ORLANDO  | Amidst the unprecedented foster care crisis, Catholic churches around the United States are joining forces with CarePortal, an organization dedicated to connection and helping children and families by building relationships with them.

In the Diocese of Orlando, St. John the Evangelist in Viera and Our Lady of Lourdes in Daytona Beach served more than 100 families over the past year and a half. And more parishes are training to get on board.

CarePortal connects vulnerable children and families with caring neighbors in their own community. Launched in 2015, CarePortal enables “Care-Sharing”, real-time sharing of needs in the community with those willing to help.

CarePortal touches every aspect of Catholic Social Teaching — from call to family, community and participation, to caring for the poor and vulnerable, and solidarity to care for creation. It offers Catholics a chance to answer their call to discipleship.

In July of 2024, Bishop John Noonan asked pastors to consider working with CarePortal and Catholic Charities of Central Florida. They receive more than 650 calls per day from families and individuals seeking assistance. “I believe we are called to respond to the poor and the vulnerable with charity and compassion, whether through the ministries of Catholic Charities or through a local parish,” he wrote. “At a time when families and individuals are hurting more and more, this platform provides an opportunity for us to be the Eucharist to those in need, to be Christ’s hands and feet. Remember St. Teresa of Calcutta’s simple summary of the Gospel — ‘You did it to me.’”

Father Phil Egitto, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Daytona Beach, is all in with more than 100 volunteers.

“At our parish we are always looking for ways to love the God we cannot see by loving the neighbor we can. When the bishop and (Deacon) Gary Tester asked all our parishes to be involved in CarePortal, I was excited to find yet another way to serve God,” Father Egitto said. “We believe it is easy to say we love our neighbor but unless we are willing to do it, it remains empty words. Love is to will the good of the other and act on it. The acting on it is what we do best,” he told Florida Catholic in an email. “It is a great ministry working collaboratively with other Christians in the community to serve these families in need with the basics that most of us take for granted.”

Father Egitto explained although their involvement began recently, in October 2025, Our Lady of Lourdes teams have already made a tremendous difference in the lives of those in need.

Sara Truhlar heads up the ministry. A long-time parishioner involved in everything from pastoral council to creating church bulletins and heading up social media, she reluctantly accepted her pastor’s invitation to lead the ministry. Much to her surprise, it has “been “mind-blowing.”

“It’s just a phenomenal idea,” she said noting the system is relatively seamless. “It’s just an amazing avenue to serve people in a very structured, organized way.” Parishioners serving in the ministry take required sensitivity and dignity training and learn to navigate the system for optimal success.

Although primarily focused on children and families, the portal also assists veterans, the disabled, and the elderly. Once someone accepts a request, a case worker reaches out and shares the family contact information. “You’re obviously meeting their needs immediately, but the hope is also to connect them to community,” said Truhlar. “That is the ultimate goal.”

Truhlar shared her teams have served seven families before Christmas and she stayed in touch with all of them. Christmas day everyone sent texts conveying their gratitude and noting how “life-changing” their experience with Our Lady of Lourdes teams was.

All requests on CarePortal are vetted. The portal also allows organizations to add requested needs. For instance, a team at Our Lady of Lourdes is working with farm workers in Pearson and hopes to add the needs of their children and families soon.

Bob and Leona Fenbers are parishioners of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Viera. With organizational experience stemming from their service in the Air Force and Army, respectively, and their work with children and families in the military, pastor Father John Britto found the couple uniquely suited to lead the ministry that began in July 2024. To date their teams have served 94 children.

When the Fenbers find a request they can fulfill, they spend a day praying and discerning if they are the best people to address the needs of that family. They pray for the families and ask God to “pour blessings on them.” Sometimes the request is accepted by another group, but often they are led to accept it the following day.

When they deliver the necessary items, they share they are from St. John the Evangelist, give them a weekly bulletin, and let them know their support teams are available. “Sometimes you don’t have to preach the Gospel to share Christ,” said Leona. “Just taking a moment and loving these people, really trying your very best to help them a little bit goes a long way. It’s so humbling to go out there and just say, it’s not just us helping… The community has donated… showing that God is everywhere. We try to give Christ the glory.”

Bob recalled their most memorable situation assisting a single mother with two small children and a 13-year-old with a disability. They delivered bunk beds, books, and a dresser with bedding, blankets and pillows. “They were so grateful,” he said. Asking if they needed anything else, they were able to provide a sofa too.

Last year the Fenbers team at St. John the Evangelist was recognized as one of the top 10 organizations in Florida for their assistance through CarePortal. Both the Fenbers and Truhlar want parishes to know their involvement can be as small as providing diapers or as large as taking on an entire case. Every little bit makes a difference.

President of Catholic Charities of Central Florida, Deacon Gary Tester is working with CarePortal officials and the Diocese of Orlando to position Catholic Charities to be the agency partner for CarePortal for the whole diocese. “We want to come on board and be that agency partner where we would monitor the CarePortal with volunteers in order to more fully engage the parishes of the diocese,” he explained. As an example, he would contact a parish closest to the request to fulfill needs.

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops is vetting this opportunity and is anxious to see how the Diocese of Orlando responds in the hopes of encouraging participation statewide.

By Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, February 05, 2026