WPD recognizes Harbor House for help with Strangulation Initiative the Wichita Police Department wanted to W hen create a training video to help officers and first
Cans versus Cash:
How students took different paths to feed the hungry
T
he rivalry between Wichita’s two Catholic high schools runs deeper than glory on the sports field or superiority in the classroom. Each fall, Bishop Carroll and Kapaun Mt. Carmel go head-to-head to see which student body can make the biggest donation of non-perishable food items to Our Daily Bread Food Pantry. No Catholic Charities ministry has experienced a more dramatic increase in clients because of the pandemic than Our Daily Bread, so the continued support from Bishop Carroll and Kapaun in 2020 was welcomed. But COVID also dramatically changed how students at the two schools approached their annual donation. Many of the previous, in-person events at which canned goods were collected were sidelined in 2020. In the end, Bishop Carroll decided to stick with canned goods, gathering more than 28,000 items last fall which the pantry used during the winter. Kapaun students went a different direction, collecting dollars in order to present the pantry with a $10,000 check. The cash gift gave Joe Seitz, program director, the flexibility to make a bulk purchase when it was most needed. He recently did just that, resulting in seven pallets of food being delivered to the ODB storage facility. While the approaches were different, both outcomes were greatly appreciated. The students’ efforts will help keep the shelves at Our Daily Bread stocked with food staples this spring.
responders understand the warning signs and health effects of strangulation, they found a knowledgeable voice in Erica Carter. Erica suffered strangulation at the hands of her abusive partner before finding safe shelter at Harbor House Domestic Violence Shelter. In the video, Erica shared her personal story in the hopes of saving the lives of those who experience that type of abuse in the future. In February, both Erica and Keri McGregor, Harbor House program director, received “Outstanding Citizen Assistance Plaques” for their involvement with the video. “We were nominated by Deputy Chief Salcido for our collaboration and partnership with law enforcement on the Strangulation Initiative,” Keri says. “We assisted them with educating the community and first responders about the warning signs and serious health effects of a strangulation case in hopes of gaining harsher punishment for offenders, and getting victims’ medical needs assessed in a timelier manner.”
Harbor House Hotline Available 24/7 Help with safety planning and emergency shelter remains just a phone call away through the Harbor House hotline. The hotline is staffed 24/7. Don’t hesitate to call if you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship and needs help.
316-263-6000
