Another Successful Collaboration!

For Catholic Charities to be successful, we know that working with other organizations and local business is essential. Our Columbia office recently helped a client through the Save-A-Smile program by partnering with a local dentist and another local non-profit organization. This client received the dentures they needed and also gained a new, brightened attitude. After receiving his dentures, this client was visited by an employee at Supportive Housing Services of Columbia. This is the message we received:

“I just wanted to thank you for helping C with his dentures. I went to his apartment this morning and he was delighted because he had a bright, new smile. He feels extremely lucky to have the dentures. When I arrived he was trimming his beard to so that his new smile would be more visible and I had a hunch he was eager to show them off. It was a great moment for him.
Catholic Charities should be proud of this ministry. It is much needed in Columbia. After seeing how happy my client was this morning, I hope that you will have plenty more opportunities to help people in need. Thanks again!”

As a result of the Save-A-Smile program, this client is once again excited to show off his smile. Thank you to the local dentists, volunteers and donors who make programs like ours successful! To learn more about getting involved with Catholic Charities, please visit our website here.

Coastal and Midlands Reflections

            The Coastal office is located in Charleston, SC, and is home to several programs. The most successful programs provide medical and dental care for clients. Another unique feature of this office is that several volunteers and staff members are bi-lingual, allowing them to provide much needed services to the growing Hispanic population in Charleston. The following stories were recently shared by our staff members in the Coastal office:

“O is a hardworking, but uninsured Coastal Catholic Charities client who has never had adequate dental care. O has selflessly used his salary to put his wife’s and his two children’s well-being ahead of his own, to the detriment of his dental health. He has lived for years with constant pain in his mouth, but cannot afford dental insurance or basic dental care. Through the assistance of a local dentist Coastal Catholic Charities was able to help O to receive the numerous dental fillings and extractions that he so desperately needed in order to restore his health and his smile.  O is now able to attend work regularly; support his family with dignity and pride and live a pain free life.”

“We have received very positive feedback from the Tri-County area Latino community for our bilingual client services. This is a rapidly-growing population in the Charleston area, and services for Spanish-speakers are in constant demand. It has been an honor to expand our programs to include these clients!

We have featured many client and volunteer stories from the Midlands office in past series. The Midlands office is located in Columbia, South Carolina. This office primarily provides works with the homeless population, and offers programs such as laundry services, shower facilities, and case management. If you are interested in learning more from the Midlands office, please read the stories our staff shared in September and October from these clients and volunteers.

If you would like to donate to Coastal Catholic Charities or learn more about volunteering, please visit our website. Don’t forget to visit this blog again on Tuesday to find out about the 2012 Immigration services highlights.

2012 Reflection Series

     2012 was a very busy year at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Charleston, Inc. We opened two new Immigration offices, provided assistance and case management to the thousands of people who passed through our doors, helped hundreds of individuals apply for temporary legal status, received awards and grants from a variety of generous partners, gained some wonderful new staff members, announced exciting new ministries, and more.

None of this would have been possible without the support of you- our donors, supporters, and volunteers. You enable us to provide care and services to improve the lives of South Carolinians in need. Our year also would have looked completely different if we had not had the support of some wonderful staff members. As we wrapped up 2012 and took time to reflect on the past year, we asked some of our employees to share the stories that impacted them the most. We will be sharing their stories with you throughout the coming weeks. You can learn more about the employees who contributed these stories by reading the employee introductions. First up will be reflections by the Coastal and Midlands offices. They will be sharing their stories on Friday.

As always, we would love to hear from you! What were some of your favorite events and memories from 2012? What did you achieve that you're proud of? Take a moment to brag on yourself!

Midlands Employee Introductions

The Midlands office primarily serves 17 counties in South Carolina and is located in our capital city. Employees Mary Trivisonno and Cathy Hood-Pittenger mostly work with homeless individuals in the Midlands. You can learn more about their ministries, read client stories and get to know their volunteers here.

Mary has been with Catholic Charities for more than 8 years. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, biking, and going to the lake as much as possible. She enjoys her job because it gives her the opportunity to work with others in Columbia who also care about the needs of the less fortunate and also allows her to engage parishes in the work being done at Catholic Charities. It is also very rewarding for her to see the community at large recognize the important role the Catholic Church has in helping those in need.

