The Open Door

An Ash Wednesday Message from Msgr. John Enzler

2012-02-22T13:55:00.002-04:00

Today is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent in theChristian calendar.

Father John distributed ashes at a mass held for staff.

For many of us, Lentis a time when we make sacrifices that help us to cherish and keep close thesacrifice Christ made for us. Additionally, days of fasting remind us to alwaysstand in solidarity with those whose hunger pangs come more frequently andwithout choice.

Growingup, I was taught by my parents that there were three pillars to the Catholicparticipation in Lent: fasting, prayer and alms giving. As a youngster, I woulddutifully give up sweets or candy and say extra prayers in the morning orevening with my father or mother by my side. But I did not understand almsgiving.

Asan adult, I now better understand how important it is for me to share myblessings with others. I see much more clearly just how blessed I am. Theseblessings come both in the treasures which afford me safety and security, butalso in the warmth and support of family and friends like you.

ThisLent, I want to see our community extend that warmth in an overwhelming way toour neighbors in need. Each year, Catholic Charities’ programs reach and helpmore than 100,000 people. How great could our impact be if everyone who readthis committed to doing at least one act of kindness and service during Lentfor someone in need?

Like today’s Gospel lesson from Matthew 6: 1-6 reminds us, youdon’t need to pledge or proclaim your righteous works to me or anyone else.Offer it instead as a gift to our Father in heaven. If you can promise to addone good act to your Lent, please visit www.CatholicCharitiesDC.org/volunteerto find out ways you can help.

I hope this Ash Wednesday and Lenten season are a period ofreflection and growth for you and your family. Growing up, I longed for the endof Lent, which brought the tidings of spring and the celebration of Easter.Now, I find a special sense of purpose in these 40 days and in finding new waysto stand in solidarity with the poor and to be the face of Christ for those inneed.

May God bless you,

Monsignor John J. Enzler

President and CEO

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington

Take action:

This Lent, help us feed our neighbors through the Share in Hope Food Drive

Support the work of Catholic Charities through an online donation

Learn more about volunteer opportunities available through Catholic Charities

Hope - in a hundred fonts and formats!

2012-02-07T16:59:00.001-04:00

Anthony has learned Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel!

Technology has eased the stress and complication ofjob-hunting for many people – there’s online databases, online applications,even online reference checks. But for Anthony, a resident at our Mulumba House,technology was a major obstacle; until ten months ago, he had never even touched a computer.

Nevila Gremi, Anthony’s case manager at Mulumba, said thisis a common problem among people who are homeless. And it’s not just onlineapplications: there are also resumes, cover letters, and basic computer skillsthat many jobs would require of applicants.

So Anthony began taking a computer literacy course. “Atfirst I was scared,” he said. “I thought I might mess the computer up.” But hesoon learned that computer programs have options to help undo any mistakes hemakes. And, thankfully, so does life – as long as you have the rightattitude.

Anthony at Mulumba House

Anthony freely admits that he didn’t always have the rightattitude. As a young man, he turned away from some of the blessings in his life– a loving family, a good education – and began experimenting with drugs andalcohol. This experimentation became a dangerous force in his life. “You loseyour spiritual connection with God,” he said. “And you do stuff that’sunbecoming.” He committed crimes of robbery and assault that kept him in thejustice system since the 70s, including a 25-year jail sentence.

It was during his incarceration that Anthony redirected hislife. The first broken relationship he repaired was with God. “If I didn’tfortify my spiritual connection, I would really have been lost,” he said. Healso stopped using drugs and alcohol and dropped contact with people who were anegative influence on him. When he was released from prison, he was mentallyand spiritually refreshed. – but with absolutely nothing in the way of housingor income.

One of his daughters opened her home to him, but Anthonywanted to build an independent life, so he went to a 90-day transitional housefor ex-offenders. Determined to stay clean, he attended meetings for recoveringaddicts. “These meetings aren’t just about drugs,” he said. “They’re for howyou think and treat yourself. They’re about your spirituality.”

As his 90 days at the transitional house came to an end,Anthony knew that he could not hope to afford housing without a steady income.So he turned to our Mulumba House, a safe haven for men overcoming homelessnessand substance abuse. Mulumba is a transitional housing program, meaning theresidents all have demonstrated a commitment to sobriety and are ready for asupportive environment with more flexibility. “The men are mature here. Youneed to have a direction for your life to be here,” he said.

He wasted no time in getting on top of his job search, butrealized that his lack of computer skills were a major hole in hisqualifications. “I was ashamed,” he said. “I had a friend, her young daughtercould do everything on the computer. And my teenage grandson is a computerwhiz.” He enrolled in a computerliteracy course at the National Housing Corporation Learning Center, where theyalso set Anthony up with a refurbished laptop computer.

Anthony now has an impressive list of skills for several MicrosoftOffice programs – he can design presentations, write and use formulas on Excel,use headers and footers, adjust formatting, and change the look of a documentwith all different fonts. “I see him working at his computer – he knows how todo things I can’t!” Ms. Gremi said. “He loves to work and is interested in sometype of office work environment.”

Anthony knows he has a lot more learning to do before he’sready for a technology-intensive career, but he’s grateful for the progresshe’s making – not only on his trusty laptop, but also within his personal development.“Now I’m really living,” he said. “I enjoy life. I’ve had many blessings, and I’m conscious ofthem. There’s people who have my interest at heart – like Ms. Gremi and thestaff at Mulumba House. I just have to trust in them, trust in God, trust inmyself, and trust in the direction I’m headed.”

Where’s he headed now? “Have to go do my practice beforeclass!”

Get involved!

Dressed for success:Many of our clients, like Anthony, are ready to hit the job market, but lackbusiness suits and other professional attire that are crucial for making apositive first impression. Consider an in-kind donation of gently-usedprofessional wear, or host a drive!

Volunteer: Mulumba House welcomes volunteers for clerical support and case management services.Can you help out? Give them a call! (202) 234-2399

Donate: They knowhow to stretch a dime at Mulumba House – see how far your dime can go inhelping men like Anthony get back on their feet!

Learn more aboutemployment-training services at the National Housing Corporation LearningCenter.

Read on! Relatedposts:

With a new language, new hopes for the new year

Life at the New York Avenue Men’s Emergency Shelter: ToughLove

Marching with a message!

2012-01-26T13:16:00.000-04:00

We were soproud to have staff from ourSanctuaries for Life Program hit the streets of Washington, DC for Marchfor Life, held on Monday, January 23. The annual event attracts hundreds ofthousands of pro-life activists each year. Despite the rainy weather, our staffwere thrilled to take part in and witness the amazing show of support for acause so integral to Sanctuaries for Life's life-affirming mission. Scroll downfor pictures from our staff's experience at March for Life!

Above: Jenny (left), Resource Coordinator for Sanctuaries for Life, poses with Julia Shelava (right), Director of the Project Rachel Ministry of the Archdiocese of Washington. Jenny and Michelle Williams, Senior Manager for Sanctuaries for Life, helped Project Rachel distribute information at St. Matthew's Cathedral.


Archbishop Wuerl processes through the Verizon Center for the Youth Rally and Mass for Life.


Thousands of pro-life supporters packed the Verizon Center for the Youth Rally and Mass for Life, including Ana, our Sanctuaries for Life Prenatal Care Coordinator.

Marchers gather before the U.S. Supreme Court.


The rain and cold did not deter marchers from getting their pro-life message heard!

Read On!

"Baby Calls" are a real blessing at Sanctuaries for Life

Take Action!

Support the life-affirming work of Sanctuaries for Life through in-kind donations of baby items (diapers, formula, strollers, car seats). Hold a drive within your parish, pro-life organization, or youth group! You can also make a financial donation to Sanctuaries for Life. Staff is also seeking volunteers who share their pro-life philosophy to assist with clerical work - call 301-441-1472 for additional information!

Make yourself at home...the green way!

2012-01-13T14:10:00.000-04:00

Hilda is one of the program's most recent grads!

Is concrete flooring environmentally friendly? Areformaldehyde-treated products safe for your home? And what’s the deal with VolatileOrganic Compounds (VOCs)?

If you’re aiming for a greener lifestyle, these are someimportant questions...and the recent graduates from our Spanish Catholic Center’s Green Construction Training Program have all the answers for you!

The program, which runs for 12 weeks, gives its students abasic foundation of understanding in all aspects of construction, andspecializes in how to build energy efficient and sustainable construction. Thegoal of the program is give immigrants, especially in the Hispanic community,employable skill sets that will help them land jobs improving the community.

Jaime Marcello Ortiz, a recent graduate of the program, hasalready secured a construction job that will begin next week. A native ofEcuador, he came to the United States to work with his father as a salesmannine years ago, but never felt satisfied with this career.


On-site training is an essential part of the Green Construction Training Program.

“I wanted to do something else. I wanted to change my life.And for me, as a salesman, I’d never change my life,” he said.

Jaime’s aunt runs a construction business, but she said shecouldn’t hire him because he had no knowledge in the field. “I didn’t evenknow how to use a screwdriver,” Jaime admitted. Now, he’s prepared to join hisaunt’s business, applying all he’s learned from the Green Construction Training Program.

As part of the class, Jaime and his fellow classmates evenhad the opportunity to hear presentations from David Johnston, a pioneer ofgreen construction in the United States. David has become a regular lecturerfor the program, sharing his 30-plus years of experience in the field. “Davidis a great teacher, very passionate, and what I like most is that he keeps theclass interesting and lets you give your opinion,” Jaime said.

We got to sit in on the class during one of David’s lecturesand couldn’t believe how approachable he made the material. He used hands-on(and sometimes pretty funny!) examples to back theoretical concepts, likedescribing how one party full of women wearing high heels could puncturelaminate flooring beyond repair.

The students were eager to participate in David’s lectureand volunteer their insights. When the session ended, the class even broke outinto applause to thank David for his time, and several students asked him to sign theirtextbooks!

David (left, seated) signs textbooks for members of the class.

“This is like a gold mine for me,” said Hilda Addai, anotherrecent graduate from the program. “I enjoyed all of it, because this classcontains the most well-detailed information I’ve ever had about construction.”

Like Jaime, Hilda is an immigrant looking for a fresh startwith a new career. She often shared what she knew about construction practicesin her native country, Ghana. David really relished the multicultural angle hegot from her and other students. “Everyone brings something of richness fromhis or her culture,” he said. The most recent group alone included studentsfrom Ecuador, Honduras, Sudan, Panama, Ethiopia, and more.

David’s wife, Elena, helps out with the class. Sheparticularly admires the courage of the students who show up for the program.“Most are immigrants – and they had the courage to leave everything they knewin their home to start over. And man,that’s hard!”

But as the class itself can testify, the education theyreceive from the Green Construction Training Program is well worth the challenge.Because the program does more than teach students about constructions – itallows them to feel positively about their ability to make a valuablecontribution to their community. And that’s something you won’t find in anytextbook.

More information about the Green Construction TrainingProgram – including an informational video! – is available right here.

Get Involved!

The Spanish Catholic Center offers holistic services to immigrants from around the world.

--Sign up to volunteer at the Spanish Catholic Center with this online form!

--Make a contribution directly to the Spanish Catholic Center.

Read On!

With a new language, new hopes for the New Year

Finding her freedom in work

Stay in touch with us on Facebook!

Thanks to all you Kris Kringles out there...

2012-01-06T14:08:00.000-04:00


Our Refugee Center hosted a Christmas luncehon

We’re kicking off the New Year with an immense feeling ofgratitude for all those who helped make it a very Merry Christmas here atCatholic Charities. Thanks to staff, volunteers, and plenty of kind-hearted“Kris Kringles” who generously gave what they could, we ensured that theholidays were bright and hopeful for our neighbors in need.

Here’s a quick Christmas Wrap-Up to show you just a fewholiday highlights from our programs, all made possible through your support:

We were overwhelmed at the enormous response to our AngelTree. We were able to give gifts to nearly 200 children in our programs and localcommunity, with contributions fromCatholic Charities employees and volunteers, businesses, organizations andindividuals (including one of our “tweeps”!).
Our SouthernMaryland Food Bank distributed enough food to prepare an incredible 3,000+holiday meals! Additionally, they supplied 56 children at risk for foodinsecurity with 32 snacks each to ensure these kids would have enough to eatover the extended holiday break.
Patiently waiting for Santa Claus at our Kennedy Institute

Men and women at our Hermano PedroDay Program received brand-new winter clothing this Christmas through thegenerosity of St. Andrew Kim Korean Catholic Church in Olney, Maryland, led byFather Bang J.Y. Thanks to donations, Father Bang was able to purchase 150 setsof thermal underwear, winter hats, socks, and mittens.
New and expectant mothers at our Sanctuaries forLife program enjoyed a Christmas luncheon with games, prizes, and presentsfor their children from local parishes. Many of the new moms brought theirbabies, and the whole group listened together about the birth of Christ, readaloud from the Gospel of Luke. Theevent was even featured in the Catholic Standard!
St. Bartholomew’s Choir of Bethesda held a holiday concertthat raised funds to benefit our Mt. CarmelHouse. Several residents even attended the event – Program Manager LorraineLynch said it was “an evening of elegance for them.”
The array of gorgeous gifts you see to the right weredonated to our Southeast Family Center by staff at Georgetown UniversityHospital. Thanks to them, over 400 families in the program received presents!
Our Refugee Centerhosted a Christmas party for over 100 refugees complete with live music,Christmas gifts from Catholic Charities USA, and a fantastic homemade spreadfrom volunteers Carol and Ann. For many of the refugees, this was their firstChristmas celebration in the United States!
At our Lt. Joseph P.Kennedy Institute, Christmas spirit abounded at several holiday partieshosted by staff and outside organizations International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) and Gallup. The little ones fromthe ChildDevelopment Center loved meeting Santa, and the older kids from The KennedySchool made sure the man in red knew what was foremost on their Christmaslist. IFDA also hosted a party for the adults in Kennedy's Community Living program.
The men at our New York Avenue and 801 East Shelter received the gift of warmth this Christmas thanks to generous clothing donations from Gifts for the Homeless, Friends Meeting of Washington, and Keys for the Homeless Foundation.

And don’t forget - all of our 77programs need your support not just at Christmastime, but all year round.So make a New Year’s resolution to give of yourself in some way – whether it’s takingadvantage of one of our many volunteer opportunities, organizing a clothingdrive, preparing a meal, or donating directly to a program – to help empowerall those who turn to Catholic Charities in their time of need.

And from all of us at Catholic Charities – Happy New Year!

Read On!

With a new language, new hopes for the New Year

2011-12-30T17:23:00.003-04:00

Though they’re new to the country and new to the language, clients at our Refugee Center have big plans for their first year in the States.

Several clients shared these plans with us last Thursday during the Refugee Center’s English as a Second Language (ESL) class. Our ESL Coordinator, Birhanu Alemu, leads the class each Thursday, teaching English that emphasizes workplace English. It is a very community-oriented class, as the students encourage each other in their progress, help translate for each other, and share words from their native language to explain meaning. As newcomers to this country, the students seek a common goal: to build new, fulfilling lives for themselves in the United States.

Language, however, is a major barrier to that goal. To overcome that and other obstacles, many immigrants in the Washington, DC area turn to our Refugee Center for help with housing, employment, English classes, and more.

“Language is my biggest challenge to finding a job,” said Bizaiyhu, one of the students in the class. Bizaiyhu, her husband, and her baby son came to the United States from Israel under political asylum. She had worked as a nurse there, and now hopes to improve her English so that she can continue her career here.

Many immigrants leave much behind them when they come to the United States: their family, their home, their livelihood, and rebuilding their lives can be a slow process. But once they can speak English competently, they can secure better jobs, communicate with more people, and feel more like a part of the American culture, while of course retaining their unique heritages.

This will be the first American New Year for Bizaiyhu and her family, as they arrived in the country just four months ago. She said that in Israel, they observed the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, each September.

“We have special treats to celebrate: apples with honey, because you hope the new year will be sweet like honey, and the head of a fish, because you want to be like the head – on top!” Bizaiyhu said.

As a former refugee, originally from Ethiopia, Birhanu understands the special challenges each of his students are facing. He shared his own memories of Ethiopia’s celebrations, along with Almaz, a new refugee from Ethiopia. Together, they described Ethiopian New Year’s customs. The holiday is very special there, because it’s one the whole country celebrates, unlike others that are religiously based. People serve special food and drinks for the holiday, and often visit family and give presents to loved ones.

Similar to the United States’ practice of making resolutions, Ethiopians set objectives to reach in the New Year. “The government there encourages people to think greater and do greater in the new year,” Birhanu explained.

