2022-2023 Annual Report

CCB therapist Abby Frasier has been seeing seven-year-old Stephen* for approximately 18 months. Before beginning therapy, Stephen struggled with an unstable family life as he moved between his grandparents' households with little support or involvement from his parents. These challenges made it difficult for Stephen to regulate his anger and frustration, and his trauma would often manifest as harmful and disruptive behaviors at school, including yelling in class, fighting with classmates, and damaging school property. Stephen struggled with school attendance and had faced suspensions due to his behavior.

With Abby, Stephen participated in play therapy, which allowed him to demonstrate and work through his aggression and transitions between family systems in a safe and age-appropriate context. Abby also employed strategies drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy and attachment therapy, which have helped reduce Stephen's negative self-talk and improved his ability to form bonds with people who care about him. This year, Stephen has demonstrated tremendous progress with his attendance and behavior at school. He has improved his ability to regulate his emotions and manage frustration and has begun expressing his feelings towards his mom and dad through letter-writing. Through therapy, Stephen has been able to improve his emotional wellbeing, relationships, and school performance, gaining tools that will help him forge a brighter future. Learn more about our services at www.ccbin.org

*Client's name has been changed to protect his privacy and to honor his favorite basketball player, Stephen Curry.

Julie* had found herself in some legal trouble and was placed at Becky’s Place to complete 40 hours of community service. During her time completing community service, Julie confided in staff that she really needed a place like Becky’s Place to stay. She and her teenage daughter were living in a home with drugs and abuse and had been kicked out previously. Julie shared that she had been in recovery for a few months, and this was quite a challenging situation for her.

Julie and her daughter, Christina*, were accepted into Becky’s Place with open arms. Julie was working as a waitress at a local restaurant but found it hard to move to a more rewarding position due to her past. She eventually saved enough money to purchase a car, and this broadened her options for employment. She was hired as a Behavioral Health Technician which doubled her pay and allowed her to start saving for housing. She felt confident that she could provide safe and stable housing for her and her daughter.

Julie’s past again provided some barriers to work through. Julie applied for housing assistance and for several rentals through private property owners but was always denied. She started to feel hopeless. She eventually found a property owner willing to give her a chance and was able to rent a two-bedroom apartment for her and Christina. Christina had also found employment and was learning some independence. Staff noted that Julie’s positive progress towards independence served as a great model and motivation for her daughter to develop a strong work-ethic like her mother. 

During their time at Becky’s Place Julie and Christina were able to overcome obstacles that had burdened them for years and start a new life they could be proud of together. 

*Name changed for privacy

Lisa Sperry, who served adult day services for 28 years, retired at the end of March. Lisa spent the last 3 years as the A Caring Place program director. We are grateful to Lisa for her many years of dedication to the clients and caregivers that utilize A Caring Place.

A Caring Place will continue to provide a safe, daytime environment for older adults with physical and cognitive impairments while the search for a new director takes place. For more information about A Caring Place, visit www.helpcreatehope.org/a-caring-place-adult-day-services

Social Workers play a vital role at the St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities shelter. They help residents with a variety of issues including homelessness, poverty, domestic violence, and substance abuse. Social workers support the programs at St. Elizabeth by providing advice, connecting individuals with essential resources and advocating for change. We are grateful for the spirit of service and compassion. Learn more about the work of St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities at stecharities.org

Catholic Charities Tell City is doing a Mother’s Day Appeal to raise funding for the agency. The appeal will allow supporters to honor mothers both living and deceased. This appeal is being held in place of the usual Lenten Appeal since Lent was so close to Christmas this year. To help support the appeal and to learn more, visit their website.

Promoting Heathier Food Choices at Terre Haute Catholic Charites Foodbank

We are excited to share some recent developments at the Terre Haute Catholic Charities Foodbank aimed at promoting healthier eating habits among our neighbors. In our ongoing commitment to serving the community’s nutritional needs, we have implemented HER Guidelines (Healthy Eating Research) and developed a Nutrition Policy for ranking items within the Foodbank. HER Guidelines are evidence-based recommendations designed to enhance the nutritional quality of food distributed through charitable food systems.



The goal is to make nutritious food choices more accessible to those who rely on food pantries and reduce their risk of chronic illness related to diet. To achieve this goal, we have implemented a simple yet effective color-coded system. Foods in our inventory are now labeled with one of three colors:

1.    Green (Choose Often): These are items that align with Healthy Eating Guidelines and are encouraged for regular consumption. They are low in saturated fat, added sugar, and sodium, making them ideal choices for maintaining a balanced diet.

