MADISON — The Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) is still making a difference, one person at a time!
Throughout the pandemic, the CMC has continued to offer crucial services to help people meet their basic needs: food pantry with personal hygiene items, food pantry delivery, employment search assistance, low-cost immigration legal services, and Dane County’s only free community meal served every day of the week.
Though we cannot gather in-person this year, the CMC is continuing the tradition of its annual bilingual (English/Spanish) Radiothon fundraiser and community celebration with La Movida radio.
On Friday, Dec. 11, from 12 noon to 7 p.m., participants can join the event by tuning into La Movida, following CMC online, or coming to the donation drive-up.
Getting help from the CMC
Alejandro is one of many CMC guests who have been hit hard by the pandemic.
“It’s very stressful, I’m worried about people getting sick. I hope this ends as soon as possible,” he said.
Alejandro works in janitorial services at UW Hospital. While he mainly cleans offices and restrooms, he still worries while at work because “the virus could be anywhere.”
Alejandro lives with an elderly roommate and his nine-year old son. He wants to do all that he can to protect them, which is why he turned to CMC’s food pantry delivery program as a safe, no-contact way to receive food.
After the pandemic hit, CMC staff found that there were quite a few people who could not physically come to the parking lot food pantry due to illness, being in a risk category, not having access to safe transportation, or other reasons related to the pandemic.
In May, the CMC started food pantry delivery to assist people like Alejandro.
“It helps a lot. We don’t need to go to the store as much now. With the pandemic, we don’t want to be at the store any more than we have to.”
Most of the time Alejandro is ordering food pantry delivery not for himself but for his elderly roommate, who struggles to afford food on her fixed income and cannot safely go to the store due to being in a COVID-19 risk category.
“I have known about the CMC for many years; they offer good food with very good service, and it helps a lot.”
For Alejandro, his son, and his roommate, food pantry delivery has enabled them to receive a consistent food source while reducing their risk of COVID-19 exposure.
He wants to see a lot of support come through the Radiothon so that the CMC can continue the pantry delivery and all its other services.
“The CMC offers something when people need help . . . and a lot of people need help these days, so any support you can offer [to the CMC] would be nice.”
Virtual Radiothon
With the threat of COVID-19, the CMC is taking the Radiothon virtual this year.
La Movida 1480AM/94.5FM will broadcast live from 1 to 7 p.m. featuring interviews with CMC staff, volunteers, program participants, and community partners.
Meanwhile, CMC will kick off festivities online at noon featuring an Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass, several Facebook Live broadcasts, and a community party on Zoom to wrap things up from 6 to 7 p.m.
Virtual donations will be taken via the CMC website, by text message, or by calling the CMC.
For those who still prefer to donate in-person, the CMC is offering drive-up donations in their parking lot (1862 Beld St., Madison) from 4 to 6 p.m.
Drive-up donors can take the party home with free hot beverages and a tamale dinner for everyone who donates.
CMC donor and volunteer Ivan Arias, said, “Every dollar that goes to the CMC, I know it will find its way to the community in the best possible way. Especially in these pandemic times, this support is so important. People need jobs, they are having a hard time to provide food for families, they need help with their immigration case; the CMC is there where help is really needed.”
To find out more about the Radiothon event and how you can participate, visit: cmcmadison.org/radiothon-2020