How does the ESL class plan to “think greater and do greater” in 2012? Most hope to find jobs and to continue to improve their English. One member of the class, Bijan, has a very particular goal that the ESL class is helping him achieve. An Iranian journalist who was granted political asylum, Bijan turned to the Refugee Center for help in obtaining his social security card, food stamps, and a work permit.

Now, he is a regular attendee at the ESL class so he can continue his journalism career for English-language media. He writes in Farsi for several online and print news sources, and his journalism has been translated for the New York Times and Washington Post. But he’d like to be able to write in and/or translate to English for himself.

It’s a big dream, but one he feels confident about meeting with the help of Birhanu and the support of the class. Though they hail from different countries and approach the class at different competency levels, they are all working to set achievable goals and better their lives in America.

As far as New Year’s resolutions go, I think that’s a pretty good one. Don’t you?

Want to help newcomers to the United States achieve their goals in 2012?

Volunteer: Volunteers are welcome to assist with job club, resume building, and community connections. Get more information here.

Donate: Only with the support of the community can we be there for refugees coming to our region. Make a donation directly to the Refugee Center here.

Read on!

Kicking Off World Refugee Day

Home for the Holidays

A Christmas Message from Msgr. Enzler

2011-12-24T10:00:00.000-04:00

Greetingson this blessed Christmas Eve,

From allof us at Catholic Charities, Merry Christmas! We wish you a very happy holiday and offer our most heartfeltappreciation for your support of Catholic Charities throughout this past year. Even tonight, as I celebrate Mass andremember you in my prayers, and as you and your family prepare your holidaytraditions, our Catholic Charities staff will be working in our shelters.There, thanks to you, they will be making sure that everyone has a warm nightand can experience some of the joys of Christmas.

Growingup, one of my favorite holiday memories was on Christmas Eve, when my fathergathered our family of 13 brothers and sisters, and paused the evening’scelebration to reflect and simply say, “Isn’t this fun?” And on Christmas day we’d have a cake andwe’d sing happy birthday to baby Jesus. My parents showed us how the Christmas spirit is what life is all about– fun, joy, family.

AsI continue through my first Advent season and Christmas here at CatholicCharities, I cannot tell you just how amazed I am at the work our staff isdoing. I’ve been lucky enough to have attended several Christmas celebrationsand gift giveaways across our programs, mingling with staff and meetingclients. I cherish being part of this Catholic Charities family, and I have hadmany moments to step back and say to myself, “Isn’t this fun?”

Iam so grateful that you are walking this journey with me to serve and care forour neighbors and families in need. May God bless you and your family thisChristmas,

MonsignorJohn J. Enzler

Presidentand CEO

CatholicCharities of the Archdiocese of Washington

Read On!

A Home for the Holidays

Msgr. Enzler's Holiday Tradition: Kris Kringle

The Do-Gooder's Guide, Christmas Edition

Want to help?

Support Catholic Charities DC here!

Home for the Holidays

2011-12-22T17:43:00.000-04:00

It’s been a long wait, but finally Eric Hardy can celebrate Christmas. After living on the streets and staying on friends’ couches and floors for three years, the 26-year-old is about to spend Christmas in his own apartment – complete with his very own Christmas tree.

Just over two months ago, Eric received an apartment through Catholic Charities’ Fortitude Housing program, which provides homeless individuals with their very own fully-furnished apartment. A case manager with Fortitude works one-on-one with each client to overcome the barriers that prevented them from living independently.

Eric describes his case manager Melvin Howard as being “like a father to me.” Melvin, for his part, is quick to point out Eric’s tremendous potential and multiple talents, traits he has always been known for.

Melvin Howard presents Eric with a Christmas present.
Eric said, "This is the first gift I've gotten."

Growing up, Eric was the oldest child and the only male in his immediate family. He felt huge pressures from his family to be the role model and to be the most successful. On top of the pressures of succeeding, Eric’s family struggled to accept him as an openly gay teenager, which only added to his stress. After graduating high school, the pressure grew too much and he turned to drugs.

The spiral down was quick and led to a falling-out with his family. Despite an addiction to drugs, Eric had his own place and held a steady job. But after seeing the way drugs emaciated his body and how a day could pass without his noticing, Eric made a decision: he was done with drugs.

He quit cold turkey, holing up in his mother’s house for three months to overcome the addiction. Remarkably, his addiction occurred before he was homeless. It was his family’s discomfort with his sexuality that led to him being kicked out of the house. Amazingly, once he was on the streets, Eric was never tempted to relapse.

“How could I buy drugs?” he said. “I had no money. I had to eat. There was no way I could afford to spend money on drugs. And when I saw the some of the same people, and they would call to me to go get high, I knew I wanted more out of my life.”

To look at him, you wouldn’t be able to tell Eric was homeless. Having just turned 26 a few weeks ago, he represents the often invisible plight of young people fighting homelessness. He took meticulous care of himself, making efforts to keep his clothes and appearance clean. Like many young people, he tried hard to hide his homelessness. Eventually, Eric sought help from several programs working with the homeless, including S.O.M.E. And while working with a social worker, Eric was accepted into the Fortitude Housing Program.

In a region where affordable housing is in high demand and short supply, a program like Fortitude can help the chronically homeless to truly recover and get to a place of self-sufficiency. The program is possible in partnership with the District of Columbia government, which launched the initiative in 2008.

For Eric, it’s the nicest apartment he’s ever lived in. He keeps it very neat and organized and has decorated and painted it tastefully. His relationship with his mother and family remains somewhat strained, but he is excited to host them over at his place on Christmas Day. And if you asked him what he was looking forward to most about Christmas, his answer may sound familiar.

“I can’t wait to watch ‘A Christmas Story,’” he said, laughing. “Every year growing up, my family would watch it on Christmas day. It is one of my favorite memories.” Like many of the usual holiday celebrations, it was a tradition he missed out on the last three years.

From here, Eric has big dreams. He’s hoping to open his own day spa and has been volunteering with local business owners to see operations up close. But for now, he’s ready to put his feet up on his own furniture and finally, finally relax at home.

Want to help? You can support Catholic Charities' Housing Programs here.

The Do-Gooders’ Guide: CHRISTMAS EDITION!

2011-12-13T12:41:00.000-04:00

Santa stopped by last year's Christmas party at Kennedy!

If you ask me (and I know you are), one of the best scenes inChristmas movie history comes at the very end of Scrooged, when Frank Cross (played by Bill Murray) gets positivelygiddy with goodwill. Through the bizarre circumstances of the film’s plot,Frank’s on live national television, begging all those who are watching fromtheir homes to help make Christmas miracles happen. He says:

“You have to dosomething, you have to take a chance, you have to get involved. There arepeople that are having trouble making their miracle happen. There are peoplewho don’t have enough to eat, there are people that are cold. You can go outand say ‘hello’ to these people. You can take an old blanket out of the closetand say, ‘Here.’ You can make them a sandwich and say, ‘Oh, by the way, here!’ Iget it now! If you give, then it can happen – then the miracle can happen toyou…It can happen every day. You’ve just got to want that feeling.”

Our Angel Tree at the Hickey Center!

Do-Gooders, we know you’re like Frank Cross – we know youwant that feeling! Read on for a list of ways you can help all of us atCatholic Charities make miracles happen for our neighbors in need thisChristmas holiday.

We have an ongoingneed for donations for our Catholic Charities Angel Tree! So many localfamilies have called, asking for help with gifts for their little ones thisyear – and we want to make sure that every child has a special Christmassurprise. It’s easy to help – pick up a few extra toys, winter clothing itemsor gift cards while you’re shopping for your loved ones and bring them(unwrapped, please) to the Hickey Center in D.C. Or, if you’d like to adopt afamily – or maybe your office, exercise class, child’s classroom would like toadopt a few families – call us at (202) 772-4346.

Our 801 East Men’sShelter will hold its annual Christmas clothing distribution on December 15 at 4:30 p.m. Volunteerswill help pack clothing, distribute it to the men at the shelter and replenishsupplies. “It can be fun!” said Paul, Director of our Men’s Shelter Operations.Plus, you’ll be helping people who are homeless stay warm as the temperaturesstart to dip. If you can help, please contact Selby Spriggs at (202) 561-4014,ext. 102 or Gary Steele at (202) 561-4014, ext. 106. (PS – our New York Avenue’sMen Shelter held asimilar clothing drive last month!)

More Christmas fun at our Kennedy Institute

TheDC Employment and Adult Education Services, part of our Lt. Joseph P.Kennedy Institute, will hold its annual holiday party on December 16 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Inkeeping with tradition, all past and present program participants and theirfamilies are welcome, so they’ll be expecting a crowd of 50 to 60 people.

Donations: Whetheryou’re Rachel Ray or a master of pre-prepared food pickup, you can help bydonating punch or finger foods such as wings, meatballs, potato salad, androlls.

Volunteers: Oneor two volunteers are needed to help serve food and get clients involved in thefestivities.

Contact ChandraConnolly if you can help with donations or are interested in volunteering: chandra.connolly@catholiccharitiesdc.orgor (202) 281-2703.

Also at Kennedy Institute, staff at our Kennedy Schoolwant to distribute very special gifts to the kids this year: “glamour bags”filled with toiletries and gifts. The kids at Kennedy struggle withintellectual disabilities, and many have other learning differences or physicaldisabilities as well; staff hopes that the “glamour bags” will make each one ofthem feel like a star.

Donations needed byDecember 19: Perfume and cologne, sunglasses, Axe Body Spray, nail polishand makeup, ties, watches, hat/scarf/gloves sets, Bath and Body Works products,and $5 gift cards to McDonalds.

Contact DonileeGoldsmith for more information on how to donate: donilee.goldsmith@catholiccharitiesdc.org.

Sanctuaries forLife (you may remember reading about their life-affirming work here)is holding a Christmas party on December19 for new and expectant mothers enrolled in the program. Senior ManagerMichelle Williams stressed that the lunch will be healthy in nature, since manyof the moms are breastfeeding, or still pregnant.

Donations: Staffsaid they are accepting monetary donations to help defray the cost of lunch –think about having a quick fundraiser at your office or gym to help them out!They also need donations of grocery store gift certificates, diapers andformula to distribute to mothers who are struggling financially to supporttheir families.

Contact Michelleat michelle.williams@catholiccharitiesdc.orgif you can help out!

For some of the clients at our Refugee Center,this Christmas is their first in the United States! The Center registers aboutsix new refugees each week – last week, they registered seven refugees in oneday! Once registered, refugees have access to a broad range of support,including employment orientation, ESL classes and other Catholic Charitiesresources. Refugee Center staff will hold a luncheon for refugees on December 21, and they hope to be ableto provide all clients with gift bags of food and other personal items.

Donations: Fooddonations from local restaurants are welcome for the luncheon. Donations ofgift cards are also appreciated – these give clients at the Refugee Center theopportunity to purchase food and clothing and household items, as many refugeescome to the United States with nothing. Finally, metro cards are always welcometo give to clients, in order that they can have transportation to jobinterviews and other appointments.

Contact JeanneAtkinson at Jeanne.atkinson@catholiccharitiesdc.org or (202) 772-4348 if you’dlike to contribute.

The halls will be decked at the DC Food Program at our SpanishCatholic Center. Clients who normally receive food from the program willreceive a special surprise on December21 – a full holiday ham, plus a wrapped Christmas present and handmadecard! This is all made possible through the support of generous volunteers whodonated and wrapped the gifts and made each card. The Spanish Catholic Centerhas also arranged for flu shots to be available for all clients who qualify.Food Program coordinator Nick Despotidis said there will be plenty of holidayspirit to go around with Christmas music, hats, and more!

Donations: Inorder to provide a ham to each family who relies on the program for food, theSpanish Catholic Center is seeking donations of ham, or money to purchase them!So please consider helping one of your neighbors in need enjoy a specialholiday treat this year.

Volunteers: Thefood program will need plenty of help to distribute the bags of food, interactwith clients, and help spread Christmas cheer.

Contact Nick at nick.despotidis@catholiccharitiesdc.orgor (202) 939-2400, ext. 937 if you can pitch in.

And, of course, your donationto Catholic Charities always helps us to provide basic essentials andservices to all those who are most vulnerable in our community.

As you can see from the list, December is a busy month forus here – and we know it’s a busy month for you, too. And while it’s easy toget wrapping-papered up in events and parties, baking and shopping, decoratingand caroling, we hope you won’t forget all those people who, like Frank Crosssaid, need help to make their miracle happen.

Can you be the one to make it happen?

Thank you, and have a blessed Advent and Christmas!

Read On:

Full listing ofvolunteer opportunities at Catholic Charities

Check out the “12Days of Christmas” quiz on our Facebook!

GuestPost from Father John: Kris Kringle

PeopleMaking our Christmas

At this graduation, the parents are the ones getting diplomas!

2011-12-09T10:41:00.001-04:00

Nhora presents a certificate to Silvia and little Költen

Guest Post by Nhora Rosero,

Community Outreach Specialist at the Montgomery CountyFamily Center

At the Montgomery County Family Center, we welcomemany walk-in clients who have come from all different countries. They arrive inthe United States, and oftentimes they do not speak much English. They don’thave a supportive network, and much of their family remains in their homecountry. They have no idea what resources are available to help them.

Among these walk-in clients, I saw a growing number ofpeople who were expressing concerns and questions about parenting. They werestruggling to raise their children in a positive and nurturing way, especiallysince the cultures that the parents themselves were raised in may have haddifferent methods of childrearing.

Group shot - members of the Parenting Education Program!

To answer this need, I started the Parenting EducationProgram – basically a parent support group. The goal was to educate parents ontopics like nurturing as a lifestyle, rewards and punishment, family rules, anddiscipline. I developed a curriculum, but I decided to allow the class to steerthe direction of our studies based on what they were experiencing at home.

Six months ago, our class gathered for the first time.Initially, the members of the group were strangers to each other. They felt shyat first, but they had one common, powerful goal: to become better mothers andfathers for their children. Now, it is like a different group altogether. It’sa beautiful thing! The members of the group have found a supportive network ineach other. They share details of their lives with each other, and comfort eachother through difficult moments. They even take their children to the playgroundstogether outside of the group! And of course, in fitting with the mission ofthe program, the group has grown in their knowledge of themselves and in theirability to love and nurture their kids, whether infants, teenagers, orsomewhere in-between.

Love the matching argyles on Carlos and his son!

The format of the program is very flexible and allows thegroup to focus on the issues that matter to them. We meet each Thursday atnoon, and at each session, the group chooses a topic to discuss. They all offertheir perspectives on the subject based on their own unique upbringings, or onwhat they have experienced themselves as parents. Then, we relate the issue tobroader parenting concepts, whether it’s emotional development, family rules,discipline, etc. Because they contribute the topics we discuss, the members ofthe group really help develop the curriculum along with me, and the outcome hasbeen simply amazing!

Keysha shows off her certificate to her proud family.

To celebrate the accomplishments of the class, we held agraduation ceremony last week. Each member of the class was recognized for heror his participation and received a certificate of achievement. The ceremonywas very touching for me. We did so much with very little resources – just aroom to sit in and a snack to share. And the members manage to be here, nomatter what the weather is or whatever issues arise in their own lives. At thegraduation, I could see in their faces the pride and satisfaction ofaccomplishment in completing the program. And I think this is the mostimportant part – the program was able to make them feel like they have made adifference in their lives by learning something new and positive.

My personal goal is to continue offering to these parents aplace and a space where they can keep growing as human beings and keep askingquestions. We need a world with happy children, and in order to do that we musthave happy parents. There is also a practical aspect. The members of the grouphave received a certificate for their participation in the program. This issomething parents can mention on their resume if they wish to apply for a job,in addition to the skills they learn and incorporate into their lives.

The group will continue to meet every Thursday. I have askedeach current member to invite someone new to join us; this way, we can bring indifferent perspectives to the program, and the community we are building herewill grow.

The Parenting Education Program will meet two more timesbefore the holiday, then resume in January. Please contact Nhora for moreinformation by phone at (301) 942-1790 or email Nhora.rosero@catholiccharitiesdc.org

Nhora mentioned that many of the parents must bring their infants and toddlers to class if they do not have a relative or neighbor who can babysit. She is hoping to find a volunteer to play with the children while the program is in session. Also, donations of art supplies for the children - crayons, paper, coloring books, etc. - and snacks for the children and parents would be much appreciated. Please contact Nhora if you are able to help!

