2022 Spring - Catholic Charities Connections Newsletter

CATHOLIC CHARITIES

M y, oh, my! How time flies when everyone is having fun!

It would seem that in the time it takes for big smiles to appear at a Friday afternoon dance party or uncontrollable laughter to break out during a water splash day, Adult Day Services at Catholic Charities has reached the one-year anniversary of moving into its new home in northwest Wichita.

The fun and celebration is expected to continue this spring with the completion of the new accessible outdoor recreation area on the 5.5 acre campus located at 2235 W. 37th St. N. “From the beginning of the Blessing Families, Enriching Lives capital campaign three years ago to today’s work on the recreation space, we have felt God’s abundant blessings on this project every step of the way,” says Wendy Gick, executive director.

“Donors responded with great generosity, helping us create a wonderful atmosphere for the adults and families we serve.”

Last spring’s move into the completely remodeled former Michener Elementary School doubled the square footage available for activities and services, and added amenities like a sensory room, dedicated changing rooms, a roll-in shower and a total of 24 ADA accessible bathrooms.

To learn more, call Colene at (316) 942-2008, ext. 2127.

Personal experience drives Tyler to feed the hungry Derek Tyler was serving homeless veterans for Catholic Charities when an opportunity to combine his inventory control, warehousing and social services backgrounds became available. He was promoted to program director for Our Daily Bread Food Pantry at the beginning of 2022.

“Helping people is what makes me happy,” says Derek, who has spent the past several months getting to know his all-volunteer crew, learning the dayto-day operations of the pantry, and meeting clients.

Continued inside.

SPRING 2022

ADS provides quality day programs for both adults with intellectual and development disabilities, and seniors who are experiencing dementia, Alzheimer’s or loneliness. It offers a private pay option for those without Medicaid funding and an income-based sliding fee scale for qualified participants.

CONNECTIONS

Adult Day Services celebrates one year on new campus

from the person in the house whose life is being changed or who is changing the lives of others. The purple and teal colors are associated with domestic violence and sexual assault.

New logo helps Harbor House mark 30 years Since 1992, Harbor House at Catholic Charities has welcomed thousands of domestic violence survivors to its shelter and outreach programs. The welcome and support the survivors are given is now reflected in its first-ever logo.

“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate three decades of providing services throughout the community than to unveil our very own Harbor House logo,” says Keri McGregor, program director. “The logo encompasses what our mission is in a subtle, yet powerful, way.”

Keri says the logo, designed for Catholic Charities by Trina Sanders, Church of the Magdalen, illustrates the welcome and safety of the shelter. The figure within the house, with arms extended, represents both a welcoming staff member and a survivor who is reaching out for help and hope. The leaves rooted at the base of the house symbolize growth, change, transformation and renewal. They stem

Keri says Harbor House is much more than a shelter. Through shelter and outreach services, Harbor House serves more than 1,500 people a year. Outreach advocacy services guide survivors through the judicial, medical and DCF systems. Case managers assist survivors with employment opportunities, housing options and financial literacy.

“Shelter is only a small part of what Harbor House offers,” Keri says. “Our client services are able to meet clients where they are, whether that be in a community setting or in shelter.”

“All outreach and shelter services are provided free of charge to survivors with the goal of breaking the cycle of violence against women and their children,” she says. “The only way our staff and volunteers can do this work is thanks to the generosity of countless donors and grant funding partners.”

Harbor House Hotline Available 24/7

(316) 263-6000

Feed the hungry Continued...

Derek says he feels a connection to many of the clients that are served by Catholic Charities because of his own struggles a few years ago. A combination of circumstances led to a stay in a Wichita homeless shelter.

Our Daily Bread is open to all Our Daily Bread Food Pantry at Catholic Charities is open to all from 8:30 a.m. to noon Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and from 9 a.m. to noon the fourth Saturday of each month.

There are no income requirements to receive food, just a need to feed oneself or one’s family.

He grew up outside of Boston, and still proudly exhibits the fast-paced, fasttalking demeanor often associated with Northeasterners. He first came to Wichita as a U.S. Air Force firefighter stationed at McConnell Air Force Base. He joined the service to take advantage of its educational benefits but realized two years later that his 24-hour shift schedule was not conducive to a college class schedule.

He honorably discharged and embarked on a warehousing and logistics career that took him to back to Massachusetts and then to Nevada. In time, a health condition led him to apply for disability benefits. As those were denied, his marriage ended. He followed his ex-wife and daughters back to Wichita, eventually gaining custody of his two girls.

or toll-free 1-866-899-5522

He and the girls were homeless for a time, but those difficult times opened a door to a new career. When a person who had helped him at the shelter saw a job opening at COMCARE of Sedgwick County, she knew Derek would be a perfect fit. In 2019, he began his career in social services as a certified peer support specialist and case manager at COMCARE. Two years later, he joined Catholic Charities.

The personal knowledge of homelessness and hunger is why Derek appreciates Our Daily Bread’s client choice model and the way that volunteers treat all clients with dignity and respect.

“There is a stigma about going to a food pantry which we want to change,” Derek says. “Food insecurity has an impact not only on one’s physical health, but their mental health, how kids perform in school, and much more.

