FaithWorks March 2010 Issue
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Green is good!
Most of us have heard these words at some point in our lives. It's actually quite nice to see a cliché with such a positive message and hopeful outcome, whether or not you believe in global warming, electric cars, carbon emissions or dependence on fossil fuels. At the end of the day, everyone wants to protect our planet and our environment on at least some basic level, regardless of geo-political beliefs!
Indeed, at Catholic Charities, we believe "Green is good." Being good to Mother Earth is certainly something we are trying to subtly weave into the day-to-day routine of our programs, and is definitely something we keep in mind as we are serving those in need. St. Margaret's Shelter has certainly led the way for many things "green" around Catholic Charities with their nationally recognized Vinegar Flats Garden project and their furniture recycling efforts through the new Community Warehouse. CAPA recently hosted a bottle exchange for CAPA parents so they could bring in their old baby bottles and exchange them for new BPA-free bottles. House of Charity's use of less harmful cleaning products and our Housing Program's efforts to do environmentally friendly retro-fitting of all our apartment communities are also highlights of our effort to be better stewards of our planet. While working on plans for the new Family Services Center, which we now call home, we took a few leads from program efforts like these and made sure we designed our renovated space to have as little impact or footprint as possible, giving us a LEED certification.
Perhaps our greatest example of green living is this FaithWORKS newsletter. We combined many of the individual program mailings into this creative and informative newsletter. We have had an incredibly positive response and have noticed considerable cost savings by enacting this new format. In the coming months, we will be rolling out a new initiative to find creative and respectful ways in which to connect to you via e-mail. We've already been asking folks informally if they might want to share their e-mail address with us in order for us to correspond with them. Early indicators are that people indeed trust us enough and desire less mail/paper enough to share their e-mail. Help us "Go Green" by asking for an electronic version of FaithWORKS. The same beauty and information, minus the paper! If you are interested, please contact Yvonne Shulman at yshulman@ccspokane.org.
Thanks for all you do to make Catholic Charities a strong, vibrant, and yes, even "green" part of our community!
Many prayers,
Rob McCann
Executive Director
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Hello from St. Margaret's,
Having shared our good works all these years through our St. Margaret's Postcards, having the expanse of the internet to share our story feels like a largess beyond comprehension. So, in that spirit, let me say that we continue our essential work of providing shelter for women and their children and wish to thank each and every one of you who offer your time, treasure, donations and prayers.
Currently we are involved in a number of different projects that have grown out of supporting families:
The Sharon Lord Apartments, Walnut Corners and aftercare, where we are providing support for twenty-five families in the community to help them maintain their housing; the Community Warehouse, where we distribute donated furniture free of charge to homeless people as they move into their own homes (www.spokanecommunitywarehouse.org); HPRP, a program in conjunction with VOA, SNAP, SLIHC and the City of Spokane to help people affected by the recession with their housing; and the Vinegar Flats Community Garden (http://vinegarflatsgarden.CatholicCharitiesSpokane.org),
a community focused gardening project, managed by Brian Estes.
In the spirit of "green", we are sharing the rest of St. Margaret's
space to thoughts from Brian about the garden.
Yours,
Nadine Van Stone
Director, St. Margaret's Shelter
PS - thanks to all of you who helped us "Share the Harvest" on March 2nd and to our sponsors: Atticus, Hill's Restaurant, the Scoop and Neato Burrito!d in a number of different projects that have grown out of supporting families:
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Vinegar Flats Community Garden is already gearing up for another growing season down near Latah Creek. Having spent the wintertime improving existing programs and organizing new ones, the garden staff is excited to see what seeds will sprout in their effort to empower vulnerable community members through community-focused gardening opportunities and improved access to affordable, fresh, locally grown food.
In 2010, the garden expects to be a bustle of activity, offering women and children from St. Margaret's Shelter a summer school for kids and skills development internships for adults. Participants will not only benefit from their experience, but will also help grow food used in healthy meals for other vulnerable community members. Through expanded programs and community involvement, the staff is looking forward to the garden's growth, even beyond the over 3,500 pounds of food grown and nearly 1,000 hours of community involvement in 2009.
Beyond efforts in the garden, Vinegar Flats staff are working in collaboration with many community partners to increase the accessibility and affordability of healthy, locally grown food for those living with limited resources in our community. The South Perry Farmers' Market, at which Vinegar Flats is a vendor, will open at a new location with a newly revitalized commitment to serving the South Perry neighborhood, and under the direction of Vinegar Flats, will provide a program allowing the use of Food Stamps at the market for a second year. A similar program is in the works at the West Central Marketplace, a farmers' market seeking to bring fresh food to a neighborhood in which that resource is otherwise completely lacking. Finally, Vinegar Flats is partnering with Spokane Tilth to provide fresh produce to community members living on a low income through the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model. A scholarship fund will help direct healthy food from many area farms into the communities and onto the dinner tables of those who have the most need.