Read on! Related posts on familyand parenting:
Rolling out the red carpet for our graduation
Putting family first for 15 years

Related posts on working with immigrants and refugees:
We kick off World Refugee Day in a delicious way

Serving Haiti's evacuees

Kris Kringle

2011-11-28T07:30:00.004-04:00

Guest Post from Father John, President & CEO of Catholic Charities DC

I’d like to share a family tradition with you, if you’ll give me five minutes.

I remember the evening very vividly. Frowning, I trudged slowly down the polished, hardwood stairs, tucking my red and black flannel shirt into my blue jeans.

Like any 10 year-old boy growing up in the 1950s (or today!), I really, really did not like having to do the dishes. It was the one chore I dreaded most.

But when I stepped into the kitchen, there was the whole pile of breakfast plates, juice glasses, spoons, forks, even mom and dad’s coffee cups, all sparkling clean and neatly stacked in the drain beside the sink!

“Yippee!” I shouted right out loud.

“Looks like someone’s Kris Kringle has been at work,” said my mom, smiling from behind her ironing board.

Of all my happy Christmas memories, my family’s Kris Kringle tradition might be my favorite. The little game my parents devised was simple, but the lesson we learned from it was quite profound.

Here’s how it worked: My 12 brothers and sisters and I would each draw the name of a family member from a hat. Then, we would look for opportunities to do something special for that person throughout the month of December, without the person knowing who was doing it. We were that person’s “Kris Kringle.”

And each time we did something good for someone, we got to put a piece of hay in the little manger of the crèche we kept on our mantelpiece. There was no competition – no big material reward for the child who put in the most pieces of hay. But the excitement of the game, and the warm feeling we got from making the Baby Jesus’s bed a little softer, gave our family holidays a deep and abiding happiness that made Christmas simply unforgettable.

What strikes me this year, my first as the head of Catholic Charities, is how many families, and especially children, will face hardship and heartache this Christmas. While other children are dreaming of special toys and flashy video games, fully one third of the youngsters in our area will be grateful just to have a decent meal and a safe place to sleep.

I’m told the Monday after Thanksgiving has come to be known as “Cyber Monday,” because so many people are checking names off of their Christmas lists by jumping on the online bargains of the day. Of course, I am hardly technically savvy enough to write this blog, let alone shop online. And, while I’m a little more old school in my holiday shopping traditions, I can appreciate a good thing. So, if you’re doing some shopping today, would you mind stopping by and giving one of your Christmas gifts early to our 2011 Christmas Fund Drive?

We’re trying to help an awful lot of people this year and we can only do that thanks to the generosity of many people like you. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Support our 2011 Christmas Fund Drive today!

Best Wishes for a Blessed Thanksgiving from Msgr. John Enzler

2011-11-23T17:00:00.000-04:00

As many of you know, the Christmas season has always been atime of Thanksgiving for me.

And this Thanksgiving and Advent season will be particularlyspecial to me in my first year at Catholic Charities, as it is a true blessingto be able to put into action the words of Mother Teresa: “Give them throughour hands this day their daily bread.” So I send this Thanksgiving greeting toall of you who are so special to me, in celebration of this marvelous gift.

My prayers are with you throughout the season, and I willremember you and your loved ones in my Masses on Christmas Day.

Thank you for allowing me to serve as your hands in helpingeach stranger who comes to my door.

There is no greater gift.

Fr. John Enzler

President & CEO of Catholic Charities

Read On!

At SHARE, it's not about the food

Looking Good, Staying Warm!

Welcome to Catholic Charities, Fr. John!

At SHARE, it's not about the food - it's about the people.

2011-11-21T17:59:00.017-04:00

Kate, a volunteer at SHARE, helped count out frozen goods.

At this point of the week, you’re probably thinking about one thing: turkey. But let’s be honest. Sure, great food is essential at a Thanksgiving dinner – but more important than that are the people with whom you’re sharing the big meal.

The same holds true at our SHARE Food Network. The massive quantity of food they distributed last weekend is certainly impressive – some 11,000 turkeys to over 600 host sites in DC, Maryland and Virginia. But what’s driving these massive distributions is not those turkeys: it’s the thousands of volunteers who care enough to get involved.

Dorothy is an active volunteer with SHARE!

I got a glimpse of this amazing community in action last Friday, the first day of SHARE’s massive Thanksgiving distribution. It was hard not to ogle at the food, boxes of which seemed to form an edible mountain range along the walls of SHARE’s enormous warehouse. Volunteers then transferred the food from these bulk bins to a long countertop, where they could distribute the items – whether fresh sweet potatoes or frozen sausages – to the steady crowd of people who arrived to pick up food packages.

SHARE is not a food bank. It's a social enterprise program, meaning it looks to sustain itself while doing good. It has, you know, a business model.

Each month, the program distributes more than 10,000 food packages filled with fresh, high-quality foods. These packages are valued at $45, but by ordering in bulk from the same suppliers to supermarkets, SHARE is able to charge only $20, plus two hours of volunteer service. Much of the work in moving and packaging the food is done by volunteers.

Anyone looking for an affordable food option is welcome at SHARE. Unfortunately, the present economic climate has prevented many families from being able to afford even $20 for the food packages. “It’s been a challenge this year,” said Chris Byrd, Grants and Partnerships Coordinator of SHARE. SHARE gets a lot of help from grants and partnerships, but Chris stressed the importance of good old neighborly generosity: “We need the people who can afford the food packages to help support the people who can’t.” (Sounds a lot like Luke 12:48 – “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.”)

The SHARE warehouse is located in Hyattsville, MD.

It’s this type of generosity that brought a group out from Grace Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland. They were picking up SHARE packages for 40 families at their parish – all of them paid for through donations from parishioners. “We’re glad to help look out for those who are less fortunate,” they said while waiting to receive their flock of frozen turkeys.

Wanda, another volunteer, had arrived on a similar mission from Edgewood Community Services to pick up 16 SHARE packages. While she allocated onions and carrots into each bag, she explained that many residents at Edgewood would be alone for the holidays. “Giving them the food package is a way of showing them that someone is looking out for them,” she said, adding that several single-unit apartments will share some of the SHARE packages, and others will be used for Edgewood’s Thanksgiving community dinner.

Wanda has been coming to SHARE since the 80s!

Lynn worked double-duty this month, volunteering at the SHARE warehouse itself in addition to serving as host site coordinator at Allen Chapel AME in Silver Spring. “I knew there was a need, so I came to help,” she said simply.

Watching all the host site coordinators wait for SHARE volunteers to deposit turkeys into their carts, it struck me that though November and December bring the largest numbers of people to SHARE, the need for affordable food still exists long after the wishbone has been split.

“Our program is here year-round,” Chris said. “The need never goes away.” SHARE needs a community of support to stay up and running, and there's plenty you can do to help! Chris said what they need most at SHARE are:

1. Participants! As Chris put it, “It’s open to everyone. Even Bill Clinton. Even Bill Gates."
2. Volunteers! Help pack and distribute the food at the warehouse - it's all about building community.
3. Ambassadors! Tell others about SHARE and encourage them to get involved. You might even coordinate a host site.
4. Donors! Help your neighbors - sponsor a SHARE package for a family in need. It's simple stewardship, yet it serves as a powerful reminder to people who are struggling that someone is there to help and that they are not alone, whether it's for Thanksgiving Day or any given Thursday.

Read on!
Can you get by on $4 for food per day?
Field trip to the grocery store
A seat at the dinner table

Life at the New York Avenue Men's Emergency Shelter: Tough Love

2011-11-18T17:47:00.000-04:00

The hardest part about visiting an emergency shelter for the first time is coming to grips with the truth: the shelter is not a home. And it’s not supposed to be. In fact, it can’t be.

An emergency shelter is a safe haven from the weather and the streets, open to anyone without question with nowhere else to turn.

Last week, I visited our New York Avenue Emergency Men's Shelter to check out a distribution of warm clothing items to the men staying in the shelter. Augustine Frazier, the shelter's senior program manager, tries to organize these distributions a few times a year to provide his residents with new gloves, hats, hygiene products, thermal undergarments and underwear.

Of course, I was roped into helping. Soon I was handing out 3-packs of new underwear to 360 men of all ages, races and – most relevantly – sizes. Some of the men had been surviving on the streets for years. Others had been working an office job earlier that day.

Residents received socks, thermal underwear,
tooth brushes and more.

Last year, more than 12,000 people in the Washington-metropolitan region experienced homelessness for at least one night. The New York Avenue Men’s Shelter has the capacity to provide a bed, a hot meal, showers and case management to 360 men over the age of 18 each night. During hypothermia season, when the temperature can drop below freezing, as many as 380 men might be in the shelter at night.

Augustine and his 33 staff members walk a fine line between serving their clients and making sure they do not become overly reliant on the system.

Augustine (center) and his staff celebrate when the
successful finish of the clothing drive.

Managing the peace and meeting as many needs as possible requires a system built on a softened sense of military order. Everything starts with standing in line – for check-in, for food, for sheets. There are rules that must be followed to ensure so many can live and function within one building. The shelter must not be a place that fosters complacency in any of its residents.

Yet, as staff look each person in the eye, they see someone in the middle of a very hard time in his life. And they want to do everything they can to help.

As the men filed through and collected new clothes, the residential counselors joked with them by name, checked in on them, and addressed specific needs or complaints. Residential counselors, RC’s for short, are peacekeepers, case managers, advocates and housekeepers all in one. They are the lifeblood of any shelter.

And while a shelter isn’t supposed to be home, the staff still tries to foster a sense of family. Certainly, some of the men present incredibly challenging needs – years of substance abuse and/or mental illness has left some with severely underdeveloped social, personal and workplace skills.

But the staff emphasized to me just how critical outside support from community groups, volunteers and the business community is to giving each man a sense of self-worth.

Just this week, Benjamin Moore (the paint company) and the US Conference of Mayors teamed up to provide a fresh coat of paint to shelters across the United States, including the New York Avenue Shelter.

The surprise of the residents was visible as they walked into what seemed like brand new dorm rooms. Hopefully, like it was for all of us at Catholic Charities, the professional paint job (for free!!!) was a reminder to each man that the community surrounding them wants to see these guys get back on their feet.

No one should ever end up in a shelter. But to have that safety net in place is absolutely vital. As unemployment remains high and decent housing often out of reach, please keep the residents and staff of New York Avenue in your prayers.

Do you want to get involved? Make a donation to our shelters or learn about volunteering here.

Related posts: http://www.theopendoordc.org/search/label/homelessness

The Do-Gooder's Guide to Thanksgiving at Catholic Charities

2011-11-04T14:42:00.000-03:00


Volunteers pitch in at our Southern Maryland Food Bank.

Ifyou’ve ever had to prepare (or help prepare) Thanksgiving for a crowd, you knowthat planning is essential. There’s travel to arrange, green bean casserole tomake, tablecloths to iron, and a giant turkey that has decided to occupy yourfreezer.

Our SHARE program needs plenty of volunteers for holiday

Ofcourse, at the root of all this preparation is the holiday itself:Thanksgiving, “thanks” + “giving.” We know a lot of people want to show“thanks” for their blessings by “giving” back to the community, and we alsoknow that sometimes it’s hard to budget time for charity in the midst ofholiday commotion. So this year, we encourage you to plan early! Take a look ata few of our programs with holiday needs below, and keep them in mind as youcoordinate your grocery shopping, errands, and events. It’s as simple aspicking up some extra canned goods while you’re at the grocery store, orhelping out at a food bank for a few hours one afternoon. Yet simple actscan be powerful gestures, as they help provide food, comfort, community andhope to some of our neighbors who are most in need.

Howcan you help? Read on – and please spread the word!

OurMontgomeryCounty Family Centerwill host its annual Holiday Giving Project, and they need plenty of help anddonations. Tiffany Tan, Program Manager, said that hundreds of families will becounting on the food packages they receive from the Family Center for theirThanksgiving celebrations.

Volunteer: Help createand distribute food packages at the Family Center. Dates are November 21-23.

FoodDonations:In order to fill these holiday packages, the Family Center is requesting bothperishable and non-perishable food donations. You can organize a drive with achurch, business or group – just let them know ahead of time so they cananticipate the food! You can also donate food yourself. Perishable food isneeded by November 21, and non-perishable food must be dropped off between 8-10a.m. on November 21.

Clothing: The season ofgiving is also the season of colder temperatures. The Family Center is seekingnew or gently used winter weather clothing and accessories of all sizes todistribute to families in need.

Tohelp out, contact Tiffany at 301-942-1790, ext. 131 or email tiffany.tan@catholiccharitiesdc.org.

BrendaDiCarlo of our SouthernMaryland Food Banksaid that the Food Bank staff work all year to supply food (over 600,000 poundsof it!) to people who are hungry, but “the holidays give us more concern to adda little extra to the bag.” We all know the warm memories associated withspecial holiday dishes, from the big Thanksgiving turkey to the gooey apple pie. Helpcultivate those memories for a family by donating to the Food Bank this holidayseason. They’re asking for both perishable and non-perishable items—thoughanything perishable (like a turkey) should be frozen. You can contact Brenda at301-274-0695 or email brenda.dicarlo@catholiccharitiesdc.org.

OurSHARE FoodNetworkoffers special holiday food packages each year with all the fixings for afamily feast: a 12-14 pound turkey, stuffing mix, and pumpkin pie—the works! “It’sa huge time for us,” said SHARE’S Grants and Partnerships Coordinator, ChrisByrd (you may remember him from the Food StampChallenge).They are in particular need of volunteers the first three Saturdays in November(the 5^th, 12^th and 19^th), and they’ll alsoneed help with bagging November 14, 15 and 16. Times are listed on their monthlycalendar.To register or to get additional information, contact Ms. Twitty as301-864-3115, ext. 011 or email ninochika.twitty@catholiccharitiesdc.org.

Areyou good at cooking for a crowd? The employmentprograms at our Kennedy Institute could use your help this November.Chandra Connolly said that traditionally the staff holds a Thanksgiving dinnerfor the 40 to 50 people with developmental disabilities in their employmentprograms. Unfortunately, due to budget cutbacks, they’re not sure if they canmanage a big dinner this year. They’ve asked each staff member to contribute anitem, but they need your help, too. You can either donate a prepared dish orsimply buy a few items at a supermarket to drop off at Kennedy. “Since many ofthe individuals in the program live in shelters, residential facilities orhomes, they may not be able to afford or will not be able to celebrate theThanksgiving holidays,” Chandra said. If you can pitch in, please contactChandra at 202-281-2703 or email chandra.connolly@catholiccharitiesdc.org.

Nomatter what your plans this Thanksgiving, we hope it’s a blessed one – and wehope that you share a part of it with our Catholic Charities family.

“Baby Calls” are a real blessing at Sanctuaries for Life

2011-10-28T18:31:00.002-03:00

Ana Menjivar is the Prenatal Care Coordinator at Sanctuaries.

Ana Menjivar doesn’t look much like a grandmother, but she feels blessed to get to experience the joy of one on a regular basis. Ana is the Prenatal Care Coordinator at our Sanctuaries for Life Program, which helps women facing unintended pregnancies get the wraparound support they need to carry their babies to term. When Ana’s phone jangles with the big news that one of those women has delivered a healthy little one, she calls it “a baby call.”

Ana and Jenny Baker, Sanctuaries' Resource Coordinator

Michelle Williams, the program’s Senior Manager, said baby calls are like finding out you’re a grandmother again and again—“you’ve supported a mother through her pregnancy, just like a grandmother would,” she said. But even better is when the mothers bring their newborns into the Sanctuaries for Life office for a visit. “You remember the mom’s story, remember her face, her countenance when she was pregnant and worried. And then you see the big, beautiful, happy baby—and it’s a reminder that although this is work for us, it’s truly a ministry as well. God has called us to this work.”

As October, Respect Life Month, draws to a close, we celebrate this life-giving and life-affirming ministry and remember all the hard work leading up to those jubilant visits and baby calls. The Sanctuaries for Life staff is devoted to helping women who are expecting get access to the services they need. Primarily, participants in their program are abortion vulnerable, grappling with expenses associated with a high-risk pregnancy, or simply struggling financially to get care. Often the women have no documentation, making them ineligible for government programs. Many other women find themselves needing support due to government cutbacks to Medicaid. But no matter how they come to Sanctuaries for Life, the attention and support they receive there is truly remarkable.

Because the staff works so closely with program participants, real bonds grow between them. A pregnant woman’s relationship with Sanctuaries for Life does not end after one appointment. Even if they must refer a woman someplace else, the Sanctuaries staff follows up with her to ensure that she is receiving the services she needs. The staff also checks in with its own participants monthly, oftentimes just to see if they’re doing OK. “Sometimes they’re so happy,” Ana said. “And sometimes they’re struggling with their pregnancy, or with being a new mother. Some have been through a miscarriage, and they just don’t have anyone to listen to them.”