Cathy recently celebrated 7 years with Catholic Charities. She enjoys her job because it allows her to minister to fellow brothers and sisters in need while working with wonderful people. Outside of working at Catholic Charities, Cathy enjoys participating in church activities, reading, exercising, and spending time with her family.

Cathy and Mary as a recent staff meeting

If you are interested in donating to, volunteering at, or learning more about our Midlands office, please visit our website here.

Employee Series Kick-off!

December is a wonderful time of the year, however we confess that sometimes we get caught up in the busyness of the season- parties to attend, gifts to buy, family and friends to visit, yummy foods to make, and more! It’s easy to get distracted and forget to reflect on what a great year it has been.

2012 has been a wonderful year here at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Charleston, Inc. We have added members to our team, opened new offices, launched programs, and helped people all over the state. We’re very proud of our wonderful staff members, who so diligently work to help the people coming into their offices each day. We also can’t rave enough about our stellar volunteers that faithfully serve at their local offices. Finally, we’re grateful to every person who has donated to Catholic Charities this year, allowing us to continue in our mission of providing care and services to improve the lives of South Carolinians in need. We could not survive and flourish as we have if any of these important groups were removed from the picture.

Staff members at a recent event.

In recent months you have heard from our volunteers and clients. Our volunteers shared about themselves and why they have chosen to serve at Catholic Charities, while clients shared about the difference Catholic Charities has made in their lives. We would now like to introduce you to the people that are on the ground each day, working to change lives by loving, serving, and teaching. Over the next few weeks we are bringing you posts that introduce you to our wonderful staff members.

Staff members at a recent event.

Check back in Monday for the first post, spotlighting our Midlands office!

Counting Our Blessings

We asked our staff to share some of the things they're most thankful for this year. This is what they told us:

"I am thankful for my family and having the opportunity to see the world through my children's eyes. They see things in a fresh and simple way that reminds me to stay in the moment and enjoy every little blessing."-E, Immigration

"I'm most thankful for my family"- M, Midlands

"I have so much to be thankful for this year. God has blessed me with a wonderful family and awesome friends. He's also given me this job with Catholic Charities, where I can incorporate my faith into my work. This year has been full of new adventures and changes. I've gotten to travel and make countless memories with my family members and friends. It's been a blessed year!"- K, Central office

"This Thanksgiving I am extremely thankful that I will have 3 of my 8 grandchildren with me. I haven't seen one of them in 8 years. It is going to be wonderful. Thanks be to God!"-C, Pee Dee office

"I am very thankful for the opportunity to work for Catholic Charities and minister to my fellow brothers and sisters in need. An extra blessing is being able to work with Mary, the best co-worker anyone could ask for!"-C, Midlands office

"I am thankful for the people in my life. I have an amazing family and wonderful friends. I am also thankful and blessed to work for a faith based organization. I have great relationships with my coworkers and I feel like our belief in God and our ability to be open about it puts us on a whole different level than other businesses."- J, Central office

Thanks for sharing, everyone! We're very thankful for all of our employees and their hard work. Catholic Charities has been blessed with some wonderful people who are committed to our mission of serving the needy.

Most of our employees with Bishop Guglielmmone at a recent employee appreciation event

Clean of Heart Stories- Part 4

Over the past week we have shared Clean of Heart client stories. Today we will conclude this spotlight series. To read earlier posts containing client stories or to read what our volunteers said about serving at Clean of Heart, please go here.

“I've been coming to Clean of Heart for 5 glorious months! My friend told me about Clean of Heart. These are the most caring, loving, and truly unselfish people I have met while being homeless. They have truly lifted my spirits and state of mind.”

“I found out about Clean of Heart online. I've been coming for 19 months since it first opened. Even if I just get cleaned up once a week that’s a big help to me.”

Clean of Heart is located in Columbia, SC and offers showers and laundry services to homeless individuals, like this client, in the Midlands area.

“I started coming to Clean of Heart about 3 months ago. I heard about it through word of mouth. It feels good to be clean and have clean clothes to wear. Thanks!”

Thanks for following along with these stories! If you are interested in volunteering or donating to Clean of Heart or would like to learn more about Clean of Heart and other Catholic Charities ministries, please visit our website here.

Clean of Heart Stories- Part 3

Today we continue our Clean of Heart client stories. Clean of Heart is located in Columbia, SC and provides laundry and shower services to the homeless. To catch up and read the previous posts of client stories or to read Clean of Heart volunteer stories, please go here. If you would like to learn more about this ministry opportunity or donating your time or resources, please visit our website here.

