• $170,600 grant supports resilience and accessibility in the NEI food system
• Embracing human dignity through community: The Carriage House
• Addressing maternal housing instability, a critical conversation
• Meg Distler receives 2024 Saint Katharina Kasper Award

The St. Joseph Community Health Foundation is pleased to support the Northeast Indiana Local Food Network’s Capacity-Building Initiative through a three-year $170,600 grant. This initiative aims to strengthen the food system in Northeast Indiana, focusing on vulnerable families and individuals who face barriers to accessing nutritious, locally-produced food.

The grant will support a comprehensive needs assessment of the local food system to identify challenges and opportunities faced by farmers, businesses, schools, and families in producing, sourcing, and accessing healthy food. This research will be used to develop...

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The St. Joe Foundation is proud to support grantees such as Carriage House, who recently shared the story of one of their members, Marvin. Marvin’s journey highlights the profound positive impact that finding community can have on personal growth and sense of dignity. Since joining the Carriage House in 2007, Marvin has experienced a welcoming environment that values individuals beyond their mental health struggles. 

Reflecting on his first visit, Marvin noted, "I was a little reserved. I slowly came out of my shell and started pitching in to help here, and it gave me a purpose. I started to feel like I could trust people here. I felt the compassion of the staff—they showed me that they cared about me." This sense of belonging is...

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In September, the Prenatal and Infant Care Network (PIC) brought together local experts for a luncheon to discuss important housing issues that families and pregnant women face in Allen County. As housing instability becomes a more significant concern, understanding its impact on vulnerable populations is crucial.

Housing instability, including homelessness, poses severe risks during pregnancy. Studies show that expectant mothers who...

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The St. Joe Foundation is proud to honor our Executive Director, Meg Distler, who not only celebrates 25 years of service this year, but also was awarded the prestigious Saint Katharina Kasper Award by our sponsor, the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ! This esteemed recognition celebrates Meg's unwavering dedication to service, embodying the compassionate spirit of Saint Katharina Kasper.

Michael Heinlein | August 13, 2024 | Today's Catholic

God’s timing is a mystery. Waiting for God’s plan to be made clear can be difficult. It can test our faith and trust, make us question our hope, distract us from doing God’s will as it presents itself to us in the day-to-day circumstances of our lives.

St. Maria Katharina Kasper experienced this kind of waiting quite dramatically in her life. But, as much as God’s timing is a mystery, by God’s grace, we can begin to see His providence in our exercise of patience – as St. Katharina’s story makes clear. “Be still before the Lord; wait for Him” (Ps 37:7), according to the psalmist’s wisdom. “All things work for good for those who love God,” as St. Paul instructs...

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