Marta, a resilient 36-year-old mother of four, embarked on a remarkable journey of transformation when she sought refuge at Holy Family Shelter. Her harrowing story began when she, along with her four children, had to flee a dangerous family environment after a family member, with whom Marta and her children were staying, assaulted three of her children. With the guidance of her school's compassionate social worker at Matchbook Learning, Marta found a lifeline in our shelter.

During her stay, she embraced community resources and collaborated closely with her dedicated case manager. Together, they navigated the bureaucratic maze to secure essential documentation for her family and devised a budget to overcome transportation barriers that had hindered her progress for years. Through hard work she was able to purchase a vehicle! This newfound mobility opened doors, leading to a well-deserved job promotion. Simultaneously, Marta and her children sought essential mental health services, paving the way for their emotional healing and resilience.

Today, we celebrate Marta's triumphant journey as she and her children have moved into stable, secure housing, marking a new chapter in their lives filled with hope, opportunity, and a brighter future.

There are big things are happening at Holy Family Shelter. Click Here to watch their six part docuseries, Invisible Families!

Be sure to follow the new Holy Family Shelter Facebook page.

The Christmas Store will open this year on November 30 to assist struggling families who might otherwise not have a Christmas. Volunteers will use information submitted by our community partners to carefully select gifts. Families will come to the Christmas Store at an assigned date and time to pick up their gifts. Last year, we were able to provide Christmas for 934 struggling families. This year, 85 community organizations are partnering with us to serve a goal of 950 families-that’s over 4,000 people!

Visit www.Archindy.org/ChristmasStoreHelp for more information on how you can support the Christmas Store this year.

Laverne, a dedicated Senior Companion, recently decided to retire from the program. She worked as a Senior Companion for 15 years and served as a Volunteer Leader on the Northside of Indianapolis. She was responsible for the interviewing new clients, and providing matches with companions who were in her station. A match is a companionship between a Senior Companion and a senior in the community who needs additional assistance. A station is a small group of Senior Companions who meet monthly to receive additional education on various subjects to better help their companions.

Laverne also assisted more than 10 clients through the years. Two clients stand out to her. First, there was Sam, a gentleman in her housing unit that had been blind for many years. She spent over 2 years with him, helping him with bills, reading mail, and preparing home cooked meals. Second, there was Betsy, who was in her late 90’s. Laverne helped her with laundry and cleaning up, but most importantly, she became a good listener for Betsy. 

Laverne officially retired as a Senior Companion on Aug. 15, 2023. She will be greatly missed by everyone in the Senior Companion Program. Click here to learn more about the Senior Companion Program. 

Crisis Office

The Crisis Office is grateful for our partnership with Roncalli High School dating back almost 30 years. On September 22, Catholic Charities Indianapolis Executive Director, David Bethuram (pictured third from left) received a check from the Roncalli family for $5,000 during an all school assembly. These funds were generated from the RHS annual food drive and will assist the Crisis Office Food Pantry. Thank you, Royals! For more information on the Crisis Office, visit www.archindy.org/crisisoffice

Volunteer at the Christmas Store:

Date: Thursday, November 30 through Sunday, December 17

Details: Please visit www.Archindy.org/ChristmasStoreHelp

Archdiocese of Indianapolis Legacy Gala

Date: Friday, February 9, 2024

Time: 5:30pm

Location: JW Marriott Indianapolis

Details: Join us for dinner and open bar, awards, auction, music from

The Bishops! To sponsor or purchase tickets visit www.archindy.org/LegacyGala

Auction items are also needed. Contact Cheri Bush for more information. 

Caregiver Support Groups:

Virtual and in person support groups for caregivers of older adults. The groups are not disease specific. Registration required. Contact Monica at mwoodsworth@archindy.org or 317-261-3378. If you are not able to attend, feel free to call for caregiver information. 

• 3rd Thursday, from 5:30 - 7 PM. In person at the Catholic Center, 1400 N Meridian Street.

• 3rd Tuesday from 5:30 - 7 PM. In person at St Jude's, 5375 McFarland Road.

• 4th Thursday from 4:15 - 5:30 PM. Virtual. Registration required to receive Zoom link. 

Qualified Charitable Distribution

Do you own an IRA? Are you 70 ½ or older? Maximize your giving impact and personal tax benefits at the same time! Consider supporting your favorite parish, school, or agency through an IRA qualified charitable distribution (QCD) gift.

For those eligible, this is often the most tax-advantageous way to charitably give each year, even if you don’t itemize:

• Tax-free giving – directly from your IRA to your favorite Church ministries (up to $100,000/year)
• Count towards RMD - satisfy your required minimum distribution for the year (for those 73+)
• Lower taxable income – even if you don’t itemize deductions, as QCDs don’t count as income
• Planned giving - conducive to annual giving all-at-once or strategically throughout the year

Learn more at www.archindy.org/IRAdonation or call (317) 236-1482 for questions or help. Please contact your IRA custodian for any specific forms/steps they may require.

Follow us on Social Media:

Catholic Charities Indianapolis

To inquire about Holy Family Shelter, contact Breanna Klink at bklink@holyfamilyshelter.org or

(317) 635-7830

To inquire about the Christmas Store or the Crisis Office, contact Stephanie Davis at sdavis@archindy.org or

(317) 236-1556

To inquire about the Senior Companions Program,

contact Joyce Beaven at jbeaven@archindy.org or

(317) 236-1552

To inquire about donating to Catholic Charities Indianapolis, contact Cheri Bush at cbush@archindy.org or

(317) 236-1411

Catholic Charities Indianapolis partners with CarEasy.Org to make your donation easy and convenient. Click the image to learn more.

92 cents of every dollar is used to provide critical support, genuine care, and gentle relief for those who seek our help.

www.helpcreatehope.org