“When people come to Our Daily Bread, it’s not about judging them or charity; it is about people helping people in their time of need,” he says.

Dear Friend, As our Lenten journey recently ended with the glorious Resurrection, we are reminded of the incredible love that Jesus Christ has for all people. Love strong enough to lay down His life for us.

The countless, selfless acts Jesus performed during His public ministry, especially Holy Week, illustrate how we should treat the sick, the poor, the stranger, and the sinner.

During the Last Supper, He offered us a perfect example of how each of us should spend our lives. His act of washing the feet of his disciples showed us that we are called to be servants for others, to live our lives with humility, and to love in every situation.

To Love like Christ is to be a servant to others.

In the Diocese of Wichita, Catholic Charities is our collective response to be the servants for those in our community who are in need. Each year, Catholic Charities through its 13 ministries serves some 18,000 children and adults who are hungry, homeless, disabled, lonely, or abused.

The staff and volunteers of Catholic Charities could not do this important work on our behalf without the financial support of individuals and families who join in the work of sharing God’s love by caring for all people.

t, who gave me supporbuild en om w g in az am e lee ar and re Kate, Julie and Kar urces and helping myself to be safe ginning free taught me about resod with hope, Christ, love and anew be a future that is fille ce. They are angels. from domestic violen

Each and every gift that Catholic Charities receives, no matter the size, has an impact on those in the community who are most in need of our help. People like Michelle and her daughter who found safe shelter and supportive assistance at St. Anthony Family Shelter when they had nowhere else to go and no one else to count on.

The need in our community remains great as we continue to recover from the pandemic, and deal with higher prices for food, gas and utilities.

One way you can Love Like Christ this spring is by making a gift to Catholic Charities. We pray that you will join us in being a servant to those in need through your financial gift.

Gratefully yours,

Most Reverend Carl A. Kemme, D.D. Bishop of Wichita

Wendy Glick Executive Director, Catholic Charities

LOVE like Christ

Tonya

Letters

Finding safe s helter and a fr esh start at St. Anthon y Family Shelt er

from those we serve

Sometimes we are so caught up in life we don’t that our curren ever foresee t circumstances ca n change so qu drastically that ickly and so it can knock us off balance. A ye one of those su ar ago, I had ch experiences .

The staff and volunteeers of Catholic Charities Love like Christ in their daily work of helping the hungry, homeless, poor, disabled, lonely and abused in the community. They could not do this work without support of our donors.

It is often times these letters of gratitude that brighten our day, and today we wish to brighten yours.

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This is an ama very thankful fozing place and I’m received from C r all the help I have atholic Charities.

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g here. We e everythin v lo n so y safe.

“Me and m e here and r a e w t a kful th workers are so than so nice; the t, e e sw is ere nkful.” Everyone h I am so tha l. fu lp e h here are so

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I was used to be ing in an abusiv e relationship, bo and physically at th mentally times. I went al ong with it, goin the motions ever g through y day until one day things just proportion and blew up out of I found myself an d my daughter her father and homeless as my husband blew up at us one nigh hurt his daught t, physically er and threw us out of our hom e.

Not having any blood family in the States, we w and uncertain as ere both afraid to what we wou ld do or where I called for help we would go. and we were ac cepted at St Ant Shelter. We wer hony Family e both in shock, hurt beyond be very beat down lief and feeling and vulnerable .

N ot only did the the world who one person in is supposed to take care of us caused us to be let us down, he homeless with also no place to go an belongings. d very few of ou r I was embarras sed at the idea I would have to what kind of a pa stay in a shelter; rent am I not to be able to prov with a roof over ide my daughter her head? I felt like a failure an parent I could be d I was the wor ; I didn’t know w st hat to expect bu shelter on Sund t we entered th ay afternoon. e

We were greete d with kindness and caring and made me feel lik respect; no one e I was a failure . The staff was accommodating ge nuinely warm an as we tried to ke d ep things as no daughter was st rmal as possible ill attending the . My same school an off. The staff w d I worked a way as very understa s nding and allow dinner hours an ed us to eat after d made sure we had all we need ed.

Our case manag ers were full of wisdom and en They helped m couragement. e focus and navi gate our newly employment ca fo und situation. M se manager prov y ided me with al and information l so rts of connectio to help me impr ns ove my situatio hearts and wor n. They had huge ked around my schedule. I am fo rever grateful.

All in all despite the traumatic si tuation that lead shelter, our expe us to the family rience was a po werful, humblin We were treate g and a positive on d with respect an e. d there was no physical accom ju dg modations wer ement ever. The e clean and com a safe place to re fortable, and af side while worki forded us ng on the next step.

I will be forever grateful to the w onderful staff w questions asked ho accepted us and treated us no well. Thank you opportunity to fo r allowing us th stay safe and he e althy while we w difficult time. orked through such a Thank you,

Michele

Sharing God’s love by caring for all people.

Night of Joy

A Gratitude Gala by Catholic Charities

Honorees joyfully give time, treasure Catholic Charities recently honored five people for the contributions they make to share in the mission of the organization. They were honored as part of a new recognition program that the organization hopes inspires both current and future donors and volunteers alike.

