About Us

Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington provides help and creates hope for thousands of people each year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. Catholic Charities is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, funded, in part, by the State of Washington, federal contracts, the United Way, fees for service, grants, foundations, and charitable contributions.

Rooted in a Catholic tradition that shapes its core mission of service to all, staff do not need to be Catholic to work for Catholic Charities. We serve all in the community, regardless of their faith. With office locations in Yakima, Wenatchee, Richland, Moses Lake, Omak, and Sunnyside, our multi-family housing sites across Central Washington, as well as services that stretch out to every county east of the Cascade Range we serve just over 65,000 people annually.

The agency remains a testimony to its ongoing mission of “Bringing Hope to Life.”

Click here to read our agency's Strategic Plan




Everyone is Welcome


At Catholic Charities, our mission is to bring hope to life. The dignity and uniqueness of each person are at the core of our mission. We are committed to an environment where employees and ​those we serve​ are empowered, valued, appreciated, and accepted. We are committed to an inclusive workforce that represents and respects diversity in all its forms and understand that it is a ​dynamic ​process. We are ​committed to​ evolving and advancing change. We actively pursue a workforce, leadership team, and governing boards that represent the communities we serve.


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In accordance with federal civil rights law, regulations, and policies, Catholic Charities serves all in the community, regardless of faith, race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, social class, or economic status. We serve all clients regardless of ability to pay. A discounted/sliding fee schedule is available based on family size and income.

Mission

Motivated by Christ’s love, we bring hope to life, especially for those most in need.

Vision

We envision communities where people are treated with dignity and respect, their basic needs are met, and they are empowered to enhance the quality of their own lives.

Values

We affirm our faith in God, who calls us to serve.

We celebrate the uniqueness and dignity of people.

We nurture children and strengthen families.

We provide quality services to those in need.

We serve people of all faiths.

History

Catholic Charities has been bringing hope to life in Central Washington since 1949. From our roots as a thrift store, we have responded to the needs in the communities we serve, offering services and support for all ages, from infancy to the elderly.

Board of Trustees

Mr. Terry Abeyta - Chairperson at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Chairperson

Mrs. Kathleen McCarthy - Vice Chairperson at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Vice Chairperson

Rev. Msgr. Robert Siler - Secretary at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Secretary

Mr. Paul Palmer - Treasurer at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Treasurer

Mrs. Brigid Chvilicek - Board of Trustees at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Board of Trustees

Mrs. Lupita Mason - Board of Trustees at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Board of Trustees

Ms. Marichuy Alvizar - Board of Trustees at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Board of Trustees

Dr. Michael Schaffrinna - Board of Trustees at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Board of Trustees

Dr. Maria Verduzco - Board of Trustees at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Board of Trustees

Chuck DeGooyer - Board of Trustees at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Board of Trustees

Fr. Christian Melendez - Board of Trustees at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Board of Trustees

Rev. Msgr. Thomas C. Champoux - Emeritus Trustee at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Emeritus Trustee

Senior Leadership Team

Darlene Darnell - President/Chief Executive Officer at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

President/Chief Executive Officer

Manuel Villafan - Vice President/Chief Operating Officer at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Vice President/Chief Operating Officer

Paul H. Palmer - Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer

Thomas Harris - Chief Information Officer at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Chief Information Officer

Susana Gonzalez - Executive Assistant at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Executive Assistant

Katherine Bell - Compliance Officer at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Compliance Officer

Whitney Carlson - Youth & Young Adult Services Director at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Youth & Young Adult Services Director

Catherine Dennis - Director of Early Learning at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Director of Early Learning

Melissa Gorsuch-Clark - Director of Clinical Practice at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Director of Clinical Practice

Kim Hatfield - North Central Director at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

North Central Director

Bryan Ketcham - Director of Housing Services at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Director of Housing Services

Angie Mobley - Director of Human Resources at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Director of Human Resources

Steve Wilmes - Director of Development & Outreach at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington

Director of Development & Outreach

Catholic Social Teaching Guides Our Work

The Catholic Church has a history of speaking to the issues that affect society and challenging its followers to live responsibly and help build a just world. Modern Catholic social teaching, rooted in scripture and articulated through a tradition of written documents, has evolved in response to the challenges of the day. It is the foundation of the mission and values of Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington.

The following are several of the key themes at the heart of our Catholic social tradition.

The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred, and the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. We believe every person is precious, people are more important than things, and the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.

The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society in economics and politics, in law and policy directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. Marriage and the family are the central social institutions that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined. We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially poor and vulnerable people.

The Catholic tradition teaches us to protect human dignity and achieve a healthy community through protecting human rights and meeting our responsibilities to one another. Every person has a fundamental right to life, a right to those things required for human decency, and a responsibility to one another, our families, and the larger society.

A basic moral test of society is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition instructs us to put the needs of poor and vulnerable people first.

The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers to access productive work, earn decent and fair wages, organize and join unions, keep private property, and foster economic initiatives must be respected.

We are one human family, regardless of our national, racial, ethnic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be throughout the world. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Pope Paul IV taught, “If you want peace, work for justice.” The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict.

We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is a requirement of the Catholic faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in a relationship with all of God’s creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical implications we cannot ignore.

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