Listening is a major part of the staff’s ministry. “You have to be strong when you are talking with participants,” Ana said. “You have to be there for them. But if affects you, too.” Sometimes women who seek help at Sanctuaries are victims of rape, or are involved in abusive relationships. “They’re sad and scared,” Ana said. “And we talk with them and pray to God to help them make the right decision about their baby.”

Ana shared some poignant stories about some of the program’s participants with us. One woman, who was a victim of rape, was so hurt from the experience that initially she did not want to keep her baby. She sought out Sanctuaries for Life for support and, after talking to staff there, decided she felt strong and supported enough to have her child. Now, Ana said, she has delivered her baby, and she is so grateful to God for her little blessing.

Ana talked about another woman who learned she was at a high risk for miscarriage. Not wanting to give up her baby, she turned to Sanctuaries for Life. They supported her decision to carry the baby to term, despite the risk, and they helped her financially with prenatal care and delivery services. Sadly, the baby, a boy, lived for only one day. But Ana said the woman was “so grateful to God for giving her baby life for that one day.”

It’s stories like these that make work at Sanctuaries for Life so difficult and so gratifying – and their work so very critical. They don’t just connect pregnant women in need to prenatal care and labor and delivery services. Thanks to Jenny Baker, the program’s Resource Coordinator, women who enroll with Sanctuaries for Life gain access to a full range of programs to assist them with their other needs. These needs might be the basics – food, clothing, shelter. Other times, they range from counseling to medical assistance to legal help.

Yet, beyond those services, there’s something more that women who turn to Sanctuaries for Life receive, something they might not have even realized they needed: a shoulder to lean on, a friend to comfort them, a cheerleader who can root them on. Ana said that baby calls are testament to that. “We show them that they are important and valuable. And when they see we care, they keep it in their minds and thank us…it’s the best feeling ever.”

Sanctuaries for Life is the new name for the Birthing and Care Program, under the Archdiocese of Washington. You can read about the transition in this Catholic Standard article. The program is now located in the Cardinal McCarrick Center. If you’d like to learn more about Sanctuaries for Life, please visit their program page here. They are always in need of donations, both financial and physical, especially baby items: diapers, clothing, strollers, car seats, etc.

Help the Homeless Walkathon: What's Your Reason?

2011-10-19T17:18:00.002-03:00

We won’t lie to you—it is always cold on the morning of theFannie Mae Help the Homeless Walkathon. The event takes place annually on the Saturday morning before Thanksgiving, so it’s just about guaranteed to be cold.

But something about the cold feels inherently right. After all, our homeless neighbors are vulnerable to the cold every day and night they spend on the streets. Unlike us, they don’t have the luxury of waking up in a toasty bed and putting on a pot of coffee to enjoy a restful Saturday morning,and the cold is a potent reminder of that.

Besides, once you start walking, you’ll hardly feel the cold. You’ll be too busy soaking up the sites of the National Mall, enjoying live entertainment from local school groups and chatting with your fellow walkers. Last year, over 100 clients from our housing programs joined us for the walk.

One of those clients, June (name changed to protect privacy) supported us in last year's Walkathon, even though she was using a walker at the time. June, a resident at our Mt. Carmel House, suffers from knee trouble. But she didn’t let that stop her from participating! She wanted to walk to show her gratitude to Catholic Charities for keeping her off the streets. “I never thought I’d see myself homeless, but as life would have it, there I was…the Walkathon was what my heart told me to do.”

June will be walking to support us again this year –“without my walker!” she bragged. Thanks to therapy, she’s more mobile. And thanks to Mt. Carmel House, she has a more stable and fulfilling life. She’s looking forward to the Walkathon as a way to raise awareness about “the new face of homelessness — could be a neighbor, coworker, boss, sister, brother, niece or nephew. Don’t turn a blind eye or put your nose up, because it could be you one day.” She describes the Walkathon as a unifying experience, a time to join her community at Mt. Carmel House, the larger Catholic Charities family, and the public around one very basic reality: we all need good housing. And that kind of bonding, that sense of community, can be pretty warming.

Also proven to warm the soul: providing very real help tosomeone in need. The Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walkathon is a huge source of funding for our housing programs year after year. Last year, it brought in over $50,000—this money came from walkers across the region, whether they walked with us that day or participated in mini-walks at their school, workplace or church.

Sadly, as the Washington Post reported in August and September, this is the last year Fannie Mae will hold the Walkathon at the Mall. Instead, they will invite people to participate solely through local mini-walks. We share the concern of numerous nonprofits that this change will draw less public attention to the event and decrease the much-needed dollars we raise.

We know it’s easy to find a reason why you can’t attend the walk. But we challenge you to find a reason why you can.

This year is your last opportunity to bundle up, grab a to-go cup of coffee and carry a sign. It’s your last opportunity to walk alongside great people like June whom our programs aim to help. It’s your last opportunity to stand united with thousands of people as together we walk to make a difference.

We hope you’ll join us (and June!) on November 19. Will it be cold? Most likely. Will it be worth it? Definitely.

Interested in signing up for the Walkathon at the National Mall, or in starting a mini-walk? Check out this link: www.catholiccharitiesdc.org/helpthehomeless

Related WashingtonPost stories are available here and here.

Like this post? Please take a moment to share it!

Looking good, staying warm!

2011-10-14T18:06:00.000-03:00

We wanted to offer a big thanks to the donor who crocheted 108 beautiful hats and gave them to Catholic Charities! Below, Father John models one of the stylish and warm hats. We've already sent 40+ hats to our TEN program, just before the weather cools off!

Archdiocesan Legal Network volunteers recognized for outstanding volunteer service at the John Carroll Society's Red Mass Brunch

2011-10-13T17:39:00.000-03:00

Guest post by Jim D. Bishop, Esq., Senior Program Manager for Catholic Charities’ Archdiocesan Legal Network

(l to r) John Carroll Society President Paul Scolese,
Washington Archbishop Cardinal Wuerl
Stephen Murphy of Reed Smith LLP and
Msgr. Vaggi of the Legal Network Advisory Council

On October 2, 2011, the Archdiocese of Washington held its annual Red Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, DC. The Red Mass is held on the day before the U.S. Supreme Court's new term opens. The Mass is offered to invoke God's blessing and guidance on those who work in the administration of justice and serve in government such as lawyers; law professors and deans; and local, state and federal judges. This year, the following U.S. Supreme Court Justices were present: Chief Justice John G. Roberts and Associate Justices Antonin G. Scalia, Clarence Thomas, Stephen G. Breyer, Anthony M. Kennedy and Samuel A. Alito.

Immediately following the Red Mass, the John Carroll Society held a brunch at the Capital Hilton at 16^th and K Streets, N.W. In addition to several of the Justices, there were close to 700 people in attendance. The John Carroll Society, which is a network of Catholic professionals who wish to serve the community through their faith, presented its Pro Bono Legal Service Awards to the Archdiocesan Legal Network’s following volunteers for providing outstanding services through the program:

Francis T. Coleman, Esq.
Mr. John Kirk of Reliable
Todd R. Coles, Esq. of Troutman Sanders LLP

In addition, the law firm Reed Smith LLP received the award for its longstanding volunteer service in accepting pro bono cases, serving on the program’s Advisory Council, as well as being a staunch financial supporter.

The Archdiocesan Legal Network is able to provide access to first-rate legal representation as well as educate D.C. and Maryland residents about their legal rights, thanks to its cadre of more than 800 volunteer attorneys and 57 law firms that provide an estimated $10 million annually in volunteer services. The network connects low-income clients with high-quality pro bono legal help for their civil matters. The Legal Network also conducts a number of community trainings each year to advise residents and community groups of different matters and how they relate to the law.

If you are interested in volunteering with the Archdiocesan Legal Network, please contact James D. Bishop, Esq., Senior Program Manager, at (202) 772-1201 or by email at james.bishop@catholiccharitiesdc.org.

Putting family first for 15 years

2011-10-05T10:58:00.000-03:00

Picture your home for a moment, and all the treasured memories you have there. We’re betting most of them involve your family.

Our Tenants Empowerment Network (TEN) recognizes the intrinsic connection between home and family. Since their start in 1996, TEN has been striving to provide a safe, supportive sanctuary where families who are homeless can renew their hope, gather their strength and, most importantly, stay together while they rebuild their lives.

Now, TEN is celebrating a major milestone: their 15th anniversary of service to the community. In that time, they’ve undergone many changes. They’ve dealt with some pretty difficult budget cutbacks. But through it all they’ve stuck to their mission, to develop partnerships with homeless families to empower them to attain lasting stability in housing, work, and community. Through that mission, they have enacted powerful positive change for the families they serve.

For Sr. Mary Louise Wessell, founder and Program Manager of TEN, one of the most rewarding parts of her work is providing each family with a home. “The families come from a lot of disruption,” she said. “They’ve slept on floors and in shelters. So they’re very thrilled to have their own apartment.”

The program provides stability in other forms, as well. Parents who need it attend addictions support meetings—TEN boasts a 92% rate of maintained recovery. Many also receive job training or further their education, which qualifies them for better employment opportunities. These women and men have all the skills for success; they just need an environment to support them. And that is exactly what TEN offers.

The kids are major beneficiaries of a family’s newfound stability in TEN. Sr. Bernadette Longtin, a social worker for the program, said the children really open up and grow more trusting after a few weeks. During the evenings, many of them gather in the common area to play together—over 50 kids! Though the room was quiet and tidy on a weekday afternoon, it was easy to picture the place swarming with little ones.

It’s plain to see these little ones have a soft spot in the hearts of Sr. Bernadette and Sr. Mary Louise. They emphasized that if there’s one thing they want to do more of, it’s programs for the children and family-centered events. With the economic downturn, there’s been less money for fun, recreational activities at TEN—yet these activities are a vital component of community-building within and among families in the program.

TEN is holding a small anniversary event later this week—we’ll be sure to post photos from the celebration here on our blog! In the meantime, if you’d like to support the great work that TEN is doing for families who are homeless in Washington, DC, here are two ideas:

Part of the fun of a new home is furnishing it, right? For only $1800, the staff at TEN can furnish an entire two-bedroom apartment for the families they serve. You can host a small fundraiser and use the proceeds to equip a family in need with all the things that make a house a home.
Be honest—don’t you love getting gift cards? So does TEN! They can use cards from places like Target or a grocery store to buy snacks for the kids’ playtime or to recognize outstanding TEN residents.

Families who enter the TEN program face many challenges. But after two years, they are more confident, more connected and with a great community to encourage their continued success. Thanks, TEN, for all the hope and help you’ve given families for the past 15 years!

Can you get by on $4 for food per day?

2011-09-29T17:19:00.000-03:00

Seriously, can you feed yourself each day using only $4? Seems impossible, right? Especially if you want to eat healthy.

However, the average food stamp recipient receives about $30 a week for groceries—just over $4 a day. One of our employees at the SHARE Food Network, Chris Byrd, took a week to step into the shoes of someone who relies on food stamps and see if he could feed himself on this budget for a week.

It was part of the Food Stamp Challenge, hosted by Maryland Hunger Solutions to shed some light on the hunger many in our region face. The challenge invites participants to sustain themselves on only $30 worth of food for seven days.

See Chris’ reflections under the Sept. 27 updates (he’s the second one).

Food Stamp Challenge Diary

Want to find out more about SHARE? Check out http://www.sharedc.org/. They are always looking for volunteers!

At a women’s homeless shelter, learning how to feel again

2011-09-16T13:59:00.000-03:00

The common room at our Harriet Tubman Emergency Women’s Shelter was erupting with “amens!” last Tuesday during a Feelings Workshop hosted by One Sister to Another Outreach, Inc.

Denise Burns, founder and executive director of One Sister to Another (OSTA for short), leads these bimonthly workshops to help her sisters at the shelter release any emotional baggage they may be carrying—like feelings of anger, frustration, abandonment, or hopelessness.

These emotions, she feels, get in the way of the women moving on from the shelter to the next phase of their lives. Once grappling with problems similar to those of some of the shelter’s clients, Denise now donates her time and talents to improve the lives of women in distress.Tuesday’s workshop, themed Let Go and Let God!, had lots of lively interaction.

After opening prayer and song, Denise turned the group’s attention to Exodus 14, where Moses and the Israelites faced the Red Sea with the Egyptians hot in pursuit. “Moses panicked!” Denise said.

“But God told him, ‘Don’t worry about the army! I got the army under control! You need to have faith and step forward!’”

Clients at the shelter then discussed how they can take a step forward in their own lives. Some pledged to research jobs the following day, others to contact people regarding permanent housing situations, still others to reach out to family or friends with whom they’ve had a falling-out.

That type of encouragement and positive thinking is what draws so many of the women who regularly stay at the shelter to attend OSTA’s Feelings Workshops. One client, Darlene Francis, said she always feels good after the workshops “because there has been an exchange of positive energy and positive information we could use.” Lillian Clark, another client, agreed. “The workshops always put positive into my life, and hope and wisdom. I enjoy them very much.”

Dianna Monitor said the workshops have guided her life’s journey. “When I first came to Harriet Tubman, I was in bad shape physically and mentally. It’s helped me spiritually find where I needed to go and think things through.”

With Oprah-like charisma, Denise applauded the initiatives the women were willing to take to enact change in their lives. She encouraged them to repeat these mantras: “I’m not stuck unless I want to be stuck!” “I’m in my now moment!” “God is more than able—he will!” The noise in the room rose about 10 decibels. The spirit level? Off the charts.

All too often, the women at Harriett Tubman feel invisible and marginalized. The opportunity to simply be treated as an equal can have a very powerful positive effect on their self-confidence.

This empowerment is exactly what Denise is after.Recognizing the women’s physical needs as well as their spiritual and emotional ones, the OSTA members brought along two delicious-looking cakes, colorful gift bags filled with toiletries, and several bins of gently-used clothing for the women at the shelter.

The Harriet Tubman Emergency Women’s Shelter offers showers, toiletries, a hot meal, and beds to 100 women each night, almost always reaching its maximum capacity. Your church or parish or workplace group can make a difference – be creative! Other organizations sponsor clothing drives, or offer to donate a meal.

Want to help? Find out how to get involved: http://www.catholiccharitiesdc.org/harriettubman. You can also learn more about One Sister to Another here.

Rolling out the red carpet for our graduation

2011-08-24T16:21:00.000-03:00

Yoga is part of the fun at the Child Development Center!

Things took a turn for the extremely cute last Friday morning here at Catholic Charities. Our Kennedy Institute’s Child Development Center held its annual graduation ceremony to send off the kids who are now ready to begin school.

The children perform a song for the crowd (and run by in a blur)

We had it all: camera-wielding parents bursting with pride, kids in yellow caps and gowns and a musician playing classic Pomp & Circumstance for the entrance of our honored graduates.

Okay, I’ll admit, it was a little chaotic with 4-year-olds running around in handmade costumes, exploring the room and somewhat participating in the performances they painstakingly rehearsed for weeks. But as our program manager Barbara Lankster put it, “The children wander because that’s what children do. We want them to feel comfortable in their environment.”

The red carpet treatment!

The Child Development Center works with both typically-developing children and children who have delayed development, providing therapeutic and occupational therapy on a daily basis.

It is truly inspiring to watch the children learn from an early age to interact and accept one another without question. With the help of loving staff specialists and a team of volunteers, we can see children who show early signs of a delay in cognitive development “catch up” to where they should be. The program runs nearly year-round, with a two-week break in August for staff professional development before the new school year begins.

So that brings us back to Friday’s celebration – our gym at the Kennedy School was transformed with vibrant balloons, rows of chairs filled with parents and friends and cute kids. Each age group took turns performing for the crowd, singing “The Wheels on the Bus” or doing choreographed dances to a remixed version of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.”

“Thanks to all of you – parents, staff and volunteers – these children have had a great start in life,” said Mary O’Meara, the event’s keynote speaker and Executive Director of the Archdiocese of Washington’s Office on Faith, Deafness and Disabilities. “These children have learned that they are loved.”

Need more of the Child Development Center? Check out our Facebook photo album to see some of the day-to-day fun.

Finding her freedom in work

2011-08-08T14:58:00.000-03:00

Tanesha, right, chats with her job coach Steve Mathis at work.

