Catholic Charities of Alabama works through two Catholic dioceses, Birmingham and Mobile, running refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, emergency food programs, counseling, and housing support across the state. This page explains how to donate, where volunteers are needed, and how to reach the right office if you need assistance.
Alabama is split between the Diocese of Birmingham in the north and the Archdiocese of Mobile in the south, and Catholic Charities operates programs through both. Together the two cover emergency food assistance, rent and utility help for families in crisis, counseling, housing support, refugee resettlement, and immigration legal services. Assistance is open to people of all faiths; the Catholic name describes the sponsor, not an eligibility test.
The immigration work matters more in Alabama than many people assume. The state has a large Hispanic and immigrant workforce, concentrated in poultry processing and agriculture in the northern and central counties. Catholic Charities handles DACA renewals, family petitions, and related legal casework for those communities, along with broader social support.
Demand for food help has been rising. When SNAP benefits were suspended in October 2025, food assistance programs in both Birmingham and Mobile saw immediate increases in families seeking groceries and emergency aid, and that pressure has kept the pantry side of the operation busy.
Monetary gifts stretch furthest because staff can direct them to whichever program is under the most strain in a given month, from food purchasing to rental assistance. You can give online at ccalabama.org/donate.
If you want your gift restricted to a specific program, such as refugee resettlement or emergency food, note that during checkout or contact the office in your diocese first to confirm the designation can be honored. Recurring monthly gifts help the food programs plan purchasing ahead of demand spikes. If your employer matches charitable gifts, submitting the match form roughly doubles what the programs receive at no extra cost to you.
Volunteers assist with food distribution, resettlement support for newly arrived families, and administrative work in the offices. Time commitments vary by role, so start with the volunteer information on the official site and ask which locations currently have openings.
If you need help, emergency assistance covers rent, utilities, and food for households in crisis regardless of faith background. Immigration legal services take appointments through the local offices. Hours and locations can change, so check the official site or call before making a trip.
Catholic Charities affiliates are independently governed nonprofits, so a two-minute check is worthwhile: confirm the organization's 501(c)(3) status in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search at apps.irs.gov, scan its Charity Navigator profile, and keep the written acknowledgment for any gift of $250 or more.
Sources: Catholic Charities of Alabama official site (ccalabama.org); our Alabama charity guide research. Retrieved July 2026. We are not affiliated with Catholic Charities of Alabama and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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