Connecting Mission and Service

Most of Catholic Family Services’ leadership team will be out of the office next week from Sunday until Wednesday.  We’re not heading out on Spring Break (at least not yet, anyway)!  We will be using the time together to attend a special training called

From Mission to Service: A Program on Mission-based Leadership and Organization Development

The event is co-sponsored by the University of Notre Dame and Catholic Charities USA and will be held at Notre Dame with faculty from the Mendoza College of Business among others.

As a leadership team, we are so excited to be able to set aside the time and devote attention to this foundationally important topic.  We will spend the three days examining how faith-based mission imprints our daily work in decision-making, leadership, and organizational practices . . . in short, we will be looking at how the Catholic mission animates, energizes, and guides our leadership and organizational systems.  We hope to see both short-term and long-term impacts as a result of this important investment.

In the short-term:  We are asked to pick an organizational issue to be the focus of an Action Learning Project.  The issue will be evaluated, examined, and (hopefully) improved using the tools and insights we gain at the training.  Then, in October, we come back together and present on the progress of our Action Learning Project, receiving feedback from amazing faculty and our peers.

In the long-term:  We hope to learn tools that will apply across our work in the agency.  Not only will we learn more about Catholic Charities and its amazing tools, we will also focus on incorporation our mission, vision, and values into our everyday work.  This will impact our organizational culture, services, and interactions with peers and co-workers.

In the midst of a busy organization, we sometimes get overwhelmed with the daily and urgent needs.  We are so excited for this opportunity to come together and focus on the foundation of our service.  Please pray for us as we undertake this journey to make Catholic Family Services as strong — and mission-driven — as we can be.

If you’d like to know more about the event, please click on the link below.  We welcome your insights and feedback about what you read and look forward to sharing information with you about the event in next week’s blog.

http://www.nd.edu/~cba/cc/index.shtml

Blanketed In Love

If you’ve ever been a new parent you know that taking care of your baby is a top priority.  You looked forward to baby showers and using all those new items to make life for your little one as safe and comfortable as possible.  You wash them all, paint and set-up a nursery, and make the perfect “nest” for your little one before they are born.  The new mothers who seek our Caring Network services feel exactly the same way . . . but they seldom have friends and family who throw a baby shower for them and setting up the perfect, freshly-painted and color-coordinated nursery is an unreachable dream.

According to the 2011 Kids Count in Michigan, the number of families in Kalamazoo County who are in poverty is increasing.   The young mothers who seek Caring Network services are among the poorest of these, with incomes significantly below the poverty level.  Most are single (94%), eligible for Medicaid (83%), under the age of 20 (51%), and have no high school diploma (49%).  To complicate the issue, these young women are undergoing major life changes, learning how to care for newborn infants, and dealing with the challenges having a baby invariably lends to employment and education.

In the midst of so many challenges, who would think that a brand new baby blanket, made with love, could be such an important thing?  Yet, year after year and mother after mother, we have seen that it is!  For the fifth year in a row, 5th grade students at St. Augustine school took the time to collect donated materials and turn them into beautiful, soft, and warm blankets.  These blankets — made with such love — will soon surround and comfort newborn babies at Caring Network.  New mothers will have some tangible way to wrap their babies with love and start on the path to creating a safe and healthy family.  It may seem like “just a blanket,” but in a very real way these amazing schoolchildren are changing lives.  They are not just giving blankets, they are giving love, and we applaud and thank them for their generosity.

We can do no great things, only small things with great love. 

Mother Teresa

 

Turning a House into a Home

Welcome Home!!

Every time we get to say those words to a homeless youth, Catholic Family Services has changed a life.  We have worked with that youth to find a safe and stable place to live . . . and they are no longer couch-hopping or living on the streets.  It’s a major achievement.  But a house is just that — a house — unless we are able to provide that youth with all the comforts and supplies that make a house a home.

That’s where you have the power to help us change a life!  Our Welcome Home Project provides an opportunity for groups in the community to come alongside a newly housed youth and provide that youth with kitchen, bathroom, and housekeeping supplies.

The impact?  Not only does the youth have the supplies to keep their home clean and safe, but they also feel the love and support of a caring community as they continue on the path to self-sufficiency.  It’s a meaningful way for you to build a positive future for a youth in need.

If you’d like to help, we invite you to call Jeannine Boehm at 269-381-1234 and check out our list of needed supplies by clicking here.  This list provides suggestions of the types of items these youth so desperately need and we will work with you to make this a successful project!  You can truly turn a new house into a safe and comfortable home for youth!