Tanesha loves to work. It’s her passion. She loves focusing in on a problem and solving it. As a Courtesy Clerk at the Giant grocery store in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC, each day Tanesha is solving the problem that adults with developmental disabilities cannot work.

The 27-year-old, who was born with a developmental disability, has learned with the help of the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Institute how to turn challenges into moments of learning in the working world. Along the way, she’s become an expert in customer service.

Tanesha is often found in the front of the store, bagging groceries during peak hours and assisting customers. A recent mystery shopper sent by Giant to conduct secret quality assurance checks gave Tanesha a 100 percent pass rating. But one of her favorite parts of the job is shop backing.

Do you ever wonder what happens to that extra frozen pizza or can of beans you decide you don’t want in the checkout line? Tanesha is the one who makes sure all of those items get restocked by “shop backing.” Tanesha could fairly be described as a shop back expert.

She carefully ensures that all of the cold and fresh items, such as a fruit and veggies, are restocked quickly and tidies up the front end of the store when she isn’t called to help with bagging groceries. Her knowledge of the store is pretty complete and often her colleagues often ask her where to find certain items.

“I love to work. At this job, I like working with people and being able to move around the whole store,” she explains to me as we walk the milk aisle, putting back butter, a half gallon of milk and a block of cheese. She stops to neaten the coffee creamers. “You’re supposed to always greet the customers and see how you can help. It’s good.”

She has spent her life working to overcome the perception that someone with a developmental disability cannot work – and each day she brings that determination to her job. She never asks off and routinely calls the store to see if she can pick up an extra shift.

As part of our Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Supported Employment Program, Tanesha receives guidance and job searching support from her Job Development Manager Steve Mathis. They have worked together at Kennedy for four years. He helped her fill out the application at Giant and continues to visit her at work and support her with any challenges. For two years now, she’s been a model employee.

Tanesha recently took part in a hearing with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission. Her testimony, along with that of her boss, General Manager Jack Eaton, helped highlight the great work that Giant, along with many other local employers, is doing to give those with disability the chance to work.

“She’s grown by leaps and bounds since starting this job,” Mathis said. “I think the biggest improvement has been in her self-confidence. She’s really opened up and began to understand how much she can learn and do. It’s been incredible to watch.”

In the last five years, under the leadership of Eaton, the Giant store in Columbia Heights has hired five people from our Kennedy Supported Employment Program. If you are an employer looking to partner with us, contact the office nearest to you.

Two lives cross in a cool way

2011-07-19T12:00:00.000-03:00

For Otis Thompson, the temperature in his apartment could be stifling on the hottest days this summer. His apartment, obtained as part of our Fortitude Housing program, is his key to staying out of homelessness. He keeps it clean, helps out his neighbors in the building when he can and relishes this opportunity to reclaim his independence.

But it can get unbearable in there without air conditioning.

Case manager Melvin Howard (left) smiles with Otis (right).
The AC unit will make a big difference as the heat picks up.

Across the city Scott Sinclair, a recently retired DC resident, worried about his neighbors who could not afford air conditioning and languished in the heat. So he took action.

He purchased 10 brand-new window AC units and went searching for an organization to help him distribute those units to those struggling in the heat. That’s where Catholic Charities came in. The 10 air conditioning units went to teen parents and youth living on their own with our help, adults and families trying to overcome homelessness. This, of course, included Otis Thompson, whom Scott has never met.

Otis was homeless for more than a year after a work accident left him unable to work and the end of his 13-year marriage forced him to move out of his home. He turned to our 801 East men’s shelter for a place to stay when he could no longer afford to live on his own. He was heartbroken, but never hopeless and found strength and support from the shelter staff.

“I only planned to be there for a few days or maybe a week while I got myself back together,” he said. “But one week turned into a month and a month into a year.” Eventually, Otis was accepted into our Fortitude Housing program. The three-year-old program places chronically homeless individuals into their own apartment and then works one-on-one to address their barriers.

For Otis, those barriers never involved alcohol or substance abuse. His marriage ended in part due to a gambling addiction. Since then, he’s walked away from gambling and has maintained a close relationship with his family, including two children heading off to college soon who frequently visit him. But he has struggled to find work due to his injury. It’s hard for him to sit or stand for long and even moderate lifting is out of the question.

“I get job interviews, but when I tell them about my back problems, I never get a call back,” Otis said. He is working with his case manager, Melvin Howard, to begin receiving short-term disability payments. But Melvin Howard also serves as a coach, friend and advocate – and always as a problem-solver. The two were actively searching for an affordable air conditioning unit when Scott Sinclair called with his 10 units.

“The timing could not have been any better,” said Melvin. “We have to stretch every dollar as far as we can to serve as many people as possible, and this was the perfect gift at the perfect moment.”

Feel inspired? Make a donation to help Fortitude Housing or any other of our programs.

Welcome to Catholic Charities, Father John!

2011-07-15T17:13:00.000-03:00

Today, Rev. Msgr. John J. Enzler "officially" started as our next President and CEO. I say "officially" because there have been many Father John (he told us already that his friends call him Father John) sightings for the past month here at Catholic Charities as he has been preparing to take over the job. With 77 programs serving more than 100,000 men, women and children annually, there is no shortage of required reading and plenty of great staff to meet.

We're jubilant to welcome him. I wanted to pass on this note he's shared as he begins his new job:

Dear Friends,

It is with great joy that I greet you for the first time in my new role as President and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. For many years, I have admired the tireless and never-ending Catholic Charities and its supporters carry out in service to our neighbors and families who simply need some help.

Each day, the staff and thousands of supporters of Catholic Charities answer prayers and introduce real and enduring hope into many lives. I am honored to be part of this organization.

I come from a large family. I was one of 13 children raised with the belief that you help out a neighbor in need, no matter what. I remember my father taking us to Mass every weekend and often stopping to help someone – even giving away his coat in the middle of winter. He simply could not look past the need he saw before him and this left an indelible impression on me.

I recognize this same spirit of compassion and sacrifice here at Catholic Charities. It is the same love Jesus Christ lived out in his own ministry. Our greatest strength is our abundance of generosity in how we give of our time and talents.

Each year, Catholic Charities in partnership with the community has served well over 100,000 men, women and children in many ways – some in very substantial measures and others in critical small steps. Every time we answer the phone or meet with a client or provide a bag of food, together we are the face and hands of Jesus in our community.

I’m committed to raising the resources we need to succeed and I will do whatever I can to ensure our doors are open and we are ready to help our neighbors succeed. I cannot thank outgoing President Ed Orzechowski enough or give him enough credit for the agency he has helped build over more than 20 years of leadership. I ask for your prayers that I can live up to his example.

So I begin this stage of my ministry full of gratitude for the incredible work you have carried out as part of an 80 year history of service here in the Archdiocese. I look forward to digging into the work, to meeting the people we serve and lending my abilities to this incredible response to Christ’s call to serve.

May God bless you,

Father John

Say a note of welcome to Father John on our Facebook page! And stay tuned for more news as we keep moving forward to provide help that empowers and hope that lasts.

All for Shade, Shade for All at our Early Headstart playground

2011-06-30T16:52:00.000-03:00

Just in time for summer, we were thrilled to learn that the Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play will provide $5,000 toward the purchase of a shade structure (read that: awesome, giant freestanding roof) over our Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Institute Early Head Start program’s outdoor playground. You can see some current shots of the playground to the right.

Our playground, soon to be well shaded, hosts the parents and the children frequently for social activities that allow the children to play in a safe and supported environment and give parents the opportunity to visit, support each other and seek advice

Fun fact about the playground: the bars holding up the swings are made from 100 percent recycled milk jugs!

The Early Head Start program focuses on teaching parents how to work with their infants and children to further their development, starting sometimes when a mother is still expectant and working with children up to the age of 3. Every child goes through an age-appropriate screening meant to detect any delays in natural development that can be worked on while at the earliest stages.

Our Early Head Start program works with 72 families at a time, for 90 minutes each week in the family’s home. For children who display an early delay, early identification and responsive, specialized therapy can help the child overcome that delay.

We are grateful to Head Start Body Start for helping us make the environment a little cooler and even more welcoming to our families!

We kick off World Refugee Day in a delicious way

2011-06-17T17:06:00.000-03:00

Okay, let’s get the food report out of the way upfront.

I promise I’m not trying to make you jealous, but as I write this, I’m finishing up a plate of West African ground peanut stew, green curry rice and Ethiopian veggies, cooked by our volunteer chef Carol Tavris.

As is the case with all Refugee Center events, she cooks a blockbuster spread to reflect the clients of the Refugee Center. She even brought a mini-flag for each country where a refugee is from and topped all of the cupcakes with the flag of a country that accepts refugees. Amazing!

But, besides bringing together refugees, staff, volunteers and community members to chow down, the luncheon had a purpose. Monday is World Refugee Day and marks the kick-off of the Refugee Center’s “Do 1 Thing Campaign,” which was revealed at the luncheon to refugees, volunteers and community partners.

The idea behind the campaign is simple: we can all do more, even once, to help a refugee start a new life.

“For those of us who are born and raised here, we often take for granted what we have in America,” said Ed Orzechowski, President and CEO of Catholic Charities, addressing a roomful of current and past Refugee Center clients, volunteers and community partners. “Your struggles to overcome much and restart, leaving behind everything, inspires us. I thank you for being part of our family.”

The one act (which, honestly, we hope leads to one more, and one more, and so on) could be offering one job interview, offering to spend one semester teaching English or making one donation to the cause.

“I know today a lot of you in this room are refugees,” said Jennie Murray, with the Refugee Center. “But you can do one thing for yourself and someone else and make a difference as well. Just one thing to help.”

Through April, the Refugee Center had served more than 340 individuals in its intensive 10-week employment training and cultural orientation program “Job Club.” It also helps to place the graduates into work. Still, with more than 10 million refugees worldwide, the work has only just begun.

“You are strong. You are courageous. You are an asset to the United States and I want you to know you are welcome here in your new home,” said Jeanne Atkinson, senior program manager for the Refugee Center.

So, the question is, are you ready to “Do 1 Thing” for a refugee? Find out how to get involved here. If so, you’ll start getting invitations to join us for lunch cooked by Carol Tavris!

From Homeless Client to Job Candidate: Deloitte volunteers spend a day at our shelter preparing for the job interview

2011-06-14T13:56:00.000-03:00

James Avery knows a job is the key to breaking out of his homelessness. A high school dropout at the 10^th grade, he’s battled addiction and a criminal past. He knows how hard it can be to hire someone with that kind of past. But he’s been clean for months and he knows with the right opportunity, he can be a great hire in the construction business.

But how to get through the interview? When should he raise his criminal history? What should his resume list for a current address?

These were the kinds of questions, plus many more, that more than 40 volunteers from Deloitte helped answer last Friday, June 10, during their annual Impact Day. Impact Day is a unifying day at Deloitte, when all of their offices worldwide close for a day of volunteering in local communities.

At our 801 East Shelter, volunteers conducted several workshops in the morning focusing on personal finance and budgeting, self-improvement and soft-skills for the workplace – such as conversation, dress and punctuality. In the afternoon, shelter residents had the chance to interview for one of four jobs (based on real job listings) during a mock interview and receive feedback from the hiring manager.

“A lot of the things they have been talking about, I know it’s what you are supposed to do already. But it is good to be reminded and to have someone guiding you and rooting for you,” James said, who agreed to let me sit in on his interview.

James was interviewed by Natalie, a Deloitte volunteer. After shaking hands, James begins by handing over his resume, typed (with a few pen edits). He talks fast and eagerly, smiles big and maintains eye contact. Natalie asks questions of his past work. After they finish, Natalie walks him through his strengths and areas for improvement.

Strengths? Good eye contact and projected confidence in his body language. Areas to improve? Keep his answers shorter and more to the point. Also, slow down his speech so that the interviewer understands him clearly.

They also discussed the appropriate time to present the resume to the interviewer and how he should end the interview.

Afterward, James smiled broadly and had an air of excitement. “I feel real good right now,” he said. “I know I can make this happen.”

For three years running, Deloitte has partnered with Catholic Charities as a site for its Impact Day locally. Projects have included work at our Anchor Mental Health facility, a new playground last year at our Kennedy School and beautification at several group homes for adults with developmental disabilities.

Last year, the group expanded to work at 801 East men’s shelter with a series of workshops, working with both men and women. This year, seeking to better use Deloitte professionals’ unique skill sets, the work was expanded to include the mock interviews.

“Throughout the year, our clients refer back to the Impact Day with Deloitte,” said Paul Amara, Director of Men’s Shelters at Catholic Charities. “In addition to the knowledge and coaching, the simple opportunity to be treated and viewed as an equal means so much to our folks.”

With Deloitte’s help, we’re praying that more and more of our neighbors who are homeless will be asked, “When can you start?”

Learn more here about our 19 programs for the homeless. Donate here.

Serving Haiti’s evacuees: knocking down barriers to safety as Haiti struggles to rebuild

2011-06-03T12:34:00.000-03:00

Guest post by Debi Sanders, staff attorney for Catholic Charities’ Immigration Legal Services Program.

Two weeks ago, our Immigration Legal Services staff celebrated the announcement by the Department of Homeland Security to extend “Temporary Protected Status” (TPS) for another 18 months to more than 40,000 Haitian evacuees living in the U.S. For our ILS staff, this was a breakthrough moment following months of advocacy by more than 50 agencies seeking to help evacuees following the devastating 2010 earthquake that rocked Haiti.

What is Temporary Protected Status (TPS)? TPS is exactly what it sounds like. The U.S. government temporarily recognizes and welcomes evacuees from a country that has suffered a severe natural disaster or political upheaval. It is not granted lightly – the Secretary of State, the Attorney General and the Department of Homeland Security all must agree.

It allows evacuees the freedom to work, earn a living and provide for their families when returning to their home nation is not safe or possible. Last week’s announcement by the U.S. government also included a re-designation that extended to people who were evacuated from Haiti in the following weeks.

For Haitian evacuees, the extension and re-designation are key steps. Yet even after everything the United States government has done to help Haiti over the past year, there remain many problems to address, and that’s where we have stepped in along with a network of advocates for immigrants and evacuees.

The barriers we are trying to knock over are very practical. For example, evacuees covered by TPS have to pay up to $515 in application fees and the cost of a work permit before they can move on to get a job. Someone applying for a work permit in the first place isn’t likely to have this kind of money just lying around. Many evacuees living in the U.S. are sending home as much of their wages as they can to support family at risk in Haiti.

Catholic Charities partnered with more than 50 organizations around the country, including the law firm Hunton & Williams, to bring the plea for evacuees directly to Alejandro Mayorkas, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. These are ongoing items that our ILS team will be working on in the months ahead.

1. Help the evacuees as they make a life in the United States

Many evacuees had no way of helping themselves—in fact, many of them were thinking only of leaving Haiti to reach safety, not about legal applications or paperwork. We trust Homeland Security will continue to be generous in granting work authorization.

2. Reunite Haitian families

The list of children, women, and men waiting to be reunited with their families in the United States is so long that, from sign-up to admission, those seeking reunification may have to wait up to 12 years. We are asking Homeland Security to unite these families now.

3. Stop deportations for people with minor convictions

We note that not all of these criminals are dangerous. In fact, one Haitian evacuee from Florida was charged with “felony littering.”

We applaud the hard work of all our ILS staff attorneys, our partner organizations and our pro bono neighbors at Hunton & Williams for making such a tremendous difference in thousands of lives as they recover from one of the most devastating natural disasters of the decade.

Want to learn more about how ILS supports immigrations and evacuees? Contact me at Debi.Sanders@CatholicCharitiesDC.org.

With blessing from Cardinal, our new Montgomery Medical Clinic is officially open!

2011-05-27T15:32:00.000-03:00

Although we’ve been seeing patients for more than a month, yesterday we held the official opening ceremony to celebrate our brand new Spanish Catholic Center Montgomery Medical Clinic. More than 70 friends and fellow doctors o low-income patients in the region joined us to witness Cardinal Donald Wuerl bless the facility and pray for the staff and patients.

Cardinal Wuerl spoke of the urgency and panic a health crisis can bring – especially for someone without health insurance. He emphasized that through the work of the Spanish Catholic Center and Catholic Charities, we are the face of Christ to many. Following the blessing, staff and doctors gave guests tours of the new facility before our afternoon appointments arrived.

There were three major reasons we made the move. First, it was an undeniable opportunity to create a state-of-the-art facility in line with our goal to always offer the highest quality care to our patients. Eventually, the new clinic will see a higher number patients per month, once we are fully settled into our new home.

