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Plagued by ongoing economic concerns, the Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens has announced that its Catholic Charities service will allocate $250,000 in emergency funding to assist needy Queens and Brooklyn parishes.

The new initiative, called The Matthew 25 Project, was started last week by Catholic Charities, which is the human services arm of the Diocese. The organization will grant $100 to $25,000 in monetary aid to parishes that apply for help. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for as long as the funds are available, according to Catholic Charities spokeswoman Nina Valmonte.

Parishes and parish clusters awarded the funds, which have been acquired through individual donors and supporters of Catholic Charities, will work closely with Catholic Charities to facilitate parish-based initiatives. The money will be used to provide resources such as job training, financial literacy and emergency assistance, Valmonte said. The organization has seen an increase in requests to supplement food pantries at the parishes, food voucher assistance and money orders that directly pay for parishioners’ medication and co-pays for doctor appointments.

“During this time of crisis, the Church is in solidarity with those in need and we call upon Catholic Charities to lend its experience to the parishes,” said Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio. “Through this collaboration, we seek to strengthen our abilities to help struggling parishioners.”

Catholic Charities has operated in the borough since 1931. The organization offers 183 programs and services for children, youth, adults, seniors and the developmentally disabled and mentally ill. It is also one of the largest providers of affordable housing, having provided 3,000 housing units for needy residents in Queens and Brooklyn. The organization sustains its projects through donations. It hopes the Matthew 25 Project will encourage additional support, including donations from foundations, corporations and private donors.

“The current economic crisis has had a drastic impact on our communities – significant job loss, decreased wages, and ever increasing medical bills, food costs and living expenses necessary for survival,” said Robert Siebel, chief executive officer for Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens. “While the Catholic Charities’ coordinated network of 183 human service programs continues to provide services to the most vulnerable throughout Brooklyn and Queens, the agency anticipates this new approach will help in meeting the needs of our neighbors.”