Catholic Charities kicked off its annual appeal Tuesday while the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo continues to feel the effects of its sex abuse scandal.

Parishioners are being asked to remain loyal to the church and continue to contribute to the annual fundraising campaign for Catholic Charities, which this year has a goal of collecting $11 million.

A total of $1.4 million already has been raised, the diocese said.

That money funds 70 programs for its 61 sites across Western New York.

Those programs provide food and shelter as well as other benefits like workforce training for the area’s most vulnerable people.

The appeal struggled to hit its goal last year until a final push towards its end date.

Some credit that to sexual abuse allegations levied against several diocese priests last spring.

Last summer, however, Catholic Charities announced it would no longer be providing foster and adoption services, choosing religious principle over New York State requirements that agencies must work with homosexuals and same-sex couples who seek to take in children. The 90-year program will come to an end this spring, with Buffalo Child and Family Services already starting to handle some cases.

Despite that organizers believe they’ll meet their $11 million goal.

 “We understand people are still upset and concerned about issues affecting the church,” said Catholic Charities CEO Dennis Walczyk. “But we are upfront, we are addressing them, the diocese is addressing them and we hope people will still want to give to Catholic Charities."

Catholic Charities programs helped more than 152,000 people in 2018.

The appeal runs through June 30.