Catholic Social Services

DIRECTORS:
Sr. Celine Fahy, MFIC
1969 - 1983

Sr. Kathleen Toland,
MFIC 1983 - 1986

Sr. Noreen Dennehy,
MFIC 1986 - 1993

Mrs. Maxine Miller
1993 - 1997

Mr. Richard E. (Rick)Tuchscherer
1997 - 2009

Sr. Janet Roddy
Current


CSS

BRIEF HISTORY OF
CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES

Catholic Social Services was founded in DOWNTOWN Augusta, GA in 1969 by Sister Celine Fahey, a Missionary Franciscan Sister who, for a number of years, had been principal of Immaculate Conception School, a Black Catholic School in Augusta’s inner city. Having experienced the dire poverty of so many neighborhood families, their unhealthy living conditions, and their poor nutrition, Sister dedicated the rest of her life to responding dramatically to these needs. With the confirmation and blessing of the Bishop of Savannah, Sister Celine opened Catholic Social Services in a little yellow house on the 1100 block of 12th Street, across from the Catholic School.

The ministry of Catholic Social Services grew from home visitation, food and clothing provision, and outreach to the elderly, the sick, and the homeless, to providing the emergency assistance needed for shelter, utilities, and transportation. After Sister Celine’s death in 1983, and when the “little yellow house” was no longer a safe and secure location for outreach ministry, CSS moved to a somewhat bigger “red house” on Arsenal Avenue provided by St. Mary’s Parish. In time, a food pantry was added on to the red house and a clothing distribution site was opened nearby.

In 1999 Catholic Social Services purchased property at 811 12th Street in Augusta (four blocks from the site of the “little yellow house”) closer to partner agencies in the downtown outreach network and to most of the struggling people we serve. This newer facility is client-centered, with handicapped access and bathroom facilities, a hospitable waiting room, space and privacy for client case management/counseling (a prerequisite for any and all services or assistance), and a sizeable on-site food pantry. A larger building was leased on Broad Street which houses the Catholic Social Services Thrift Store and Clothing Distribution Center for the poor.

In time, and in an effort to fill service gaps in the area, Catholic Social Services added medical assistance to its agenda: providing prescription medication, medical equipment, and supplies to indigent and uninsured persons, and helping jobless clients with clinic co-pays and emergency dental care. In addition, we now assist in procuring birth certificates for individuals and families, and support client employment by providing required shoes or boots, clothing, and transportation until the first pay check is received. In the coming months we will provide on-line Food Stamp application through our office, and educational programs in budgeting, nutrition, and healthy home maintenance.

  • 41 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS OPERATION: 1969-2010