Green Tie Gatherings support homeless women and children

On March 6, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City will host a Facebook Live event to raise money in place of their annual gala fundraiser.

Local news anchor Amanda Taylor will host the unique event.

“I’m so glad I get to work with Sanctuary. What a difference they’re making,” Taylor said. “When they’re able to help a mother and her kids who were sleeping in a car get into a home, you know this is an organization that is making a difference for our neighbors.”

At any given time, there are more than 1,500 people living on the streets in Oklahoma City and Norman, and 33 percent of those are women. Due to the pandemic, that number has increased and is harder to quantify. The recent cold weather conditions have made an already untenable situation even more perilous. Catholic Charities’ Women’s Development Centers are dedicated to helping these women with immediate needs such as showers, laundry and groceries as well as more long-term solutions like counseling, permanent housing and case management as well as assistance with utility bills and rental deposits.

“Due to the pandemic, many in our homeless population are staying at their campsites or the few available overnight shelters,” said Sheila McPherson, director of Sanctuary Norman. “The recent cold weather has caused an increased need for assistance and the options for these women are very limited.”

Green Tie Gatherings is a way for our donors to step up and help these women by making donations, bidding on auction items and changing a life. Auction items this year include:

Three-night stay at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona; a two-night stay at Hidden Hills Cabins in Broken Bow; a signed Keith Urban guitar; a David Yurman bracelet courtesy of BC Clark; beer for a year package courtesy of Capital Distributing; and exclusive travel packages through AmFund, including destinations to Ireland, Sedona, Key West and Iceland valid for three years with no blackout dates, roundtrip airfare for two and deluxe accommodations.

Sponsorships with dinner options from Hal Smith Restaurants are available. Open bidding for the auction items will begin on March 1 at greentiegatherings.org.

Executive Director Patrick Raglow said he is grateful to the following top-tier sponsors for their commitment to helping women in the Oklahoma City and Norman communities: American Fidelity Foundation, The Chris and Connie Burnett Foundation, The Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma Inc., Jim and Dori Smith, Mike and Sue Krenger, Thomas and Teresa Luetkemeyer, SSM Health, COOP Ale Works, Nick and Nicole Dell'Osso, Gant and Shelly Lambertz, Mercy, F.W. "Pete" and Barbara Brown, Mass Architects Inc., K.T. Meade Jr. and BancFirst.


“Just as we modified our Sanctuary services to meet the needs of homeless women and children in the pandemic environment, serving the most vulnerable of the vulnerable, we are going to change our Green Tie event as well,” Raglow said. “Precisely because of the pandemic, the women we serve need your help more than ever. Green Tie will look and feel different – socially distanced, gatherings not a gala – but the needs are greater than ever for these women and their families and your participation is critical to meeting our mission.”

For more information on how to participate, contact Anne O’Shields at (817) 313-3063 or visit greentiegatherings.org.

Catholic Charities has been providing services to build a stronger community for more than 108 years. Helping in 46 counties of central and western Oklahoma, services include counseling services, emergency rent and utility assistance, family H.O.P.E. case management, immigration legal services, refugee resettlement services and homeless services. Guided by Catholic teaching, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City serves those in need, regardless of their faith, through transformative, empowering and dignity-affirming social service programs that seek to eliminate material, emotional and spiritual poverty across central and western Oklahoma. Visit  ccaokc.org.