Second, it made sense as we strive to meet and address the larger needs of a shifting and growing immigrant population. Residents in Langley Park have several options for community-based health clinics (though these services combined hardly meets the incredible health care crisis many Latinos face). In our new Silver Spring/Wheaton community, there are very few options for affordable health care for low-income families. Still, as we were considering this move, we asked our patients if they supported the move and would continue to come to us for care. An overwhelming 85 percent said they would join us at the new clinic.

Third, our new location at the Cardinal McCarrick Center already hosts a Spanish Catholic Center Dental Clinic and several other Catholic Charities programs including immigration legal services, the Montgomery County Family Center, Sanctuaries for Life and Parish Partners. This allows us to provide holistic services to our patients by meeting many needs. We know all too well that the barriers immigrants face are rarely simple.

The Spanish Catholic Center operates two medical clinics and two dental clinics in Montgomery County and the District of Columbia that serve uninsured or underinsured patients. Our clinics are among the few who offer walk-in appointments to patients – as we know how important it is for everyone to be able to access a doctor.

The move was only possible thanks to several great partners, including the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the Health Care Initiative Foundation, DC United and several other great friends who shared our vision for providing health care for low-income Hispanic families. Carefirst and Kaiser Permanente covered the cost of bringing all four of our clinics online with an electronic health records system.

So, now we can officially say, “The doctor will see you now” or “El médico lo verá ahora!”

Your voice was heard – DC Council votes to keep homeless shelters open in the FY 2012 budget

2011-05-26T17:41:00.000-03:00

Great news! Yesterday the DC Council restored nearly $20 million in homeless services to its FY 2012 Budget, confirming that we need to do more to help our homeless neighbors recover. We’d like to thank you for your support and dedication over the weeks leading up to this vote—we couldn’t have convinced the council to restore funding without your emails, phone calls and letters. We’d also like to express our gratitude to the coalition of homeless service providers throughout the city who rallied together, our advocates and other supporters who joined hands and let the DC Council know that cutting shelter funds was not an option. And especially, we are proud and grateful to the residents of the shelters for using their voices to be heard!

Catholic Charities operates five emergency shelters and one day program in partnership with the District. Last year these shelters served nearly 10,000 men and women who have nowhere else to turn. Without the restoration of this funding, Catholic Charities would have had to shutter all of its emergency shelters by April of 2012, leaving our most vulnerable clients to sleep in the streets.

Yesterday’s Council vote helps get us back to where we were before with funding, and we are incredibly grateful—but there’s still much more we need to do to give our neighbors the opportunity to begin rebuilding their lives. Learn more about our Housing and Shelter programs in the District, or donate directly to these programs today.

Read our press release following yesterday’s vote on our Facebook page.

Urgent: Homeless Shelters Could Close Next Year

2011-05-23T17:10:00.000-03:00

We need your help! A nearly $20 million shortfall in funding for DC's emergency homeless shelters could force the shelters to close on April 1, 2012, leaving 1,500 men and women on the street.

The final vote on the 2012 budget is this Wednesday, May 25, and the DC Council remains divided on whether or not to provide even the most basic of services to our vulnerable neighbors!

Please contact the following council members who have not taken a strong position. Urge them to fund the emergency homeless shelters for single adults and families:

Chairman Kwame Brown (At-Large)

202-724-8032 or kbrown@dccouncil.us

Councilmember Phil Mendelson (At-Large)

202-724-8064 or pmendelson@dccouncil.us

Councilmember Mary Cheh (Ward 3)

202-724-8062 or mcheh@dccouncil.us

Councilmember Vincent Orange (At-Large)

202-724-8174 or vorange@dccouncil.us

Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr. (Ward 5)

202-724-8028 or hthomas@dccouncil.us

Councilmember Marion Barry (Ward 8)

202-724-8045 or mbarry@dccouncil.us

Councilmember Muriel Bowser (Ward 4)

202-724-8052 or mbowser@dccouncil.us

Councilmembers Jim Graham (Ward 1), Yvette Alexander (Ward 7), Tommy Wells (Ward 6) and Michael Brown (At-Large) have already said they will vote to fund the shelters. If these council members represent your ward, thank them and encourage them to convince their colleagues.

Here are a few key points you can copy and paste into your emails and include in phone calls:

Dear Councilmember [last name],

I urge you to fully fund the $20 million shortfall for the Department of Human Services budget to keep our emergency homeless shelters open year-round. Washington, DC, has the highest rate of homelessness of any major city in the nation, and that rate has been increasing in the recession. We cannot in good conscience allow emergency homeless shelters to close next year given this reality. Please restore the nearly $20 million to ensure these critical services keep families off the street and give them a path to recovery.

A parting thought: “A basic moral test for our society is how we treat the most vulnerable in our midst. In a society marred by deepening disparities between rich and poor, Scripture gives us the story of the Last Judgment (see Matthew 25:31-46) and reminds us that we will be judged by our response to the least among us.”

~Forming Consciences of Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility by the Catholic Bishops of the United States (2007), paragraph 49

Field trip to the grocery store teaches TANF families how to eat healthy on a budget

2011-05-13T15:01:00.000-03:00

Wouldn't it be great to have a dietician walk with you as you shopped for your groceries? Imagine being advised on what were the best products for both your health and your wallet.

For residents in our Tenants Empowerment Network Housing Program, that was exactly the case this week. Our CRISP program held its first healthy eating workshop on Thursday evening, taking 24 residents to the beautiful Giant in southeast DC to walk the aisles and learn how to eat healthy on a limited budget.

CRISP is geared toward working with families on TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) to fight obesity and unhealthy eating habits. Through a series of workshops and community events, CRISP will focus on teaching how to eat right on a tight budget, including by sharing recipes, taking trips together and discussing many different angels to nutrition.

The evening began with a discussion on how to properly read a nutrition label, get the best deal by comparing unit prices and a question and answer session on topics ranging from juices to sodium to dietary restrictions for diabetics. Then it was out into the store.

We hit the frozen food aisle, the dairy section (turns out cheese, while delicious, is not that great for you) and moved to snacks (peanut butter is great for kids). Our dietitian demonstrated what a good plate should look like (heavy on the veggies, light on the starches) and even gave advice on ice cream selection.

For a first outing, it was a very good start. I’d love to have a dietitian with me every time I’m at the store – it is advice everyone can use. Stay tuned for our next workshops - we'll be having more throughout the summer. If you are interested in helping or participating, leave a comment!

For youth, the end of the year is a chance to look back, reflect and celebrate

2011-05-09T11:05:00.000-03:00

An ILP youth award recipient proudly shows off her
certificate and $25 gift card, presented by
Children's Services staff in recognition of achievement
over the past year.

Josh Wilson, cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens, received resounding applause as he stood to speak before the room full of youth and teen parents gathered together at Phillip’s Seafood Restaurant in Washington, DC. The occasion was our Independent Living Program’s (ILP) annual youth awards ceremony, held as an opportunity to honor youth for their achievements during the year. At ILP, staff work closely with youth to help them age out of the foster care system and into independent living.
After all, growing up without a loving family can be very, very challenging, and the final transition to adulthood is often daunting for youth who don’t benefit from the guidance of parents or other relatives.

This is why Josh Wilson, NFL star and former Maryland Terrapin had come to dinner. To add his congratulations, too, and offer words of encouragement as our youth move upward and onward.

Like many of the youth we serve, Josh faced his share of hardships growing up. “My father died of a heart attack when I was young,” he said, explaining that he never had a strong male role model as a child. Even so, he cultivated a love of football and eventually when on to study at the University of Maryland. There, a coach dismissed him as “too short for the pros.” But at 5’9” and 192 pounds, Josh is certainly not a small man.

“I’m proud of where I am,” Josh said. “And all of you aren’t far from great success. Just be yourself.”Indeed, Josh remained true to himself—and in 2007, at the age of 21, he was drafted into the pros as a player for the Seattle Seahawks. While not all of our kids are destined for the NFL, many are ready to make their mark on our community.

“ILP gives us so much guidance,” said Allyson, 20, a youth enrolled in ILP since she exited the foster care system two years ago. “I have a naval engineering internship now. I want to be an engineer,” Allyson explained. She also serves as president of a local youth board.

“We discuss budgeting, school, internships—everything, really.” But more importantly, Allyson says, “I feel like I can really talk to the ILP staff. I can admit to them when I need help or make a mistake.”

Many of our youth face challenges at home as they learn to live independently. But many of them, like Allyson—and like Josh—also achieve great successes.

Later that evening, Allyson hoisted up the plaque presented to her by ILP staff for “Outstanding Performance.” Allyson kept a clean apartment, held a job and saved money, all on her own – crucial living skills many of us take for granted that we learned at home.

“They really motivate me,” Allyson added, referring to our staff. “They help us all better our lives.”

Like Josh said, Catholic Charities’ social workers teach our youth to believe in themselves. Once they gain self-confidence, cultivate positive self-esteem and work hard, they can achieve anything.

Congratulations, youth! We’re very proud of each and every one of you!

Congratulations Jim Bishop!

2011-05-06T17:41:00.000-03:00

I wanted to share a quick note of congratulations on this beautiful Friday afternoon for our own Jim Bishop.

We wrote recently about Jim, who runs our Archdiocesan Legal Network here at Catholic Charities. In a nutshell, Jim is a central guy in connecting more than 500 pro bono attorneys with many families in our area who are in need of, but have no way of accessing or affording, high quality legal advice and representation.

Turns out on Saturday evening, Jim is being honored by the prestigious John Carroll Society, a very well-known and active body of Catholic lay men and women in the professional and business community.

If you have met Jim, you know instantly how compassionate, intelligent and especially humble he is. We at the Open Door blog and Catholic Charities could not be more proud. Way to go Jim and thank you to the John Carroll Society for recognizing his great work for more than 18 years!

Read our press release here. Give a shout out of support to Jim our Facebook.

Help us keep homeless shelters open!

2011-05-04T18:27:00.000-03:00

Just passing on an urgent and quick note about an action step we need your help with. The Mayor's proposed budget for 2012 has a $20.5 million funding hole that could leave the emergency shelters for men and women who are single and homeless out on the street.

The Washington Legal Clinic has the full break down here if you need more information. But please, please call your council member May 5 between 9 a.m. and noon and ask them to keep the 2012 funding levels at the same level as last year. In the single adult emergency shelters operated by Catholic Charities, more than 9,000 people seek safety and a place to sleep each year.

Without your help, these shelters may run out of funding by April of 2012! Please stand with us!

Contact for Council:

Kwame Brown (Chairman) 724-8032 or kbrown@dccouncil.us
Vincent Orange (soon to be at-large) 529-1962 or vo40@aol.com or action@orangeatlarge.com
David Catania (at-large) 724-7772 or dcatania@dccouncil.us
Phil Mendelson (at-large) 724-8064 or pmendelson@dccouncil.us
Michael Brown (at-large) 724-8105 or mbrown@dccouncil.us
Jim Graham (Ward 1) 724-8181 or jim@grahamwone.com
Jack Evans (Ward 2) 724-8058 or Jackevans@dccouncil.us
Mary Cheh (Ward 3) 724-8062 or mcheh@dccouncil.us
Muriel Bowser (Ward 4) 724-8052 or mbowser@dccouncil.us
Harry Thomas, Jr. (Ward 5) 724-8028 or hthomas@dccouncil.us
Tommy Wells (Ward 6) 724-8072 or twells@dccouncil.us
Yvette Alexander (Ward 7) 724-8068 or yalexander@dccouncil.us
Marion Barry (Ward 8 ) 724-8045 or mbarry@dccouncil.us
Jen Budoff, Council Budget Director 724-8139 or jbudoff@dccouncil.us

Catholic Charities President and CEO Ed Orzechowski announces new leadership

2011-05-03T10:47:00.000-03:00

This announcement from Catholic Charities President and CEO Ed Orzechowski was sent directly to our donors on Monday, May 2. We are very excited for Ed as he transitions into retirement--but we are equally excited to welcome Msgr. Enzler as the next generation of leadership for our organization.

Dear Friends,

I want to share some great news with you. Last week, both the Catholic Charities and Catholic Charities Foundation Boards unanimously approved the next President and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington: Reverend Monsignor John J. Enzler.

Many of you already are familiar with the significant impact Msgr. Enzler has had on our community. I have personally known him for many years - he is the perfect choice to lead the next chapter of Catholic Charities’ incredible history here in the Washington-metropolitan region.

A native Washingtonian, Msgr. Enzler has more than 40 years of experience as a priest, leader and advocate serving the needs of the most vulnerable in our community. Msgr. Enzler has long been involved in the work of Catholic Charities, having served on the Catholic Charities Foundation Board of Directors and on our Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Institute Advisory Council.

Throughout the District and Maryland, Msgr. Enzler has had a lasting impact on our community through his leadership in many organizations that provide housing, health care, support for those with disabilities, assistance to immigrants and refugees, guidance to children and youth and immediate help to families in crisis. He was a founding member of Action in Montgomery, Inc., an interfaith network for social and economic change in Montgomery County. He is an active member of the Washington Interfaith Network and a Prince George’s County interfaith network. He has served on both local and national boards including Christ Child Society, Providence Hospital, Potomac Community Resources, SOAR, Shepherd Foundation, Victory Housing, Mount St. Mary’s University and Order of Malta among others.

In his priestly ministry, he has served at a number of parishes throughout the Archdiocese, including St. Jane de Chantal and Church of the Little Flower in Bethesda, and as pastor of three parishes, Mt. Calvary in Forestville, Our Lady of Mercy in Potomac and most recently at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Washington, DC. A month-long period he spent working side-by-side with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta has inspired, affirmed and driven his work locally.

Msgr. Enzler will begin his tenure in July. Of course, I will assist with the transition until my planned retirement date in January. But as I write today, I could not be more excited for the future of Catholic Charities, for our great staff who dedicate their lives to service and especially for the people who turn to us every day seeking help and hope.

Yours truly,

Ed Orzechowski
President and CEO
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington

My Brother’s Keeper: Through a new garden, two brothers help each other and educate a community

2011-04-29T15:14:00.000-03:00

Taylor Fairbanks (center right) hands gardening
gloves to a Community Companions student. His
mother, Amy (center), and his brother,
Douglas (center left) helped plant the garden.

Taylor Fairbanks had a great idea for an Eagle Scout Project. Why not work with the staff and kids of our Kennedy Institute’s Community Companions program to plant an urban garden?

For almost two months, he’s worked endlessly to plan, fund and execute his project – building a garden that can be enjoyed by kids with autism and other intellectual or developmental disabilities. The project is part of his journey to become an Eagle Scout, the highest honor of the Boy Scouts of America. But his real reason for involvement with Kennedy is far more personal – his little brother Douglas. Douglas, 13, was born with autism and spends his weekdays with the teachers and staff at our Community Companions program in Rockville learning and playing.

Through the garden project, Taylor hopes to make an important point: Kids living with autism and intellectual developmental disabilities can and do make valuable contributions to society. In the process, he hopes to teach them more about life, responsibility, and healthy eating – and reinforce Kennedy’s existing curriculum of inclusion and learning.

"I think that he's responsible to care for his own plants, just like all people with autism. This is a great way for Douglas and his classmates to learn more about growing plants and taking care of something," Taylor said.

Taylor and Douglas help Community Companion
students plant tomatoes and green peppers.

It all culminated early this week when the kids got their hands dirty churning soil and transplanting potted plants into their new vegetable garden. And from the looks of it, you can expect this summer's salad to be loaded with delicious, juicy tomatoes and ripe green peppers. Local nurseries and home improvement stores donated a bulk of the garden supplies, including the plants. Taylor, his parents and a number of moms and dads of the Boy Scout troop contributed more plants and helped prepare the plots.

The troop upped the wow factor of the plot by constructing cedar garden boxes, filling them with soil, and installing a bench and flower pots just a few feet away, where kids, parents and teachers can now read a book or chat near the garden. An impressive harvest is sure to follow later this summer.

Amy Fairbanks, Taylor's mother, explained that "this is a great way to show citizenship in the community. These kids are ready to take care of something, to watch it grow into new life."

Amy added, "At the same time, we're informing people. So many people don’t know a lot about autism. We're offering them a glimpse into the lives of people who are living with autism or are experiencing another kind of intellectual developmental disability."

This project represents a wonderful way for our kids to learn how they can contribute, and it's an equally wonderful way our neighbors can learn about our kids and their lives. The message is perfect for a program like Community Companions that focuses on empowerment and inclusion. So a big shout out from The Open Door Blog and the Kennedy Institute to Taylor and his awesome vision and for including us in his Eagle Scout project.

Now, if you don't mind, pass the salad?

