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Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas
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 Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Kids Summer Food Program Sees Increase in Volunteers
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Olathe Volunteers
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Kansas City Volunteers
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In 2016, C
atholic Ch
arities of Northeast
Kansas committed to
increasing the number of sites for the Kids Summer Food Program. Statistically speaking, more sites meant being able to feed more children. However, the challenge then became more sites also required additional volunteers to help facilitate those sites.
That was a short-lived concern because, once word got out, volunteers across the entire 21 county service area stepped up, ready and willing to help out their neighbor.
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Topeka Volunteers
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Waverly Volunteers
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"In one month alone, we onboarded more than
90
new volunteers!" said Michelle Carlstedt, Director of Volunteers for Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas. "It's exciting to see communities coming together to help each other," she added.
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Seneca Volunteers
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Holton Volunteers
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To those of you who distributed lu
nches, wiped down tables,
facilitated kid's activities, handed out flyers, and so much more--
THANK YOU!
You helped make the Kids Summer Food Program possible in your community.
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Now, and at the Hour of Our Death...
Catholic Community Hospice Provides Spiritual and Medical Comfort Near the End of Life.
Many of us may have thought about what we want medically at the end of life, but what about spiritually? Do we want someone to pray with us? Do we want our parish priest or church minister present?
As a faith-based, non-profit, and the
only
Catholic hospice in the greater Kansas City area, Catholic Community Hospice is committed to providing services that interweave and uphold one's faith.
As part of that devotion, the hospice staff began giving Catholic patients a St. Joseph's Prayer Chest blessed by Archbishop Naumann or a parish priest that symbolizes the religious beliefs and traditions.
Inside the keepsake box is a statue of St. Joseph, the Patron Saint of a Happy Death; a Crucifix which the patient or family members can hold while praying; holy water that anyone with prayerful intention can bless the patient with; a booklet of traditional Catholic prayers; a self-contained holy candle for the family to use as they pray for their loved one; a rosary to help with prayer and reflection; and a green scapular, which brings many special blessings at the time of death.
"When we present the prayer chest to our patients, their faces just light up," says Donda McLaughlin, Parish Liaison. "I think it brings them comfort, to see all the artifacts that bring Catholics a sense of ritual, familiarity, home. It can also inspire family members to take up prayer for their loved one placed on hospice."
Would you or a loved one like more information on the services provided through Catholic Community Hospice? Visit us online at
catholiccommunityhospice.com
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Kansas Loan Pool Project Celebrates First Anniversary
Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas is celebrating the anniversary of the
Kansas Loan Pool Project
(KLPP) with an impressive first year success rate.
The math seems simple: 12 months. 62 loans issued. 95 payday or title loans eliminated. 3 KLPP loans paid in full -- 5 more projected by the end of July.
But what you can't see behind those numbers are the emotions that go along with them: Relief. Elation. Excitement. Joy.
The KLPP program is designed to help eliminate high-interest title or payday loans by issuing participants a new, low-interest loan. Each participant is enrolled in a financial education course to help develop a long-term financial plan and budget. They are also assigned a Catholic Charities case manager specialist to provide ongoing monthly support.
"Our goal for the next year is to expand the program
." said Amelia Reyes, Director of Asset Development for Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas. "I'm really proud of all of the support we've had. We've learned a lot about the industry and how it affects the people we serve. Now, with that knowledge, we can have a greater impact within the community."
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Our Refugee & Immigration Services program is committed to helping resettled refugees rebuild their lives. Securing a job is an important piece of that. Refugees possess a wide variety of professional, technical and labor skills, as well as solid work experiences. Most of all, they are eager to work. They want to regain financial stability for their families.
Permitted into the country by the government, refugees are issued a valid Social Security Number and are fully authorized to work upon arrival. During the resettlement process, our Employment team assists with the skills and job support needed to help 25-30 refugees each month successfully obtain their first job in the United States.
"We offer job readiness courses which are designed to help remove workplace barriers," says Rachel Pollock, MSW, Director of Refugee and Immigration Programs. "We identify employment opportunities and assist with resumes, interview tips and more."
The job readiness curriculum presents topics to prepare students for a typical workplace culture. In addition, students have the opportunity to build their resume by participating in volunteer activities. These activities are aimed at learning job skills, building references and becoming engaged in their community.
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Ways to Make a Difference
School's Out. Food's Out.
A
$100 donation
will help us
feed a family over the summer months
--- with
91 cents of every dollar going directly to programs and services
to assist our neighbors in need.
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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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