Araceli Gonzales: Director of The Disaster Services
Araceli Gonzales Is The Program Director For Catholic Charities’ Disaster Services In The Emergency Programs And Housing Services Division.
“I Was Raised And Went To School In East San Jose And Have Always Been A Part Of This Community,” According To Araceli Who Has A Deep Personal Connection To Her Work. “Helping People Is Just Who I Am – To Me, It’s Normal.”
In March 2020, Araceli Gonzales Started Getting Urgent Calls From Her Catholic Charities’ Co-Workers And Partner Agencies Like Second Harvest Food Bank. They Were Overwhelmed With Skyrocketing Requests For Food Due To The Pandemic, Including A Parish-Based Community Market That Went From The Usual 300 People To 1,000 People In A Two-Hour Window. And Many Requests Came From Areas Of The County Where Demand For Critical Services Was Low Prior To The Government-Ordered Shutdown. Clearly, The Need Was Wide And Deep—And Unfolding Fast. How Would Catholic Charities Help To Get Food Safely And Efficiently To Thousands Of People In Need While Securing Multiple Food Distribution Locations, A Fleet Of Delivery Vans, And PPE For Staff And Volunteers? Araceli’s Team—With Agency Leadership, Staff, Volunteers, Other Disaster Relief Agencies And Professionals—Sprang Into Action To Coordinate What Would Become The Largest Disaster Relief Operation In The 65-Year History Of Catholic Charities Of Santa Clara County. This Summer, She Was One Of Several Speakers At The Announcement That Catholic Charities—With Its Partners—Had Distributed Food For Almost 17 Million Meals Since March 2020. An Amazing Milestone That Was Due In Great Part To Araceli’s Leadership!