In observance of Arbor Day and National Autism Awareness Month, we invite you to learn more about Community Companions and our other programs that provide support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities--and we encourage you to support important learning activities like these. To learn more about how you can donate materials to maintain our garden, contact Brennan Gamwell at brennan.gamwell@catholiccharitiesdc.org.

Be sure to check out more pictures of our urban garden on Catholic Charities' Facebook page.

Legal Network brings equal access to justice to all

2011-04-27T10:45:00.000-03:00

Attorney Robert Zink of Covington & Burling, LLP,
advises client Sharon Holquin in an unemployment
dispute. Through the Archdiocesan Legal Network,
dozens of attorneys like Robert provide pro bono legal
aid to thousands of people each year.

On intake days at our Archdiocesan Legal Network, Jim Bishop greets our clients with a caring smile. Helping them gives him a sense of purpose and renewed motivation. An attorney of 25 years, Jim has dedicated his life to giving low-income families access to sound legal help or advice they may not otherwise be able to afford. Every day, Jim and other attorneys like him bridge the gap between inequality and justice for so many of our neighbors.

Jim Bishop delivers an address to attendees of
Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Charities of the
Archdiocese of Washington's annual Dr. Martin Luther
King Mass at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church in the District.
Jim says that sharing his faith at gatherings like this
is one of the most rewarding parts of working at
Catholic Charities.

As the economic slump continues, the work of the Legal Network is more relevant than ever, according to Jim. “We’ve seen a huge uptick in clients and a change in the type of clients who seek our help. More and more people are coming in having been laid off, are struggling with credit card debt or are fighting former employers for withholding compensation or benefits.”

Intake days are the days attorneys in our Legal Network review new client civil cases – the Legal Network does not handle criminal matters. Many of these cases are referred to volunteers within our network of more than 500 pro bono attorneys, who advise clients on issues ranging from landlord/tenant disputes to family law to benefits issues.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, and every other Wednesday, volunteer attorneys from law firms across the region come to staff intake at our 924 G St. location, meeting one-on-one to listen to client’s needs and asses how the Legal Network can help.

“Many of our clients have never spoken with a lawyer before, and everything they know about our profession comes from television. So it is our job to help them feel comfortable, and most importantly, listen to what they have to say,” Jim said.

May Wall, an attorney with Winston & Strawn in Washington, DC, volunteers at least 25 hours a year helping low-income families facing legal issues. “It makes what I see on the street every day so much more real,” May said. While May specializes in environmental law and typically works with corporate clients, she said that the opportunity to serve at Catholic Charities gives her a glimpse at “real life,” the hardships that so many of our neighbors face and that are so often ignored by the community.

Winston & Strawn, like dozens of law firms throughout the District, Maryland and Virginia, encourage all of their associates to reach out a helping hand to our neighbors in need, incorporating a strong pro bono component into their organizational culture.

And it pays off. Last year, our volunteer attorneys opened 696 cases and conducted 14 law-related education seminars for more than 400 people in the District of Columbia and Maryland. The value of their time donated to the Legal Network is estimated at over $10 million.

For Jim, his career with the Legal Network is a place where his Catholic faith and professional skills intersect perfectly. “We try to shine the Lord’s light in the darkness,” Jim said. “We use this light to help people make good legal decisions and to move on with their lives.”

The Archdiocesan Legal Network needs you! Learn more about how you or other associates from your law firm can provide a helping hand to our neighbors. Visit us on the Web at http://www.catholiccharitiesdc.org/aln, or contact Jim Bishop, Senior Program Manager, at (202) 772-4300.

Welcome to the McCarrick Center: Building a Patient-Centered Medical Home

2011-04-15T19:22:00.000-03:00

Learn more about Medical Clinics at the Spanish Catholic Center on our website.

On Monday, we celebrated two major milestones at our Spanish Catholic Center medical clinics. First, we moved our Langley Park clinic into a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility in the Wheaton/ Silver Spring neighborhood. And as if that wasn’t enough, we also upgraded all of our medical and dental clinics to electronic health records. Whew!

“The goal of our new clinic and our electronic medical records is to be even more patient-centered,” said Dr. Marguerite Duane, medical director at the Spanish Catholic Center. From the clinic layout to the cutting-edge tools now available to our staff, everything is about giving our patients, mostly uninsured and low-income individuals, the medical care that they deserve. While our old location in Langley Park served us well for many years, our new facility was designed to be even more accessible to patients, from the entrances to specially-equipped exam rooms. We also have an on-site room which can handle minor surgical procedures in-house!

The new office is located at 12247 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, Md., where we already offer a dental clinic, health and education program, food and clothing distributions and an immigration legal services office. The addition of a new medical clinic on-site makes it easier for our clients to receive the comprehensive, holistic care we seek to offer each and every one of our neighbors who comes to us for help.

The addition of Electronic Health Records (EHR for short) brings all of our clinics – including our two dental clinics – online where doctors at multiple offices can update patient charts in real time and access the same information. By the end of the month, dentists will be able to see medications, allergies and any pre-existing patient conditions. In turn, doctors will be able to see any medications prescribed by the dentists.

EHR systems go a long way toward streamlining information sharing in medical offices, allowing our clinics to interface with other e-records systems, such as the DC immunization registry and the Regional Health Information Exchange Organization (DC RHIO), which will allow Catholic Charities to share patient information with other clinics and hospitals if our clients seek medical care at a different facility.

For our patients, this means far less paperwork each visit – something everyone is a fan of.

The Spanish Catholic Center’s medical clinics provide services to more than 5,000 patients from around the world through about 17,000 individual appointments every year. We are proud to offer top-of-the-line, comprehensive services in our community, and we’d like to thank you for your support as we continue to do good for our neighbors.

Pictured above: Our very first patient receives a medical examination from clinic staff members. Below: All-new exam rooms boast state-of-the-art medical equipment.

A seat at the (dinner) table: fighting food insecurity at Catholic Charities

2011-03-30T17:34:00.000-03:00

Thousands of our neighbors—including thousands of children—go to bed hungry every single night. According to the Capital Area Food Bank, nearly one in six of our neighbors in the District doesn’t have enough food to eat. In short, thousands of mothers, fathers and caregivers can’t afford to buy enough food to feed their families.

Over the past two weekends, generous volunteers from our parishes and schools collected canned foods through Share in Hope, an archdiocesan food drive designed to benefit the Capital Area Food Bank, the Southern Maryland Food Bank and the dozens of community-based food pantries operated by Catholic parishes and Catholic Charities programs.

“Hunger is becoming an increasingly salient issue in our community,” said Teresa Volante, senior program manager for Parish Partners. Parish Partners coordinates the Share in Hope drive each year. “Simply remembering to purchase a little extra healthy food when you do your own shopping at the grocery store is a quick and easy way to help those who are in need.”

According to this article from the Washington Post, nearly ten percent of people in the Washington region are food insecure.

That’s far too many. Aside from The Share in Hope Food Drive, here are other ways Catholic Charities recently has been helping hungry families:

On March 15 food distributor Goya marked its 75th anniversary by pledging more than a million pounds of food to organizations in more than 12 cities around the country. Locally, Goya distributed 75,000 pounds of food to local area pantries through its Goya Gives campaign at the Capital Area Food Bank last week. Food pantries at our Montgomery County Family Center and Spanish Catholic Center accepted 1,000 pounds of Goya rice, beans and hot sauce. And all that yummy food packing the shelves goes a long way toward feeding local families seeking help through Catholic Charities.

Brenda DiCarlo, the Program Manager at our Southern Maryland Food Bank, is also familiar with the difficulties many families face when looking for a healthy meal.

“It’s up to providers in Southern Maryland to step up and meet the growing demand for affordable, healthy food,” Brenda said. In response, she’s coordinated the 3^rd Annual Southern Maryland Hunger Conference, bringing together dozens of providers of free or low-cost food as a way to share resources and strategies as more and more families come to pantries, food kitchens and shelters looking for a meal.

Last year, the Southern Maryland Food Bank distributed 655,199 pounds of food to 25 local pantries, group homes, soup kitchens and shelters across Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties in Maryland. That’s a 72 percent increase from the previous year! More than 35,000 people received emergency food thanks to the support of Brenda and the Food Bank. The Food Bank always needs volunteers and extra canned foods. Learn how you can contribute.

Our SHARE Food Network distributes a whopping 130,000 food packages each year across the region, saving customers of all backgrounds $3 million on their grocery bill. SHARE’s innovative system guarantees reduced food costs for buyers by making monthly bulk purchases from food wholesalers and depending on volunteers to help keep overhead very low. The more buyers there are, the more volunteers can help package and distribute food. And that means affordable food for everyone. If you haven’t been to a SHARE Food distribution day (they happen every third week of the month), you really need to see this incredible effort in motion – great volunteer opportunity!

And remember, food is something we all need year-round, not just during holidays or Lent, so donate a can today, or give one of our programs a call to see how you can help!

Pictured above: Volunteers at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Derwood, Md., load up donations during last weekend's Share in Hope collection.

Our Spanish Catholic Center Gala brings in a record $720,000!

2011-03-22T18:28:00.000-03:00

We are really, really, really excited to report that on Saturday night, the annual Spanish Catholic Center Gala raised a record $720,000! It was a smashing evening, to say the least, as Gala Chair Franco Nuschese (CEO of Georgetown Media and owner of the famous Café Milano in Georgetown) pulled out all of the stops to support the Spanish Catholic Center. The Gala was hosted by Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington.

All proceeds from the evening go directly to the programs serving low-income Latinos and immigrants who have come to our community seeking a better future. The Spanish Catholic Center, a program of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, worked with more than 42,000 people last year.

The black-tie event (so fancy!) was held at the Organization of American States, located across from the White House Ellipse. The evening of dinner and dancing was highlighted by a first-time live auction for three dream vacation trips to Italy, organized by Nuschese. With a professional auctioneer leading the way, the auction raised $120,000 on the spot to support the medical and dental clinics, job training programs, emergency food assistance and many other services offered by the Spanish Catholic Center.

“I consider it an honor to have been chosen to head the gala, which is involved in so many important programs to help the Latino and other communities,” said Nuschese. “These are services that make life better for those who come to America seeking a brighter future for their families and themselves.”

The staff at the Spanish Catholic Center provide holistic care in a way that is culturally competent. Our staff come from countries around the world, and many of them are bilingual. So they understand that often clients face not one or two needs, but many as they strive to overcome poverty.

Cardinal Wuerl presented awards to three honorees: Michele Burke Bowe, Daniel Flores, who accepted on behalf of all clients served by the Center and Dr. William Battle, who accepted on behalf of the Archdiocesan Health Care Network.

As Daniel Flores accepted the award, it was a particularly touching moment as he had once received assistance through the Spanish Catholic Center. Today, he has a career working in the nonprofit sector and is a donor back to the Spanish Catholic Center – evidence of what is possible with opportunity. He accepted the award on behalf of all clients served by the Center, in recognition of their courage and the inspiration they provide to others.

Michele Burke Bowe has been a long-time volunteer, leader and supporter of the Spanish Catholic Center and Catholic Charities. The Archdiocesan Health Care Network, also a Catholic Charities program, is a network of 200 doctors and specialists who provide their care to low-income patients at no cost.

Learn more about the Spanish Catholic Center.

More media coverage in the Georgetown Dish.

Jane Strom: Celebrating a career of love and dedication at Catholic Charities

2011-03-08T15:38:00.000-04:00

I can think of no one who deserves to be featured on The Open Door more than Jane Strom, who, as of Friday evening, is the happily retired Senior Program Manager of Catholic Charities' Refugee Center. We’ll remember Jane for quite some time as a tireless defender of the needs and rights of refugees as they resettle in our region. Her career is marked as one that touched thousands of lives and helped us all enrich our own understanding of culture and community.

At her retirement party with colleagues, it was fitting that one of those clients who Jane and her team had helped was on hand to say thank you.

Edmond, a refugee from Northern Africa, was very thankful indeed for the English courses and job training the Refugee Center helped him with when he first arrived three years ago. He now works nights at the Home Depot, and during the day he continues to study English at Carlos Rosario International Charter School. A talented artist and sculptor, Edmond studied art and design back home. He created a very special gift to present to Jane to mark her retirement.

"Embrace."

Named "Embrace," the swooping and curvaceous sculpture was carved from abandoned pieces of wood. One end is the head of a woman, and curling around her back is the delicate frame of a child, holding on as the mother leads him to safety. He remarked that finding a new use for the discarded wood felt very similar to being a refugee – and to his experience with the Refugee Center.

Edmond apologized for his not-so-broken English more than once, but lauded Jane and the Refugee Center for "their patient and helpful staff. I want to thank them so much for their time and their love," he said.

The Refugee Center benefits from volunteers from countries across the globe, including Burma, China, Colombia, Haiti, France, England, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Liberia, Cameron, Palestine, Iraq, Vietnam and Rwanda. The program has become a crossroads for many cultures and peoples, all working together to help our neighbors who have come to begin anew. The program offers employment placement, Job Club and ESOL (English as Other Language) services that are all culturally sensitive to refugees’ needs.

"The Refugee Center is a welcome haven where refugees are empowered by people of faith and good will that enable them to rebuild their shattered lives, reunite with their families and regain their God-given dignity," Jane said, quoting the Center's mission statement in her own remarks.

"Jane's only motive is to ensure the well-being of her clients and to best serve all those who come to our doors. Her passion and joy are infectious. And in that way she helps us all find passion within ourselves and encourages us to make a difference," said Ed Orzechowski, Catholic Charities President and CEO.

Thanks to a phenomenal staff and great volunteers, the Refugee Center boasts a 100 percent satisfaction rate among clients, who most often thank the staff simply for their friendship. All thanks to Jane's passion and joy in her work.

"I say, not Good-bye, but until we meet again," Jane said, smiling, at the end of her speech last Friday. "God bless you all."

Until we meet again, Jane.

Happy retirement!

Learn more about the services we offer refugees and asylees at Catholic Charities’ Refugee Center.

Free to Worship: Asylee from Burma cherishes one of our most sacred rights

2011-02-25T17:02:00.000-04:00

When Chhuingi La Hming lived in Burma, the military would monitor her practically non-stop, keeping tabs on her comings and goings and brashly questioning visitors to her home. Today, La Hming is a client with our Immigration Legal Services program, working to secure her asylum status and living a far freer life than she did before. The government in Burma keeps strict control over its citizens, even where they eat and sleep. They're not allowed to worship freely, either.

But it's hard to turn your back on your beliefs. And the intrepid La Hming broke the law numerous times by secretly teaching Sunday school in a back room at her home. After her first arrest, she swore never to teach again, but quickly broke her promise. That meant she would face the wrath of the military government and more jail time, or worse. So La Hming sought refuge in the United States and came to Catholic Charities for help.

When I met La Hming at our offices in Washington a few weeks ago, she gave me a friendly smile and announced that she'd lived in the United States for over two years. She still teaches Sunday school and volunteers regularly at her church in Gaithersburg, Md. She also holds down a steady job as a waitress in the District. But the most important change in her life? She no longer fears being arrested for sharing her beliefs with others.

For about two years, she's been working closely with David Cleveland, an attorney who graciously volunteers full-time with our Immigration Legal Services program. Their goal is to obtain asylee status for La Hming and her sister so they can stay in the United States permanently.

That means David and La Hming have to describe in detail the persecution and humiliation La Hming endured so that she could teach others about her religion. Then a judge will decide whether or not she and her sister have a legitimate reason to stay.

La Hming said that if she can't remain here, she'd just go back to jail in Burma rather than turn her back on what she believes. "I came for religious freedom," she explained. But the courts are slow, and she will still have to wait to hear whether or not her case is approved.

In the meantime, the work of our Immigration Legal Services department has helped La Hming and her sister start a better life by ensuring they can remain in the country while petitioning for permanent residency in the United States. They enjoy volunteering and taking trips to the beach when they're not working--and they attend church every Sunday.

"We are very pleased and thankful to the government and Catholic Charities, but even more thankful to David Cleveland for all his help," La Hming added.

Our Immigration Legal team deals with hundreds of cases just like this every single year, and they help many, many refugees and asylees gain the freedom to worship when and how they choose. You guys do some awesome work, and we're grateful for all you do!

Practicing attorneys interested in inspiring and rewarding pro bono work with Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services’ clients should contact Debi Sanders at debi.sanders@catholiccharitiesdc.org.