2.    Yellow (Choose Sometimes): Foods labeled with yellow should be consumed in moderation. While they may contain slightly higher levels of certain nutrients, they can still be enjoyed as part of a varied diet when consumed occasionally.

3.    Red (Choose Rarely): These items are flagged for their high levels of saturated fat, added sugar, or sodium. While they may be appealing, they should be consumed sparingly to minimize the risk of negative health outcomes associated with excessive intake of these nutrients.

By implementing this color-coded system, our goal is to enable individuals and families to make informed choices about the foods they consume. Through initiatives like HER Guidelines and our Nutrition Policy, we strive to create an environment that prioritizes health because everyone deserves access to nutritious and healthy food options. To learn more about Catholic Charities Terre Haute visit our website at ccthin.org

Social Concerns

Hygiene Care Package Project

The first National Eucharistic Congress in 83 years will be held in downtown Indianapolis from July 17-21, 2024. This presents a unique opportunity for our Archdiocese to welcome and host numerous pilgrims on their spiritual pilgrimage. As we partake in the Blessed Sacrament, we experience a personal and profound encounter with God. He not only nourishes and heals us but also calls us to share His love with others. (Deus Caritas Est) 

In response to this call, Catholic Charities—Social Concerns and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Central and Southern Indiana are teaming up to sponsor the Hygiene Care Package Project, a Pre-Service project in response to the National Eucharistic Congress. 

Why this service project? For many individuals in our communities, purchasing hygiene items is a luxury. By offering a simple gift of a Hygiene Care Package, we can restore dignity and hope to those who may feel forgotten. We invite all members of our community, including parishes, schools, community groups, youth groups, prayer groups, families, and individuals, to join us in this endeavor.  

The completed Hygiene Care Packages will be distributed at the National Eucharistic Congress on July 17-21, 2024. Participants will be encouraged to distribute the care packages to those in need in the Indianapolis area or take them back to their diocese to be replicated and distributed to those in need in their areas. For more information and how to get involved, contact Theresa Chamblee at tchamblee@archindy.org or 317-236-1404

Catholic Charities Terre Haute Quick Quack 5k Trail Run

Date: Saturday, June 22, 2024

Time: 8:00am

Location: Griffin Bike Park

Details: The Quick Quack Trail Run 5k adventure course takes runners over unique obstacles like a floating bridge (alternate route available) and ramps, all while scrambling over rugged trails as they compete for prized rubber duck trophies! The family-friendly event takes place at the beautiful Griffin Bike Park in Vigo County. Registration for the Quick Quack Trail Run includes a Quick Quack shirt, custom race bib, disposable timing chip and the knowledge that you are creating hope in our community. You can get the details and register for the event here

Catholic Charities Terre Haute Rubber Duck Regatta

Date: Thursday, July 4, 2024

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Fairbanks Park

Details: Opening Day of Duck Season for the 7th Annual Wabash Valley Rubber Duck Regatta will be May 24. Learn how you can adopt your ducks to win $10,000 and the chance at $1 million at www.WabashValleyRubberDuckRegatta.com. 

Using your Retirement Fund for Giving

A qualified charitable distribution from an IRA is a well-established and popular way to give. If you are 70½ or older, this option allows you to make a charitable gift and satisfy your annual required minimum distribution (if one is due) without paying taxes. Whether you want to make a gift of $100, $1,000 or $100,000 (the maximum annual aggregate amount allowed), this is a simple, effective way to make a difference, meet your annual distribution requirements, and enjoy tax benefits. To make a gift from your IRA to any Archdiocesan parish, school or ministry, please complete this form to let us know of your intentions.

Making a Beneficiary Designation

One of the easiest ways to blend gift planning with retirement planning is to name a parish, school or ministry as the beneficiary of your retirement plan.

As the primary, contingent or partial beneficiary, your favorite Catholic cause receives the retirement funds upon your death. Simply consult your retirement plan custodian to update your beneficiary using their easy online form. For more information, please contact CCF at 317-236-1482 or CCF@archindy.org.

Dennis Craig

Catholic Charities Bloomington

Interim Clinical Director

Natalie Watson

Becky's Place

Program Director

www.archindy.org/cc