November 2026
Y e a r s o f S e rv i c e
We’re so glad to be providing you updates on all the wonderful things happening at St. Catherine’s Center for Children – all of which are made possible through “Friends of St. Catherine’s” – like you! Thank you for your support. We hope you enjoy our newsletter!
Kids’ Corner Trick-or-Treating Our R & E May School transformed into a frightful fashion runway as monsters, superheroes, and witches strutted from classroom to classroom, collecting an assortment of candy along the way. At the end of the day a spectacular parade commenced around the building! A huge thank you to the R & E May School staff for organizing all of the fun and making this event a success!
November ‘26 - Page 2
Donations Crafting for Kindness A huge thank you to Ashley Castellana and all of the children who participated in the 6th Annual Crafting for Kindness event! On Sunday, September 20th, the group raised $5,250 for St. Catherine’s Center for Children by selling their handmade creations. Not only did these young philanthropists bring joy to other children in need, but they also learned powerful life lessons about kindness, generosity, teamwork, and how even the smallest hands can make a big impact! To learn more about how you can support us, click the button below!
MORE INFO
Y e a r s o f S erv i c e
Thanksgiving Food Drive
Beans | Bread | Breakfast Items | Boxed Pasta | Boxed Stuffing | Baked Macaroni & Cheese | Canned Vegetables | Canned Gravy | Canned Fruit | Canned Frosting | Cake Mix | Gift Cards for Protein (Walmart, Price Chopper, etc.) | Muffin Mix | Peanut Butter & Jelly | Rice | Soup | Tuna PLEASE DROP OFF ITEMS BY NOV. 16TH AT:
TO SCHEDULE A DROP OFF, E-MAIL:
40 N. Main Ave. Albany, NY 12203
doneal@st-cath.org or mpuleoohare@st-cath.org
November ‘26 - Page 3
Upcoming Events SAVE-THE-DATE! ELVIS AND BUDDY: WHEN LEGENDS MEET
NOV. 21 THE EGG ALBANY Tickets and sponsorships available now!
Elvis and Buddy: When Legends Meet It has never been easier to make a difference in the lives of children, families, and adults in our community who are in need. These individuals suffer from the lasting effects of abuse, neglect, family instability, homelessness, and other traumas. You can help by attending our fundraiser, “Elvis and Buddy: When Legends Meet” happening at The Egg, November 21, 2026, at 7 p.m. Elvis and Buddy: When Legends Meet features Buffalo native Nathan Pittorf as Buddy Holly. Performing the memorable songs that rocketed Holly to fame before his untimely death at the age of 21, Nathan brings a decade of stage experience to his high-energy tribute to Holly. Dan Fontaine — New England’s premier Elvis tribute artist — will follow with his award-winning tribute to the King, performing some of Elvis’s most popular hits from the ‘60s and ‘70s. With a vocal range that covers three octaves, Dan is recognized as one of the best vocalists in the world of Elvis entertainers. Backed by The Memphis Sun Mafia — gifted musicians who faithfully recreate the King’s extensive catalog of hits — Dan’s show will entertain and delight audiences young and old. Albany native and special guest Luke Barnhart will open the show with some of the early songs that helped Elvis launch the Rock & Roll revolution. Elvis and Buddy will not only entertain you, but will also remind you why these two groundbreaking artists were inaugural members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. All proceeds from this event directly benefit the programs and services provided by the agency, serving 10 regions, 37 counties and 54 school districts across New York state. Tickets are available to purchase! Scan the QR Code or click the button below!
MORE INFO
PURCHASE TICKETS
November ‘26 - Page 4
Ways to Give
Hope for the Holidays Memories of happy holidays aren’t always a reality for the vulnerable populations we serve. For the parents of young children who find themselves in a homeless shelter, or for the youths who have been removed from their home after suffering years of neglect, it won’t be a happy holiday season until they find a stable and loving home. St. Catherine’s Hope for the Holidays program seeks to brighten the season for those in need. You can help in a variety of ways. Our Adopt-a-Child/Family program allows you, your family and friends, or your group the opportunity to make a big impact. You can also help by donating a gift card for a holiday meal, or use our Holiday Gift Catalog to make a cash donation to make this holiday season extra special for children and families in need. Every gift counts and will directly impact the families and communities we serve. To learn more about holiday giving opportunities, call Michele Puleo-O’Hare at (518) 410-5941, Dori O’Neal at (518) 6416802, e-mail doneal@st-cath.org, or click the button below!
DONATE
Hope for the Holidays 5
WAYS TO GIVE BACK
Adopt-a-Child/Adopt-a-Family Reach out and we will match you with a child or family in need. Donations must be delivered by Dec. 6.
Donate a Holiday Meal A bag of groceries is all you need to make a memorable holiday meal for a family or someone in need!
Holiday Gift Catalog Use our Holiday Gift Catalog to make donations to support children, adults, and families in need. Call (518) 641-6802 to be added to our holiday gift catalog mailing list.
Holiday Tree Starting in mid-November, St. Catherine’s will collect gifts through our Holiday Trees. Visit our website for participating locations!
Host a Children’s Holiday Party Hosting a party for children is always a great way to bring holiday cheer! Call us if you’re interested.
November ‘26 - Page 5
Program Spotlight Galvan Civic Motel Homelessness in Columbia County has experienced some of the sharpest percentage increases in the state, driven largely by severe housing unaffordability. The average rent gap grew by $222 (or 54%) from 2020 through 2025, with housing and rent costs significantly outpacing local wage growth according to the Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress Out of Reach reports. The Galvan Civic Motel, a temporary housing unit which falls under St. Catherine’s Columbia County Homeless Services program, houses children, families, and adults who are in need of emergency shelter. This program is proven to help individuals transition back into a stable life in the community after experiencing homelessness. Our free, three-phase program provides care and case management based on the Critical Time Intervention model, and a trauma-informed approach to Columbia County residents who are currently unhoused and in need of critical support services. Recently, an adult came into the program with several mental health and physical health diagnoses. At first, they struggled to work with case managers and upkeep their room’s cleanliness. As the room’s condition began to deteriorate, St. Catherine’s case managers started to meet with them daily. Our team worked with the client on specific goals to complete during their time together. Each day, they worked together to improve the room’s cleanliness, and in the process, the client’s ambivalence towards maintaining their room dissipated. Through daily meetings, task outlining, and effective follow up, the client was able to make progress on their own, and began suggesting goals to work on without case managers present. Thanks to the work of St. Catherine’s case managers, the client was able to move out of the Galvan and into permanent housing. Equipped with the skills learned after being in the program, they have been able to maintain their new apartment and achieve stability. This is just one example of the incredible outcomes that come from Columbia County Homeless & Housing Services. Case managers play a crucial role in helping clients apply for subsidized housing, guiding them through the application process, assisting them in optimizing their income potential, and setting goals to remove barriers to attaining permanent housing. After clients secure housing, case managers continue collaborating with them for a year to prevent eviction. Located on Route 9, near Livingston, the Galvan Civic Motel is owned by the Galvan Foundation and contracted through Columbia County to provide emergency housing for our clients. To learn more about the Columbia County Homeless & Housing Services program, click the button below.
MORE INFO