a fundraiser Saturday, Nov. 5, at Mountain View United Methodist Church, starting at 3 p.m.

Aug. 20 marked The Loft’s 365th day in operation. Since then, the outreach program raised the money it needs to keep its doors open for several more months, but not for the full 2011-2012 fiscal year, according to Carol Quasula, Catholic Charities Community Services site director.

Catholic Charities supporters who attend the Nov. 5 event will be asked to buy bank cards that can be used to purchase goods and services. When the bank card is used, a percentage of each purchase is donated to Catholic Charities, Quasula said.

The card can be recharged with cash and continue to be used to buy goods and make simultaneous contributions to the charity.

“The Loft homeless drop-in center follows our Catholic Charities mission by helping our community’s most vulnerable with solutions that permanently improve their lives,” Quasula said.

The Loft serves all people of all faiths, backgrounds and abilities, she said.

“It is our belief that often people stay in poverty because they lack resources,” Quasula said. “The path to prosperity requires more than just money. To get ahead, you need your family, a good education, social supports, good health and so much more.”

Paths of HOPE, Catholic Charities education outreach, operates several component programs to help people work their way out of poverty:

• Getting Ahead in a Just-Getting-by-World helps participants develop a “dream plan” to access all resources necessary for long-term prosperity.
• Circles of HOPE organizes community mentors to help participants create and work toward their dream plan.
• The Volunteer Income Tax Preparation Program helps low-income workers apply for earned income tax credits and other tax benefits.

Catholic Charities Community Services provided financial education to more than 221 participants during the past year.