“I stopped by a church for clothes and hygiene kits and they told me about Clean of Heart. I've been coming for 17 months now. It has been one of the best things that has happened to me since I started living on the street. It is such a joy to stop here and clean up and the kindness from the helpers is such a blessing.”

“I've been coming to the Catholic Charities Clothing Closet for a while. They told me about Clean of Heart opening and I've been coming since then. It’s nice to have clean clothes to wear.”

Clean of Heart clients enjoying a break from the Columbia heat while their clothes get cleaned.

“I have been in Columbia for 3 years now and even though the clothing give away has been a very good program, we can’t always get our size. The laundry facility allows us to wash the clothes that we like and wear the most. It is a luxury as well as a necessity. We are truly grateful for all that you have done for us. Thank you.”

We’ll be back tomorrow to hear the last of the Clean of Heart client stories!

Clean of Heart Stories- Part 2

On Wednesday we shared what some of the Clean of Heart clients had to say about their experiences in this program. The post may be found here. Today we bring you stories from more of our Clean of Heart Clients. To learn more about Clean of Heart and how you can donate or volunteer to this wonderful program, please go here.

“I heard about Clean of Heart from St. Peter's and started coming 4 months ago. Clean clothes and shower are a blessing. Oh yeah, and the good coffee and snacks!”

Clean of Heart clients enjoying coffee and conversation while their clothes are being washed.

“I stopped by a Catholic Church in downtown Columbia to get help with clothing. Someone told me what they were planning to do so I signed up. I have been coming for 18 months since it opened. I am thankful for the help they have been to me. Not just the help with laundry but also the Christian witness to me and how Clean of Heart shows compassion on the poor. Through them I see the true character of Christ and also how we should treat each other. Since I've been coming to Clean of Heart I've come back to Christ. I know that God put these folks into my life for a reason and I’ll be forever grateful.”

“I've been coming to Clean of Heart for 2 months. I heard about it from a friend. It’s wonderful and the people are nice and loving.”

Don’t forget to check back on Monday for more client stories!

Clean of Heart Stories- Part 1

We recently featured stories from some of our Clean of Heart volunteers. Clean of Heart is a Columbia, SC, ministry that exists to provide laundry services and showers to the homeless population. Over the next few days we are featuring stories from some of the Clean of Heart clients. If you would like to learn more about donating your time or resources to this wonderful program, please visit our website here. To hear from our volunteers, you may read past blog posts here.

“I have been coming to Clean of Heart for ten months and first heard about it from a sponsoring church. Coming here has given me hope that there are still a few people left who care. It’s nice to, at least, have the ‘outside of the cup’ clean.”

Clean of Heart not only gives clients a chance to shower and get clean clothes but also lets volunteers and clients get to know one another.

“I saw a sign on a church door about 13 months ago about Clean of Heart. I’m much happier now. I love having clean clothes.”

 “I found out about this program from a MACH pamphlet. I have been coming for 4 months now. Coming to Clean of Hear has helped me maintain dignity in difficult circumstances. You get dirty sleeping outside. I mean ‘dirt’ dirty. That is why people on the street look rough. By washing regularly I don’t have to look or feel dirty. I haven’t become hopeless like so many on the street. Clean of Heart saved me from despair.”

Come back tomorrow to hear more stories from Clean of Heart clients!

Calling All Artists!

Hi everyone,

For the Catholic Charities Christmas card this year we have decided to do a little something different. We are holding a contest for the card design and all of our wonderful volunteers are invited to participate!

The rules are as follows:

1. This contest is open only to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Charleston employees, volunteers, or immediate family members of employees and volunteers.

2. Submissions can include any form of artwork- photos, drawings, painting, graphic design, etc. Artwork must be the original creation of the person who is entering it. All ages may participate.

3. Any photographs that are submitted may not contain identifiable individuals.

4. Submissions cannot include any pictures or text that contradicts Catholic religious or social teachings.

5. Only one submission per individual will be considered, however there is no limit regarding how many family members may participate.

All entries must be given to Kelly Warren (kwarren@catholic-doc.org) by October 26, 2012. All submissions will be reviewed by an anonymous third party to determine if all requirements have been complied with. Once the submissions have been received and reviewed, they will be uploaded to the Catholic Charities Facebook page. If you haven’t already “liked” us, we can be found here. Each submission will be voted on from October 31-November 9 and voting will be open to the public. We encourage you to share this contest with your family and friends to bring in votes for your favorite card design. The winning entry will be the one with the most “likes” at 5:00 on November 9.

