Seton Center Providing Help and Creating Hope, in the heart of the lower Eastern Shore

October 4, 2023 – (Wilmington, Delaware) – Catholic Charities Seton Center, a community center in Princess Anne, Somerset County, Maryland, provides help and creates hope for local residents struggling to meet basic needs by offering include food, financial assistance with rent and utilities, behavioral health counseling, and community enrichment programs.

One life changed was that of an older gentleman, who was living in his car and playing the piano at one of the local churches. He came to Seton Center for help, and was assisted with getting into housing. To this day, he says that we saved his life. His handwritten note of gratitude reads “I have no access to a computer. I would pay good money if someone wrote a short thank you to Catholic Charities thanking them for ALL they did for ME!”

At Seton Center, nutritious food options are available through an emergency food pantry to households in crisis, a monthly supplemental bag of groceries, or a bi-monthly shopping experience in a grocery store environment through CHOICE pantry. Households must meet income guidelines to join these programs.

Families in need do not always have the means to celebrate their child’s birthday, yet birthday celebrations are important to the little angels. The Birthday in a Box project was designed to do that! Donors can contribute an aluminum disposable pan with cake mix, frosting, and candles, with optional trimmings like cake decorations, or balloons for the room.

Kim Zarif, former long-term Seton Center volunteer, developed The Birthday in a Box project, after she was inspired by a family’s visit. She says, “I used to volunteer at the Seton Center, and I remember one small child who came to the emergency food panty with his mom. It was his birthday, and they did not have a cake. Sometimes, we take these special moments for granted.”

Birthday in a Box and other food donations, such as pasta and sauce, cereal and crackers, and canned goods can be dropped off to Catholic Charities – Seton Center, 30632 Hampden Avenue, Princess Anne, Maryland 21853, during regular business hours M-F 8:30AM-4:30PM. For more information, contact us at 410-651-9608.

Seton Center also offers routine mental health counseling to individuals, couples, and families to overcome struggles or adjust to a sudden life change, such as job loss, death of a loved one, or physical injury. Women of any age facing an unplanned, crisis pregnancy can call our toll-free pregnancy counseling hotline at 1-877-225-7870 24 hours a day to talk. Assistance is provided to link mothers and children to the Women Infants and Children [WIC] program to provide supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education. Community enrichment programs are utilized to help families stay healthy through wellness activities, and households are strengthened through financial coaching, connections to programs and services, and a caring, listening ear.

A small thrift shop on site specializes in new and gently used clothing and household goods. Other items, like furniture and appliances, may be available upon request. The Thrift Center is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

You can help by organizing a food drive or making a financial contribution. 

Coordinate a food drive at your organization and we can provide service hours for your volunteers. 

Donate online with a credit card at www.ccwilm.org. Click Donate and designate this program as the recipient. Scan this QR code to go directly to our website to make your gift! 

Checks may be mailed to Catholic Charities at 2601 W 4th Street, Wilmington, DE 19805. Please note this program on the memo line.

To subscribe to Catholic Charities electronic newsletter mailing list, visit us at https://www.ccwilm.org/join-us/ and submit the form. We do not sell or rent your information to any other organization.

We go to God through one another! Thank you for your generosity.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington is a faith-based, social services organization, delivering critical direct care human services to over 83,000 individuals and families residing in Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. To learn more about Catholic Charities, please visit https://www.ccwilm.org