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Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas
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Saint Thomas Aquinas Breaks Food Drive Record - AGAIN!
It began as a small food drive with cans filling the back of a single pick-up truck. This year, the Saint Thomas Aquinas food drive filled
four semi-trucks, transporting 177,801 cans to our Hope Distribution Center. That's right, 177,801 cans - breaking the national record for the second time in a row!
The can 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 of Northeast Kansas since 2010. Their contribution makes a sizeable impact on our entire 21 county service area.
"Their efforts remind me of the parable of Jesus feeding the masses with five loaves of bread and two fish," says Dustin Hardison, Director of Stabilization and Housing. "The food drive numbers just keep multiplying year after year, helping us meet the growing number of hungry families. It's inspiring to see that kind of service and commitment."
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There's a camaraderie that exists among those who have served our country. It's one of the reasons Mike Parker, a Veteran, volunteers with Catholic Community Hospice's Veteran-to-Veteran program. The program pairs a hospice patient who is a Veteran with a volunteer who has also served. It's an opportunity for the patient to recount his/her life story.
Mike recalls a visit with a hospice patient:
I started my conversation with, "So, I understand that you are a former Marine; I am a former Soldier". . . From there it was a non-stop telling of tales, both his and mine, of basic training and drill instructors; of deployments; of friends made and friends lost. . . We made a connection through our shared experience -- even though Robert was old enough to be my dad and his service was in a different time and at a different place. . . Together, in that hospice room -- a sort of foxhole where Robert was in his final battle -- we became "battle buddies". . .
Catholic Community Hospice recognizes patients who are Veterans with individual ceremonies attended by family members, the Veteran volunteer and the Hospice team. The program is part of the We Honor Veterans national initiative in partnership with the VA.
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Adoption is a Gift
Our adoptive families gathered for a fun-filled picnic to kick off
National Adoption Awareness Month
.
Adoption is one of Catholic Charities'
founding ministries. The expertise and support that staff provides both birth parents and adoptive families leading up to and following adoption is one of the things that sets the program apart from others.
"Adoption is truly a gift of love on both sides," explains Donda McLaughlin, Pregnancy
Counseling and Adoption Program Director. "We are very aware of that as we carefully match the birth and adoptive parents."
Adoptive and birth parents must agree to an Open Adoption.
"We don't have set guidelines, meaning that open adoption varies from family to family. It's often something that changes over time. But it's in the best interest of the child to have some form of communication, especially when it comes to learning about their medical history."
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We're Thankful. And We Want You To Know!
At Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, we have A LOT to be thankful for. Every day we get the opportunity to serve our neighbors in need, providing them with the basic necessities like food, clothing and housing. We get the chance to welcome a refugee family to their new home, free from fear of persecution. We get to witness a child joining their forever family through adoption and comfort the dying at the end of life's journey.
But we couldn't do it without YOU! Thank you for all you do to support our mission of putting love into action.
Watch our video shout out to all of you!
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Snow Ball. It's About Families Helping Families.
Ther
e are less than
10 weeks left
until the 42
nd
Annual Snow Ball on January 16, 2016.
Snow Ball is the largest Catholic Charities fundraising event in the country. But it's much more than an event. It's a celebration family, friends, faith and helping those in need in our community.
But why is the Snow Ball so important?
The annual Snow Ball is critical to the success of Catholic Charities every year. The Snow Ball is responsible for 50% of total private donations to Catholic Charities. Funds raised from last year's Snow Ball was the equivalence of feeding 62,500 families. And sadly, the demand for services has increased by 26% since last year.
Will you help us change lives for families in our community?
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Ways to Make a Difference
Feed a Family of 4 with a Gift of $32 a Month
As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us are busy thinking about our menu items such as turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. But what if you couldn't afford to buy groceries for your family during the holidays or any time of the year? This is the sad reality for many families who we see every day at one of our nine food pantries. The pantries serve as a grocery store when there are no other options.
There is a way that you can help
. It takes $32 a month to feed a family of four for an entire year - not just during the holiday season. Donate here
.
Your gift - whatever the amount - will do more than provide food for those in need. 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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