When submitting your entry, please include this submission form. This form allows us to properly credit the artwork and gives us permission to use the winning submission on the Christmas card. If you have any questions, please contact Kelly.

Thanks and we can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with!

Volunteer Spotlight: Paulette Campbell

“Clean of Heart was one of the best ideas I have ever heard of” said Paulette Campbell, who has been volunteering since May 2011. She is a member of Saint Vincent de Paul Society at St. Peter’s and volunteers at Clean of Heart twice a month. When volunteering, Paulette also likes to bring little things for the people that come in, like new underwear, socks, Gatorade, and Pop Tarts. For Paulette, one of the best things about volunteering being able to both help meet basic needs while also showing she cares by doing little things like adding fabric softener or dryer sheets to make clothes softer and give them a fresh, clean scent. She has also enjoyed meeting other volunteers and becoming friends with “some of the most wonderful, kind, caring volunteers.” Paulette said that she thinks Clean of Heart is a wonderful organization because everyone appreciates the opportunity to take a good shower and put on clean clothes after the shower. Her favorite experiences at Clean of Heart involve seeing the transformation that occurs in the lives of people that regularly come in. When people come in for the first time they are often withdrawn, with few smiles and are not interested in having many conversations. As they keep coming in, she says they begin to open up, engage in conversations, and smile and laugh more. Paulette enjoys seeing these people blossom into new members of the Clean of Heart family.

Paulette, thanks for volunteering and adding those little touches to show people that you care about them!

Volunteer Spotlight: Mary Moore

Soon after Clean of Heart opened, Mary Moore began volunteering once a month. Mary attends Our Lady of the Hills and first heard about Clean of Heart while attending Mass there. She also volunteers at Christ Central, serves on the bereavement committee at Our Lady of the Hills, and has volunteered for the past 2 years with SC Mission. When asked about her experiences at Clean of Heart, Mary said “The most rewarding aspect of volunteering at Clean of Heart is realizing that there are so many with true hardships and needs. I hope that our efforts and actions help those that come in for clean clothes and a feeling of safety. I have been emotionally rewarded every time I volunteer.”

Outside of volunteering, Mary enjoys gardening, baking, reading, attending spin classes, and working at Irmo Urgent Care part-time. This month Mary and her husband celebrated 22 years of marriage! Thanks for serving at Clean of Heart, Mary, and congratulations!

Volunteer Spotlight: Jessica Escobar

Jessica Escobar is a PhD Candidate at the University of South Carolina where she is studying sustainability of food security policies in developing countries. 5 months ago she began volunteering with Clean of Heart on a monthly basis or when substitutes are needed. She says “I think it is important that we join the works of our Church to bring God’s love to others and to help others to believe and to seek eternal life.” For Jessica, the most rewarding part of volunteering is seeing people happy when they are treated with dignity, enjoying a snack, and getting clean clothes. She also enjoys sharing the morning work with other volunteers because she can feel God’s presence with them. Through volunteering with Clean of Heart, Jessica has been challenged to overcome her own needs and instead be available for God to use her to love others. 

When she isn’t volunteering with Clean of Heart or working on her studies, Jessica enjoys sports, reading history books and biographies of the saints, and watching movies. Thanks for all you do Jessica and good luck with your studies as the new school year begins!

Volunteer Spotlight: Gwen Skipper

When Gwen Skipper retired, she promised to no longer work for money. Instead she began looking for new ways to donate her time and energy and, luck for us, chose to do so at Catholic Charities!  In the past Gwen has worked with Catholic Charities on other projects and now works in both the Catholic Charities Clothing Closet and Clean of Heart. She has been volunteering at the Clothing Closet since 2001 and began also volunteering at Clean of Heart when it opened. Gwen volunteers monthly and enjoys spending time with the people that come in, getting to know them, and seeing that they’re just like her with a few more challenges. One of her favorite things about volunteering is working with clients and seeing the change in their demeanor. She admits that sometimes individuals come in that are withdrawn or do not seem appreciative, however she also says that you learn to accept them as imperfect people and remember that God loves us all, even when we are being difficult.

When she isn’t volunteering, Gwen likes to garden and read. She also enjoys spending time with her family- her mother, husband, children, and grandchildren. Thanks for your years of service with Catholic Charities, Gwen, and for sharing about your experiences!