In all of these efforts and many more, the Vinegar Flats Community Garden is working hard to produce and promote fresh, local food, recognizing it to be a resource which can nourish bodies, empower families and strengthen our community.
--Brian Estes, Vinegar Flats Garden Program Coordinator
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 32 West Pacific
P.O. Box 2253
Spokane, WA 99202
509.624.7821
"Who do I talk to about talking to myself? Anyone?" This question was asked to me in perfect seriousness last summer by a patron. Although in hindsight this makes for a good chuckle, this is an example of the many kinds of interactions I have with clients at the House of Charity. It also points out that the clients I work with do not necessarily live in the same reality as you and I. My time at the House of Charity over the past two years has taught me many things; from active listening and suicide prevention, to esoteric conversations and making artwork out of shaving cream. Through this vast realm of imparted knowledge I have also learned important life lessons, one of which I wrote a paper about, and wish to share with you today -
"Discrimination against race, ethnicity, religion, or gender are the more common forms of prejudice within society, one type of discrimination that isn't as well recognized however, is that of ableism. Ableism is a type of discrimination against people who have mental, emotional, and physical disabilities. This type of discrimination is usually perpetuated by attitudes that assert it is better not to have a disability than to have one. It is thought better to be able to walk than roll, speak than sign, print than read Braille, or perform any other activity differently from the way a non-disabled people might do it. Many people, with a disability at the House of Charity can describe disconcerting experiences of being treated as invisible, or being objects of pity because their quality of life is considered to be less. I use the word disability casually, but the contextual definition of a disability is nearly impossible to define because the term is subject to so many different perceptions and interpretations. For example, a mental disability includes an array of disorders, ranging from cognitive and anxiety disorders, to mood and personality disorders. The significance of a mental disability often goes unrecognized, but a mental disability can have a serious impact on a person's life by either preventing normal development or reducing a person's previous level of growth to something less.
The topic of mental disabilities and homelessness is an interesting one because of their over lapping and intertwining cause and effect. Distinguishing the mental disabilities that precede homelessness from those that are a consequence of homelessness is an area with little research. Mental disabilities commonly precede homelessness because mental disabilities often manifest themselves when individuals are in their teens and early twenties, and subsequently, many affected individuals have difficulties obtaining and sustaining an adequate lifestyle. On the other hand, homelessness is a breeding ground for mental disabilities. People who are homeless are more likely to suffer from poor nutrition, inadequate healthcare, health hazards, chronic illnesses, and severe emotional stress. In combination, these factors can make a person who is homeless twice as susceptible to schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. It also lowers their threshold for developing most other types of mental disabilities. Mental disabilities and homelessness are a seemingly double-edged sword, with either one being able to cause the other."
Overall, my time spent working at a homeless shelter has taught me that the essence of a person does not lie in their disability or lack of residence, but in who they are. They are first and foremost people and should be recognized as such, and not for their perceived differences. Terms such as homeless or disabled come with connotations of perceived differences and abilities, which merely enables discrimination against them. In closing, I would like to leave you with something President Kennedy once said; "The measure of a great country is not only its military might and its wealth, but also how it cares for and treats the vulnerable, its aged, its children, and those who are ill and disabled."
Oh, for the record, I got an 'A' on my paper!
Amy Brunner, AmeriCorps Volunteer
Logan, Utah |
Catholic Charities and Catholic Schools celebrate
100 Ways in 100 Days
St. Patrick's Parish hosted the 12th Annual "100 Ways in 100 Days" celebration on January 27th. Students from Catholic Schools throughout the Diocese collected items in lots of 100 such as diapers, socks and canned goods needed by Catholic Charities programs. The items are used at the program level to support the hungry, homeless and most vulnerable clients that Catholic Charities serves.