A room with a view: Grandmother of five moves into new apartment she can afford

2011-02-08T15:41:00.000-04:00

Yesterday morning during a photoshoot for our upcoming annual report at Catholic Charities’ The Summit at St. Martin’s, I had the pleasure of meeting Laverne Cuthbertson, one of the building’s newest residents. I watched as Laverne used her new set of keys to open the door to her very own apartment, and shared the joy of the moment with her as she screamed at the top of her lungs and burst into tears, surveying her new view of the District skyline. Laverne now occupies one of the 50 units Catholic Charities reserves for District residents earning 30 percent or less median area income. The second-floor unit provides the perfect vantage point for watching fireworks on the Fourth of July.

However, she’s most excited about having five special guests visit and stay the night—her grandchildren.

“They’re going be over here Saturday night,” she said excitedly. “I really have a place that’s mine. Now I don’t have to explain to my grandbabies why they can’t stay over with me.” Until she moved to The Summit, she had lived at a local transitional housing shelter where guests could not stay.

A retired federal employee, Laverne has been living at the shelter for the past two and a half years, ever since bad knees and a limp forced her into early retirement. Without a stable cash flow, Laverne realized that disability payments couldn’t provide enough income for her to pay her own rent. When she saw that The Summit was holding 50 brand new apartments for low-income adults, she decided to apply.

That was two weeks ago. She received her official acceptance letter in the mail last Wednesday.

The Summit boasts impressive amenities for families and youngsters: a rooftop playground, an expansive, grassy courtyard and free wifi café (for the digitally savvy with laptops or smartphones) mean there will be no shortage of activities for Laverne and her five grandchildren.

“God has been good to me,” she said finally, after admiring the new apartment, especially impressed with the vista outside.

That’s what I call a true miracle. Now, 178 families and individuals just like Laverne have the opportunity to live in clean, secure housing that is affordable. While these families may have experienced difficulties finding a good place to live in the past, they can now be proud to have a place they can call their own.

Thanks Laverne, and God Bless!

Photo caption: A joyful Laverne poses with her cousin, Alveria Ford (left), on The Summit's rooftop patio.

Read "The Miracle at the Summit," The Open Door blog's recap of The Summit's October grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony.

Local second-grade class (and their teddy) help raise money for Catholic Charities

2011-02-04T12:22:00.000-04:00

Even if Christmas is the prime time for celebrating the spirit of giving, at Catholic Charities we recognize that "giving" is a year-round event--and a very hands-on process. And many of our youngest supporters agree.

Case in point: Mary Martin's truly impressive second-grade class at Our Lady of Mercy School in Potomac, Md. Ms. Martin has spent the past 15 years teaching kids that giving is way more important than getting. "Students and teachers don't exchange gifts here at Christmas," she said. "We ask for donations to Catholic Charities instead."

For example, rather than teaching her kids to focus on writing to Santa with litanies of requests for the newest toys, Ms. Martin gently tells her class that they're going to sacrifice a small present and give up some of their recess time to help others less fortunate than themselves. This year Ms. Martin bought an oversized stuffed teddy (check out the picture) and told her class that they would spend recess sitting in the lobby of the school, selling "chances" for other students wanting to take a shot at winning the bear—and help others in the process by giving the money to Catholic Charities. "They get really excited when they learn they're really making a difference," Ms. Martin said.

And their sacrifices paid off: the 29 kids in Ms. Martin's class banded together and sold nearly $600 worth of tickets! In a school of 230 students, that means most kids dug deep into their pockets and bought more than two tickets each to help benefit Catholic Charities. Some kids bought even more. "I'd say just about the whole school got involved," Ms. Martin explained. "Everyone pitched in."

Even parents showed their unwavering support--and often they got more excited than their kids did. "It's very important to us to teach our children the spirit and importance of giving to others and sharing our blessings," one couple said.

"We try to stress the idea that service is very important--not just during the holiday season--but year-round, too," Ms. Martin added. And while most of her kids admittedly weren't familiar with many of the programs Catholic Charities offers, they understood that they’re part of Catholic Charities’ work—to help others.

When a first-grader won the raffle this year, everyone cheered and clapped. Helping others who aren’t as blessed as we are is indeed an exciting, rewarding process. It’s something we should all aspire to.

And Ms. Martin's done a great job teaching this important lesson.

Thank you to Mary Martin's second-grade class and the students at Our Lady of Mercy for your support for Catholic Charities!

Pictured (top right): First grader Haley Summers of Our Lady Of Mercy School poses proudly with the teddy bear she won at the second-grade auction to benefit Catholic Charities.

Remembering Sargent Shriver and celebrating his volunteering spirit

2011-01-21T17:36:00.000-04:00

We wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the great life and work of R. Sargent Shriver, the founder of the Peace Corps who passed away earlier this week. Mr. Shriver was married to Eunice Shriver, a long-time and early supporter of our Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Institute, who passed away last year.

Through his work with the Peace Corps, Mr. Shriver built a legacy in the 1960’s--which remains a focal point for our response to poverty--while creating both cultural understanding and cross-cultural dialogue, as well as a fostering the spirit of volunteerism that today tremendously benefits Catholic Charities and other nonprofits.

Later, in the Johnson Administration, Mr. Shriver helped expand the government partnership to create more opportunity for low-income families, including the Head Start program to ensure young children are prepared to start school, and Volunteers in Service to America, which remains a vibrant national version of the internationally serving Peace Corps.

We at Catholic Charities applaud a life lived in service and with a vision of a more equal and fair tomorrow for all families. We know that while much remains to be done, much has been accomplished thanks to the efforts of Mr. Shriver.

Read the Washington Post’s obituary here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/18/AR2011011805116.html

Recognizing a community leader who walks in Dr. King’s footsteps

2011-01-19T13:02:00.000-04:00

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington joined with Catholic Charities USA to celebrate mass and honor four community leaders whose work continues to move forward Dr. King’s message. CCUSA presented awards to Joshua Dubois, Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, Marguerite “Peg” Harmon, Chief Executive Office, Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona and Maria Odom, Executive Director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc (CLINIC).

Locally, we were honored to award the Faith Does Justice award to Jean Hale, whose life isn’t easy to sum up in a blog post (though we’re going to try). Through her parish Our Lady Queen of Peace, she helped found the SHARE Food Network and continued to lead for 20 years. She has volunteered in many leadership roles and, alongside her husband, has opened their home and hearts to helping neighbors and coworkers through hard times.

In short, she’s incredible. For more, here’s the text of her introduction as it was read in full:

Jean Hale embodies and inspires the life of a Catholic woman – full of love, service and faith. She is affectionately known as Mother Hale around the community and at her parish Our Lady Queen of Peace, where her many years of service in many ways have come to define her and her parish.

In 1990, the SHARE Food Network was just getting started – and the fledgling program needed volunteer and community support to take off. Thankfully, Mother Hale heard about this new program, which used volunteers to provide low-cost, nutritious groceries to families for a fraction of the cost. She wanted to bring it to her parish.

As she tells it, she went to her priest, Fr. Ansgar Laczko, and suggested that the parish become a host site for the food network. He was very excited about the idea right off the bat. And then he said, “I think you’ll do a great job as coordinator.”

Twenty years later, the SHARE Food Network distributes nearly 10,000 food packages monthly, serving thousands of families. But it was largely thanks to the early momentum and excitement built at Our Lady Queen of Peace, led by Mother Hale. She organized an army of volunteers, 30 to 50 people each month that picked up, packaged, and delivered food packages to as many as 300 families a month. Frequently, the Hale family car was loaded down with food as she delivered to ill neighbors and church members who could not leave their home.

Her involvement in SHARE is only one outreach of a life filled with generosity and compassion. She and her husband Wilfred, married for 60 years, have seven children, 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. All of them have been to SHARE at some point in their lives.

They have opened their three-bedroom home to provide food and shelter to co-workers, friends and family who have fallen on hard times – even skipping on perks in their own life to ensure a friend in need was taken care of. Jean participates in Meals on Wheels in her community, has served as Treasurer of the Board of Directors for the Southeast Pregnancy Crisis Center, serves on numerous church committees including Visit the Sick and the Finance Committee.

Oh, and she also had a 25-year career at the U.S. Patent Office prior to retiring and worked for several years after retirement at Catholic Charities’ Teen Life Choices in the early 90’s.

It is my pleasure and honor to recognize a volunteer whose life has been a profession of her love of Christ and has matched her dedication to equality and love through action in the same manner of Dr. Martin Luther King. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington is proud to present Mother Jean Hale with the Faith Does Justice Award.

View more media from the MLK Day Celebration on Facebook: The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc., has posted photos of Mother Hale and Catholic Charities President and CEO Ed Orzechowski.

Hermano Pedro Day program uses Netflix films to educate and entertain

2011-01-10T12:09:00.000-04:00

It is Iona Sebastian’s job to provide help to homeless men and women in the community. It’s her job to welcome them to the Hermano Pedro Multicultural Day program five days a week for breakfast and lunch, then point them to where they can take advantage of free—and immaculately clean—laundry and shower facilities.

Yet back in 2008 as a newly minted Catholic Charities Program Manager, Iona decided that her program needed the extra oomph to get even more clients inside and learning. Top-notch case management services, peer focus groups and free meals were great—but not quite enough.

“We had to create a program that would appeal to everyone and would get them to come to the center, stay and learn something in the process,” Iona said. Technology, she decided, would serve as the perfect tool. So with a 27-inch analog television and a much-loved but sturdy DVD player, Iona started renting movies and getting clients to interact with staff and one another.

Yet the selection was limited, and repetitive movies became boring for clients. That’s when Iona decided to get creative with the few resources available to her, and she signed up for a three-at-a-time DVD rental account with Netflix.

“We turn this free time into something productive and educational—and now they get a big say in what they watch and learn,” Iona said. She encourages residents to give her feedback on the selections to ensure that they stay entertained and happy. Yet it’s also a small but important way the program’s clients can have a chance to use their voice and exercise their independence.

While Iona likes to receive input on what she shows, she also chooses movies with recognizable themes such as overcoming substance abuse and addiction, family issues, homelessness, racism and HIV/AIDS. Plus, access to Netflix’s 100,000-title library makes it easy for her to find Spanish-language films for the Center’s substantial Hispanic base.

These films may show it tough, but the outcomes are always positive, said Sean Thomas, a three-year client-turned-volunteer at Hermano Pedro. “The movies have the power to show clients what they can achieve if they work hard.”

In fact, many of the trials film characters face mirror the hardships clients experience on a day-to-day basis. Equipped with three dedicated case managers and a host of volunteers, the Center aims to address each client’s individual need, getting them clean or pointing them to supplementary services, showing that they’re supported and eventually making sure they can lead independent, productive lives. And often, seeing their own lives reflected back to them on film galvanizes clients to seek help, work harder to kick an addiction or deal with family issues that have kept them from keeping a stable home.

Sean is particularly active in choosing movies for the group to watch and tries to focus on themes that the clients will find both interesting and informative. “Secrets of the Mind,” an educational documentary he recently picked out, deals with a host of mental illnesses and peculiarities that some of the clients experience, but work to overcome with the guidance of the Catholic Charities social workers and program managers who make up the Hermano Pedro family.

“This is just a small way I can help out,” said Sean, who credits the all-around support of the program with his decision to take up culinary classes at DC Central Kitchen next month. “Where else can you get breakfast, lunch, free laundry, showers and movies on top of everything else?” Now, Sean tries to give back as much as he can by volunteering at the Center, chatting with clients and helping them learn about life and overcoming what sometimes seem like insurmountable odds—through messages delivered by way of Netflix films.

Now, Iona just needs to figure out how to make Netflix streaming work, and she just might be able to if she could get her hands on a digital Roku player and a new television set. With an expanded, instantly accessible library, just imagine how many more clients she could reach.

But for now, Iona makes do with the resources Hermano has to offers its clients. And it just goes to show that a little innovation goes a long way.

Learn more about the Hermano Pedro Multicultural Day Center and how you can donate or volunteer here.

Recapping a Very Merry Christmas

2011-01-03T10:03:00.000-04:00

Christmas is a busy season here at Catholic Charities, precisely because we have the amazing opportunity to share in the Christmas spirit with our clients across the region. Thanks to the help of volunteers and staff from all over, many wonderful stories were able to happen!

Here are just a few holiday highlights from our programs over the past few weeks:

Catholic Charities employees provided Christmas gifts to more than 80 kids through our Angel Tree. Special thanks to Catholic Charities Foundation Board Member Julia Hopping for her beautifully wrapped gifts that ensured everyone on the tree received something for Christmas!
At the Refugee Center, volunteer Carol Tavris coordinated the annual Christmas party for our clients – including tons and tons of food – plus mouthwatering roast turkey! She also organized the “Winter Wear Sale” – a warm clothing giveaway for refugees in the program.
The Southeast Family Center had a rough year when our building was both vandalized and burglarized. However, when we were able to distribute 292 gifts from staff at Georgetown University Hospital to dozens of families, we were back in the spirit!
Kids and mothers who are homeless or fleeing domestic violence at our Angel’s Watch Shelter in Southern Maryland were treated to a thrilling visit by Santa and a bunch of awesome Harley Davidson motorcycles, toting gifts from the Harley Davidson showroom in Hughsville.
For the second year in a row, Gifts Inkind donated an overwhelming amount of warm clothing items—enough to ensure that every man staying at our New York Avenue Men’s Shelter (which houses 360 men each night) received many items in their size with plenty left over to use throughout the winter.
The Southern Maryland Food Bank received $20,000 in donations and over 12,000 pounds of food from more than 20 schools in St. Mary’s and Charles Counties participating in the annual “Kids Helping Kids” program. Also, a big thank you to the additional 25 local businesses that held food drives to help ensure that not one family goes hungry this Christmas.
Parish Partners received gifts through a number of our parishes in Montgomery County and distributed presents to families in time for Christmas. Employees at the Carlyle Group adopted several families and more than 20 kids for the holidays.
Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Georgetown provided gifts to Catholic Charities’ Tenants Empowerment Network this year – a transitional program for homeless families.
Gallup hosted a Christmas party, complete with a visit from Santa, at our Kennedy School, which works with children with developmental disabilities.
Incredibly loving church and family groups cooked dinner at all of our emergency shelters on Christmas Day. Thank you for the love you have shown to bring a home-cooked meal into our house.
At our Harriet Tubman Women’s Shelter, Sister 4 Sister donated nearly 40 warm jackets to our ladies – we are looking good!
The Teen Parent and Independent Living Programs received more than $3000 in gifts and donations from local organizations, including the Howard University Comptroller's Office, Catholic University Law School and Beltsville Elementary School.
St. Andrew Kim Korean Catholic Church in Olney, Md., headed up a clothing drive at local dry cleaning stores, donating like-new items to the Hermano Pedro Day Program. Hermano Pedro also received from the church new hats, scarves and other winter apparel for 150 clients. Plus, any clients starting new jobs got warm sleeping bags, new pants and shirts.

Two Days Left to Make a Year-End Gift!

2010-12-30T12:30:00.000-04:00

You have just two more days to make your year-end, tax-deductible gift to Catholic Charities! Of course, we understand that you give for many reasons – a tangible sign of your faith, compassion for your neighbors and belief in a better way forward as a community.

Whatever your reason, you can look around your community and see poverty. You know someone who has lost their job or their home. You know someone who has struggled with the staggering cost of health care, or wrestled with mental illness or fought for independence as an individual living with a disability. At Catholic Charities, we are working with more than 100,000 people each year, one at a time, to offer them help that empowers and hope that lasts. And you can help us make a difference with your gift.

Here are just a few of the many ways your gift will help:

$25 – Purchase 200 pounds of food with a gift of $25 and help the Southern Maryland Food Bank combat the incredible hunger in three counties! We can turn each dollar into eight pounds of food. This gift is especially important as funds can be saved for a time when canned good donations are not meeting the demand solely.

$50 – Provide tools for students in the Pre-Apprenticeship Green Construction Program at the Spanish Catholic Center in DC. This program teaches new construction techniques and skills that include the latest in green technology.

$150 – Cover the legal fees for an individual to apply to become a United States citizen with guidance of our expert Immigration Legal Services staff.

$500 – Help 20 patients cover their $25 contribution fee for follow-up specialty health care through our Archdiocesan Health Care Network – often the pro bono doctors are donating thousands in care to these patients.

$5,000 – Your gift will set up a new business center for the Angel’s Watch Women’s Shelter, which provides housing and support to women and children fleeing abuse. New computers, work space, printers, fax machines and maintenance will allow clients to find or continue employment in an environment free from abuse.

Are you ready to help us? Make a gift here online or you can call us at 202-772-4394 to speak with a member of the Foundation staff.