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Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas
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CLEANING WITH PURPOSE
Catholic Charities Launches New Social Enterprise
On the surface, Aspire Cleaning Service may seem like any other commercial cleaning company. They vacuum, dust, empty the trash. But dig a little deeper and you'll find what really sets them apart -- they are a source of meaningful employment for resettled refugees.
Aspire Cleaning Service is Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas' newest social enterprise. Jasmine Baudler, who previously worked as Catholic Charities' Refugee Employment Team Lead, is the company's manager. "I saw firsthand how eager refugees were for long-term job opportunities," she said, "but were often limited to seasonal, temporary jobs with low wages."
A full-service, bonded and insured commercial cleaning company, Aspire is
commit
ted
to paying employees a stable wage with benefits
. As a result, team members feel valued and ta
ke pride in the cleaning services that they provide for customers. "It's challenging for businesses to find a reliable cleaning company, let alone one with a higher purpose. It gives them an opportunity to support a cleaning company trying to make a difference in the community and in the lives of refugees who are determined to overcome barriers to sustain their families," adds Baudler.
In addition to standard office cleaning services, Aspire provides deep cleaning, floor technician work - stripping, waxing and top scrubbing. Modest revenues generated from Aspire will be reinvested into Catholic Charities' programs and services to help those in need across our 21-county service area.
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Reserve your place now at the 43
rd
Annual Snow Ball benefiting Catholic Chari
ti
es Founda
ti
on of Northeast Kansas. This year's event will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at a new loca
ti
on, the Overland Park Conven
ti
on Center. The elegant evening includes a cocktail recep
ti
on and formal dinner, followed by dancing.
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Honorary Snow Ball Presidents Pat Wilkerson, Rich Teahan and
Don Foley join Snow Ball Presidents Lynn and Jay Reardon.
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FROM THE BEGINNING TO LIFE'S END
Often, when people hear of Catholic Charities, they tend to think of our food pantries. While food assistance remains a very important part of what we do, it's not all that we do. We offer more than 20 programs and services that affect all stages of life. This month, we celebrate two of those programs as part of
National Adoption Month and
National Hospice Month
.
Adoption was Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas' founding program. Sixty years later, staff continue to successfully match newborn babies with their forever families. "We provide pre- and post-adoption support to birth parents and adoptive families," says Heather Roberts, Coordinator of Pregnancy Counseling and Adoption. "We're there every step of the way to facilitate the communication between the two parties, recognizing that both are
coming from a place of great love."
For those with a life-limiting illness, we offer Catholic Community Hospice. The only
Catholic
hospice in the greater Kansas City area, we serve people of all faiths. "Our team is there at the end of life's journey providing physical care to keep patients comfortable," says Rodney Whittington, Executive Director of Catholic Community Hospice, "as well as emotional and spiritual support not only for the patient, but family members who are going through this with their loved one."
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HISTORY COMES TO LIFE DURING CITIZENSHIP CLASS
"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." - Abraham Lincoln
Students in our Citizenship Preparation Program were inspired by these words as they were delivered during a class visit by none other than Abraham Lincoln. Randy Duncan, who bears a striking resemblance to the 16
th President of the United States, is a Lincoln impersonator. The father of Cara Duncan, one of our Americorps VISTA volunteers, he traveled from Springfield, Illinois, to give the class a first-person account of Lincoln's life and his experiences leading up to, and throughout, the Civil War.
During one of the evening classes comprised of Spanish-speaking students, Abe was asked if he spoke the language. He smiled, then broke character to tell them that, while Abe Lincoln did not speak it, he, Randy Duncan, spoke a little. In fact, he had been asked to present at Lincoln Park in Mexico City recently and had learned the Gettysburg Address in Spanish. He then recited the infamous speech in Spanish as the Citizenship students proudly beaming, listened intently.
"It was an engaging, fascinating presentation that really brought our nation's history alive for these students," says Tracy Fuller, Citizenship Program Manager.
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ST. THOMAS AQUINAS STUDENTS SHOW THEY
CAN
DO IT!
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Just as the shelves of our Hope Distribution food warehouse were growing bare, Saint Thomas Aquinas High School students did it again. They brought in an incredible 93,624 cans through their CANsas City canned food drive for Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas.
The annual canned food drive has rightfully become a source of pride for the students who have donated more than
half a million
cans of food to Catholic Charities since 2010. Their contribution makes a sizeable impact on our entire 21 county service area.
"We rely heavily on the food drive to help us keep our nine food pantries stocked. Without those donations, we are forced to purchase food from our food banks and wholesale distributors. Money spent on the purchase of food is money that can be spent on programs and services to help children and families move out of poverty," says Dustin Hardison, Director of Stabilization and Housing.
The students are truly doing more, however, than stocking the shelves. "They're putting love into action and truly serving as the hands and feet of Jesus."
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Ways to Make a Difference
Black Friday. Cyber Monday. Giving Tuesday.
'Tis the season to help your neighbors in need. Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas is participating in #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to the act of giving on November 29th. This year, we ask that you show your support by considering a gift of $32. It will help us feed a family of four for one month. More than that, it will change the lives of those we serve.
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9720 W. 87th St | Overland Park, KS 66212 | 913.433.2100
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Looking to volunteer?
Contact
Michelle Carlstedt
at
913.433.2080
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