Person-To-Person Contact

Catholic Family Services’ staff is so blessed by the volunteers that join us in our mission each and every day.  We know the work is hard and, like most things in life, the rewards aren’t immediately apparent.  So why do these dedicated volunteers come back, day after day and week after week?

We answered that question…at least in one volunteer’s case…when we received the following e-mail from Mary Waurio, one of our long-standing Caring Network volunteers.  Her amazing insight is a useful tool to each and every one of us as we encounter people throughout the day.

I was thinking about my little job in the basement (helping mothers and mothers-to-be get the items they need to take care of themselves and their new babies).  I pray about it so much…the success for life in each woman and for the program.  This morning in my prayers, God shed a little light on why it is I have such great “job satisfaction” there in the basement.  It might sound selfish, but it really isn’t about me.  It is about God showing me that it really IS still possible to have true conversations.   Let me explain…

Many have written and testified that, when in the presence of Mother Teresa and having a conversation with her you ‘had her full attention.’ 

“In the moment you were with her, there was only you and her.  She was not looking over your shoulder to see what was happening around you.  It was as if nothing else existed except for her and you.”

Mother Teresa said, “I believe in person-to-person contact.”

Now contrast that with the world we live in today.  People are always multi-tasking.  I remember how I felt with one client who was continually texting as I was trying to help her get clothes for her baby.  I finally asked her to stop texting until we had met the needs of her baby unless there was an emergency.  She stopped…and then it was just her and I.

That was one case…I haven’t ever had another quite like that, but what I have noticed with all my experiences as a volunteer there is that these young mothers want my attention.  And, to be honest, I want theirs too.  When that happens perfectly, the Holy Spirit is most present in what happens next.

Mother Teresa viewed each individual person as Christ.  Because of that, she was always looking for the next opportunity to love Him (Christ) by loving the one she served.  Maybe we can use this quote of hers as we go about our daily work, as a gentle reminder for all of us in the midst of the difficulties and challenges we face:

“I believe in person-to-person contact.  Every person is Christ for me and, since there is only one Jesus, the person I am meeting with is the one person in the world at that moment.” 

Could this be the recipe to end empty conversations which are often fueled by vain distractions?  Imagine…there are so many people who are given a prescription for attention difficulties…could some of these problems be cured by us simply giving each individual the attention they deserve, as given to us by our Creator?  The possibilities are endless! 

If you would like to experience some of the joy Mary talks about through volunteering at Catholic Family Services, we encourage you to call us.  Jeannine Boehm, volunteer coordinator, would be more than happy to find the perfect way to match your time and talents with the needs of our clients.  She can be reached at 269-381-1234. 

Regardless, please take the time to really talk to someone — as if they are the only person in the world — today.  It will change your life.

Grab Your Running Shoes and Get Ready

Believe it or not, spring is on it’s way . . . and race season is starting.  We have a great way for you to get outdoors, get some exercise, and help two great causes at the same time.  

Saturday March 24th will be the 5th Annual Running of The Shamrock, one of the first 5K races of the season.  The event, which benefits both The Ark and Hackett Catholic Central, is a fun way to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with your family.  According to Race Director Steve Clark,

 ”We are excited to support The Ark — it’s a natural partner for us and has a common mission to Hackett.  Both organizations are dedicated to developing strong kids and we are pleased to work together.” 

So what can you expect if you decide to “do” The Shamrock?  Not only can you wear green and all of your Irish accessories, but the luck of the Irish will bring a great award for the top three finishers.  The race starts at Hackett Catholic Central High School (1000 West Kilgore) at 9 AM and, if you register before the race, you are guaranteed a stylish T-shirt (see above).  The event is also part of the Kalamazoo Area Runners Race Series and all KAR members are eligible for a discount when registering.

Not a runner?  Not a problem!  You can run, walk, or jog . . . this is truly an every that everyone can start and finish, and have a great time while doing so.  It’s also a great way to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with your family . . . either by doing the 5 K or the special Fun Run on Friday night (March 23).   This one-mile run begins at 6 PM and all participants get both a T-shirt and a ribbon.  It’s a great first step toward fitness for a great cause!

If you are interested . . .  we invite you to check out this link to register and get more information.  If you want to participate but not as a runner/walker, you can sign up to volunteer instead.  You can also e-mail the Race Director, Steve Clark, at shamrockrun@csgk.org to learn more.  We hope to see you on March 24th, getting fit and having fun for a great cause!