WENDY GLICK Executive Director

LEANNE MILLER

Senior Director of Development

MARY BETH CHAMBERS Marketing and Communications Director

Jane Schwartz

Spirit of Joy Volunteer Award Presented to an outstanding volunteer who embodies what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus for the people that Catholic Charities serves.

Jane is a long-time volunteer at both Our Daily Bread Food Pantry and Harbor House Domestic Violence Shelter. She is a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

CatholicCharitiesWichita.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Christina Ricke, Chair K•Coe Isom

Christopher J. Goebel, Vice Chair

“We are called to give of our time, talent and treasure. When I add on the joy and gratitude I feel when I volunteer, my stewardship becomes a home run! I'm allowed to be the face of Christ to so many, and in return I see Him in them -- hence, the joy and gratitude.”

Andrew & Jamie Mies

Faithful Servant Outstanding Philanthropists

Star Lumber & Supply Co., Inc.

Fr. Daryl Befort

Diocese of Wichita, St. Joseph Parish, Andale

Andy Buessing Hutton

Scott Bergkamp

Bergkamp Construction

Presented to outstanding donors who faithfully support the mission of Catholic Charities through their consistent giving.

Members of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Andrew and Jamie became monthly donors to Catholic Charities in 2014.

Monte Cook

Commerce Bank

Christopher Dugan

Fiberglass and Composite Technology

Deborah Gladney QuickHire

“We have been greatly blessed and feel called to share. We are drawn to groups that are making a significant impact to immediately improve people’s lives – we trust the leadership of Catholic Charities to be good stewards and direct funds to where they can have the greatest impact.”

Roger McCoy & Kathy Gann-McCoy Caritas Outstanding Philanthropists

Presented to outstanding donors who exemplify charity and Christian love of humankind demonstrated by giving to Catholic Charities for 20 or more years.

Roger and Kathy, who are members of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church have given to Catholic Charities since 1995. In 2014, they turned their annual gift into a monthly contribution.

“God has provided us with many blessings and we believe it is our Christian duty to share a portion of these blessings with those in need. We feel that contributing to Catholic Charities provides an easy and efficient way for us to provide help to those in need.”

Our joyful hearts are full of gratitude for you.

Missy Hampel

Ascension Via Christi Hospitals

Stephen Hayes

Five Point Ventures, LLC

Mary Alice Johnson Kuman Learning Center

Brian Kaiser

Fint Hills Resources

Most Rev. Bishop Carl A. Kemme, D.D. Bishop of Wichita

Chuck Marshall

Community Volunteer

Ed Mikesell

Comfort Care Homes of Kansas City

Kevin Mitchelson

Wheeler & Mitchelson, Chartered

Kevin Mullen

Ritchie Associates, Inc.

Carol Streckfus Cohlmia Marketing

Sr. Marsha Wilson, ASC

Adoorers of the Blood of Christ

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

HUNGER & HOMELESSNESS

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

ENRICHMENT SERVICES

CatholicCharitiesWichita.org (316) 264-8344 Catholic Charities infuses faith into our community through the care it shows all people

CATHOLIC CHARITIES

PAID

Wichita, KS Permit No. 152

CONNECTIONS

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

ST. JOSEPH PASTORAL CENTER 437 N. Topeka Street Wichita, KS 67202-2413

Seeking hosts for summertime, Eat, Pray, Give parties Eat, Pray, Give parties offer a fun, new way to connect current and future donors or volunteers with Catholic Charities.

Hosted by individuals or couples who share in the mission of Catholic Charities through their support, these small parties allow our staff to connect with potential donors and volunteers and share our story. The hosts also have an opportunity to share with their invited family members, friends or social contacts why they support Catholic Charities.

The parties can take whatever shape the hosts desire. Previous parties have included cocktails

and hors d’oeuvres at a donor’s home; a catered, seven-course dinner at a private venue; and a fun night of food and pickle ball at Chicken N Pickle. The sky is the limit!

Interested in learning more?

We make giving a party easy by working with hosts to arrange for a venue, theme, invitations and personalized online giving page. If you would like to explore the opportunity of hosting an Eat, Pray, Give party, contact LeAnne Miller at (316) 2648344, ext. 1221 or lmiller@ CatholicCharitiesWichita.org

Catholic Charities earns highest rating from Charity Navigator Catholic Charities – Diocese of Wichita has received the highest possible rating given by Charity Navigator, the leading website for measuring the financial health of not-for-profits.

“The four-star rating that Catholic Charities received tells donors that we are good stewards of their dollars, while being transparent, efficient and accountable,” says LeAnne Miller, senior director of development. “Our four-star rating gives individuals, businesses and foundations the confidence to know that the gifts they make to Catholic Charities will be wisely and appropriately spent to support the work we do in the community.”

Since 2001, Charity Navigator has been empowering millions of donors by providing them with free access to data, tools and resources to guide philanthropic decision-making. Charity Navigator uses seven financial measurements to rate each charity in the United States that files a Federal 990 and meets certain size criteria.