Charity Works Samaritan House Shelter Health Center That Alters Lives of Homeless Truly Cares About Her
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CHARITY W RKS SUMMER 2016 PREMIERE ISSUE SAMARITAN HOUSE SHELTER TRANSFORMS LIVES OF HOMELESS ANNIVERSARY EVENTS MARK 30-YEAR HISTORY SAMARITAN HOUSE SAMARITAN HOUSE ERCY 30 YEARS OF M 1986-2016 This year, Samaritan House shelter is marking 30 Years of Mercy to those in need through a series of anniversary events. You are invited to be a part of its history of serving men, women and children facing homelessness. With your help, Samaritan House can continue its work to give the needy a hand up and a path to self-sufficiency. 127,000 455,000* shelter nights annually warm meals *Including 200,000 meals served to low-income children in daycare SAM’S SUPPER THE MEAL THAT SERVES MANY September 10 - Fundraising dinner at Mile High Station, a commemorative evening full of storytelling, music and a great meal. BUY YOUR TICKET TODAY! SamsSupper.org PILGRIMAGE WALK September 24 SAMARITAN HOUSE REDEDICATION December 10 To learn more or to make a sustaining gift of $30 or more a month, visit: SamHouseDenver.org PROVIDING SAFE SHELTER AND HOT MEALS FOR 30 YEARS CHARITY W RKS It’s in giving that you receive Blessings of a giver: salon owner Danielle Mendoza of Denver calls her time cutting shelter residents’ hair the biggest blessing of her life. Sharing her talents brought more in return than she ever imagined. PG. 6 PG. PG. PG. 3 9SAMARITAN HOUSE 13 LARRY’S LETTER SHELTER AND MARISOL SERVICES CEO introduces the HOUSING SERVICES Expectant teen premiere issue of 30 Years of Mercy: discovers women’s Charity Works Samaritan House shelter health center that alters lives of homeless truly cares about her CHARITIES ON THE MAP PG. 4 News from every region: Charities in action along the Front Range PICTURE THIS PG. 7 A moment to celebrate motherhood: Father Ed Judy House residents meet archbishop and cardinal SHELTER AND HOUSING SERVICES PG. 11 Ride the Rockies: A second chance to finish FAMILY AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES PG. 15 Q&A: Interview with new vice president of family and children’s services EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE SERVICES PG. 17 Building hope: Jamestown flood victims grateful for new homes VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT PG. 19 Wedding party donates time to women’s shelter A ROUND OF THANKS PG. 20 Parishes and people who gave ON THE CALENDAR PG. 21 A list of upcoming events, benefits and activities GETTING SOCIAL PG. 22 Highlights of the top social media posts online CHARITY WORKS | SUMMER 2016 PG. 2 LARRY’S LETTER INTRODUCING CHARITY W RKS After I speak about Catholic Charities at events or gatherings, I often receive a similar response from the crowd—they are motivated to get involved and make a difference in someone’s life. They also remark that they never knew the extent to which our charitable organization serves others. It’s truly remarkable the breadth and variety of services Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Denver offers, both to those with a need to give and a need to receive. Our mission is to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to the poor and those in need. This is made possible with your help. Thanks to you, Catholic Charities served more than 77,000 individuals last year through all our programs. Our areas of focus include Shelter and Housing Services, Marisol Services (formerly Women’s Services), Family and Children’s Services, Emergency Assistance, Victim’s Assistance, and Immigration Services. I encourage everybody to be a part of Catholic Charities, but even more so to participate in charity. It’s when you give to others that you will receive. It is in this spirit of giving that I bring to you the first edition of Charity Works, our quarterly publication designed to keep you connected with Christ and his work through Catholic Charities. It is my hope that you will become more familiar with the services offered to our brothers and sisters in Christ, and see the people whose lives we touch. There is much more to come. I invite you to also visit our facilities, meet our staff and volunteers, and particularly meet those whom we have the privilege to serve. God bless, Larry Smith President and CEO of Catholic Charities Charity Works is published quarterly by The Catholic Alliance for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver, a 501 (c)3 established to Read Charity serve those in need along the Colorado Front Range. As the charitable arm of the Archdiocese of Denver, Works today! and inspired by God’s love and compassion, Catholic Charities extends the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to the poor and those in need. Contact Us: 720-476-7488 [email protected] www.ccdenver.org/CharityWorks Follow Us: Insta Sign up at ccdenver.org/ Staff: Editorial Director, Rebecca Kessler Graphic Designer, Shelley Bezek CharityWorks Editor/Photographer, Nissa LaPoint Social Media Specialist, Brandon Ortega High quality, cost conscious and faithful. Delivered to 80 percent of subscribers’ homes digitally. PG. 3 CHARITY WORKS | SUMMER 2016 CHARITIES ON THE MAP Catholic Charities is active in every region of northern Colorado. Below is a snapshot of the supporters, volunteers and staff who have shared the love, mercy and compassion of Christ along the Front Range. FORT COLLINS STAPLETON Team Samaritan House riders crossed the finish line More than 100 gathered outside Planned Parenthood of the six-day Ride the Rockies Bicycle Tour on on April 23 to participate in the national #ProtestPP June 17, raising more than $124,000 to benefit event, seeking the government defunding of the Catholic Charities shelters. nation’s largest abortion provider. GREELEY FORT LOGAN On April 14, construction crews broke ground on In April, an engaged couple and their wedding party Guadalupe Apartments, a 47-unit permanent volunteered the day before their wedding at supportive housing complex designed to alleviate Father Ed Judy House, a long-term shelter for the high demand of housing in the area. women and children. DOWNTOWN DENVER EAGLE Hundreds gathered on Aug. 6 at at the state Capitol for The 11th Gabriel House location opened on June 28 a Prayer in the Square rosary rally to pray for the to help provide low-income mothers and children protection of the unborn and innocent, an event held with necessities. monthly across the metro area. CHARITY WORKS | SUMMER 2016 PG. 4 GIVERS AND RECEIVERS IT’S IN GIVING THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE Larry Smith, the president and CEO of Catholic Charities, was a guest on Catholic Radio Network (KRCN 1060 AM) April 28 and talked about the idea of givers and receivers. He said the often unique result of charitable work is that after someone gives their time, talent or treasure to another, they receive many more blessings and gifts in return. “Give where you can. Give to whomever you can,” Smith said on air. “And it’s in giving—I can’t emphasize this enough—that you will receive. If we would just start thinking of others, putting others a little bit more in front of ourselves, we’d find a complete transformation in ourselves.” Below are Smith’s tips on beginning to give to others. Top 3 ways to start giving Look at your own family’s needs. 1. Charity begins in the home, then it grows from there. Think of others and get involved at your parish. Give where you can. 2. Give. to whomever you can. Visit ccdenver.org and click on the volunteer button. 3. You can make a difference today just by giving your time. OPEN YOUR HEART Visit ccdenver.org PG. 5 CHARITY WORKS | SUMMER 2016 SALON OWNER GIVES TIME, RECEIVES MORE IN RETURN Without deep pockets, it may seem like Danielle Mendoza has little to give others. Nothing is further from the truth, said the 35-year-old hair salon owner, who volunteered to give something precious to Samaritan House residents for seven years—herself. “I still don’t have the money to give, but I give of my time because that’s more precious and valuable than anything you could ever own,” said Mendoza inside her Denver-based business, Dani K Salon. She volunteered to share her time and talents with shelter residents by offering free haircuts once a month at the downtown shelter. She discovered that in giving herself, she received far more in return. “It benefits you more than it benefits them,” she said of volunteering. “I don’t know the impact I made on their lives, but I know the impact they had on my life. They taught me to just keep going—to roll up my sleeves and keep going through life’s trials.” She felt drawn to volunteer when she saw a Craigslist ad for a hairstylist at the shelter. Mendoza said she felt compelled to follow God’s will and that meant helping others in need. “I was kind of hesitating at first because I didn’t know what to expect,” she said, but realized, “God was telling me this is what I needed to do. Then it just became a part of my life.” She discovered the shelter residents were the same as every other client that sat in her salon chair—they desired respect and someone who cared. “That’s what they’re looking for—someone to give them a hand up and not a handout.” During the time she volunteered, Mendoza said she received many blessings: she met her spouse, made new friends and was inspired to start her own business. Danielle Mendoza cuts hair at her salon in Denver. She said volunteering to cut hair at Samaritan House “Those are probably the most rewarding things I got in my life,” brought many blessings to her life.