“Little” Things Make a Huge Difference

It’s been another week full of blessings here at Catholic Family Services, with caring members of our community coming up with creative ways to help our clients on their journey toward self-sufficiency and positive change.  We wanted to take a moment and thank them for their unique ways of helping — many of which may seem “little” or “insignificant” at the time.  Out of every act of generosity comes an impact that you may never know . . . and each is greatly appreciated!

This past Sunday was Superbowl Sunday.  More than a game, the Superbowl is synonymous with great food and celebrations.  St Thomas More and St Joseph’s youth groups were getting together to do just that — eat some great food and hang out.  Yet, in the midst of their fun, they chose to remember the youth staying at The Ark.  They prepared extra food — delicious Mexican food — and made sure that Ark residents had something yummy to gnosh on during the game. 

It may seem like a small thing, but it was a touch of normalcy in the midst of chaos and life-changing work for Ark Residents and every delicious bite was appreciated!  Shown here are two youth group members making the delicious food and youth group leaders Molly and Jerry Mechtenberg.

St. Monica students from Mrs. Martin’s second grade class also did their part to make the lives of our clients a bit more comfortable and healthy.  They collected personal care items during Catholic Schools week.  Below, Anthony Signorello, Ethan Warren, Joseph Clark, and Connor Meadmore pose with just some of the many items given to help Caring Network, Ark Services for Youth, and Baraga Manor residents.

“Personal care items can be expensive to buy.  We’re to thankful to schools like St. Monica who support our mission of helping those in need,” said Jeannine Boehm, Volunteer Coordinator at Caring Network.  Mrs Martin’s class also collected socks which will be donated to the Gospel Mission.

 

In both of these projects, normal people decided to go above and beyond, sharing from their bounty to make the lives of others better.  Neither project may seem huge, but the way they will impact our clients lives — just by showing them that there is someone out there who cares enough about them to make this effort — is huge.  If you would like to reach out and change a life, we would be more than happy to work with you . . . and you can be creative in the process!  Just give Jeannine a call at 269-381-1234.

The Power to Change A Life

There are so many wonderful things to say about those who give of their time and talents to support Catholic Family Services. Indeed, it’s only the beginning of February and we have dozens of people to thank for their support this year – and through that support, we are blessed to watch lives change. We’d like to highlight the dedication and support of a few of those volunteers here. Perhaps their stories will inspire you to make a difference for, as Thoreau so eloquently put it:

“One is not born into the world to do everything but to do something.”

Last week (and again this week) an unlikely group of volunteers came together to make The Ark Cottages ready for its new tenants. The Ark Cottages will be the first safe and stable housing these homeless youth have experienced in a long time (perhaps in their entire lives). These volunteers wanted to make sure these homes were as comfortable as possible. They moved furniture, organized the units, assembled furniture and cleaned. This week the same group is coming together to assemble the last furnishings — dinettes and chairs — so that youth have a nice place to eat and work when they move in next week. Three of the volunteers, Louis Boehm, Dan Bannigan, and Sean Wilson, are seniors at Hackett Catholic High School.  Ron Williams and his children, Turner and Caelyn, have known about the project and generously supported it since its inception. Each saw a specific need and gave a few hours to make this happen; the impact will be lifelong!

This week is Catholic Schools Week and three area schools have been generous supporters of Catholic Family Services for many years. Students make baby blankets, adopt clients and their families for the holidays, help with landscaping and The Ark Garden, and reach out to meet our clients’ needs in so many ways. We chose to attend these schools and present their staff and students with a certificate recognizing their ongoing support, a humble way to say thanks for their commitment and engagement with our agency. On Monday, staff travelled to Hackett Catholic High School, St Monica’s School, and St Augustine’s school. We were able to meet with school administrators and students and let them know how much we appreciate what they do for our agency. These photos capture just a portion of our gratitude for this service!

Perhaps you have considered volunteering for Catholic Family Services or at another location in the community. You may feel inadequate, wondering what you can offer and what you can do. These amazing volunteers are proof that every single person has something to offer and can be a contributing member of their community, working for positive change.  According to Dr Martin Luther King Junior,

“Everyone can be great because anyone can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t even have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

If you’d like to learn more about volunteering opportunities at Catholic Family Services, please contact Jeannine Boehm at 269-381-1234. Our clients and our community would love to meet you!