Bishop Skylstad presided over the mass with Father Blazovich, Father Pautler and Father Dublinski concelebrating. Fr. Blazovich and the St. Patrick School community warmly welcomed the visiting students, parents, teachers, Catholic Charities Directors, and the diocesan Education office staff. Students served as lectors, music ministers and altar servers. During the presentation of the Gifts, Scott Cooper, Director of Parish Social Ministries at Catholic Charities, greeted a student representative from each participating school. Upon introduction, each representative presented an example of the item collected for the various Catholic Charities programs. Bishop Skylstad congratulated the students on their participation and thanked them for helping those who are in need. |
Spokane Community WarehouseA Day at the Spokane Community Warehouse 1 day. 14 hours. 2 volunteers. 3 Queen mattresses. 3 Queen box springs. 3 Queen frames. 1 Queen headboard. 2 Twin mattresses. 2 Twin box springs. 2 Twin frames. 4 sofas. 2 nightstands. 3 bookshelves. 3 dressers. 1 recliner. 3 tables. 9 chairs. 1 coffee table. 3 end tables. Hangers. 5 sheet sets. 3 lamps. 2 televisions. 2 VCRs. 3 sets of pots and pans. 3 sets of dishes and tableware. 1 toaster. 1 toaster oven. 1 blender. 1 microwave. 3 times we laughed so hard our abs hurt. 7 flights of stairs. 4 bruises. 0 broken bones. 1 sliver. 1 van (the White Knight). 4 families. 0 complaints. Countless Thank Yous. SPOKANE COMMUNITY WAREHOUSE is a Spokane-based non-profit agency, sponsored by Catholic Charities, that collects and redistributes donated household good to individuals and their families in need. For more information call 509-991-9345 or visit our website www.spokanecommunitywarehouse.org | |
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The Catholic Charities Volunteer office is going green! We now have an electronically submitted application located on our website under the Volunteer tab. This process will save on paper and stamps! Please visit our website at www.CatholicCharitiesSpokane.org or contact Brigid Krause, Volunteer Services Manager at bkrause@ccspokane.orgor call (509) 358-4270 if you are interested in volunteering.
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O'Malley resident Helen F. Griffith turned 100 years young on February 6th. She has been a resident of the O'Malley for 21 years. When asked how it felt to turn 100, she replied, "I don't even think about it, I just wake up every morning and keep going." Helen said one of her most vivid memories is when President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the 1933 Grand Coulee Dam construction project. Happy Birthday Helen!
Steven Hall, Paul Maxwell & Sandra Joe are all Delaney residents who have dedicated time to Volunteer Chore Services. Steven Hall has been a volunteer for 6 years and has dutifully made coffee, taken out the recycling bins and recycled cans for the resident fund. Paul Maxwell and Sandra Joe became volunteers in 2009. Paul has volunteered his time as the Delaney "Gate Keeper." He makes sure to open and close the gate during the hours of operation. He has also helped to monitor the parking lot. Sandra Joe, in her spare time, cleans and maintains the common areas, especially from Friday through Sunday when the staff is not working. All three volunteers vigilantly keep the Delaney staff abreast of what goes on in the building.
Thank you for your volunteer service
Cathedral Plaza resident, Harry Bright drives residents free of charge to Urgent Care or to appointments when they don't have any other transportation. He does it at the "drop of a hat," with no questions asked. This Christmas, he also displayed his personal train in the community room for everyone to enjoy over the holidays.
Thank you Harry!
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Children love learning things when it involves hands-on activities and food. Combining food with hands-on activities allows us to introduce basic concepts such as shapes, colors, letters, numbers, spelling, reading, measuring, and sorting in a fun and interesting way. We are currently looking for donations to help enhance our kids' kitchen. Suggested items include:· Cooking Utensils· Measuring Cups & Spoons· Small Kitchen Appliances (Toaster, Blender, Hand mixer, etc)· Pots & Pans· Baking Sheets, Muffin Tins,
Cake Pans, Pizza Pans,etc· Cutting Boards· Rolling Pin· Cookie Cutters· Mixing Bowls· Spices, Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder & Soda, etc· Cake Mixes, Cookie Mixes, Muffin Mixes, etc.Your Generosity & Support is Appreciated!
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grants awarded
Received in July - December 2009
Women Helping Women Fund (Spokane), $20,000 to SMS for life skills classes
Women Helping Women Fund, $19,637 to St. Anne's for tuition assistance for low-income families
The Kresge Foundation (Detroit), $75,000 to SMS and HOC for operations during the economic crisis
Porticus North America Foundation (NY), $30,000 to CCS for software upgrade project (Finance Department)
Florence Wasmer Fund for Children and Families (Inland NW Community Foundation, Spokane),
$4,913 to CAPA for parent leadership team
CCUSA Centennial Recognition Program Award (for CCS Tepeyac Haven farm worker housing), $25,000 award
Knights and Setons student group at GU, financial and volunteer support for HOC
Elizabeth Pool Charitable Trust (managed by US Bank, Spokane), $8,605 to SMS for new security system
Blue Mountain Community Foundation (Walla Walla), $9,000 for Immigration Services case manager in Walla Walla
Thank you!
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To find out more about Catholic Charities Spokane, please view our new
Catholic Charities video on our website at CatholicCharitiesSpokane.org or on YouTube.
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Haiti Relief Continues
The Catholic community in Eastern Washington has responded with great generosity in support of Catholic Relief Services' efforts in Haiti following the January earthquake. To date, over $197,000 has been collected. Donations may still be made for CRS' long-term recovery work to: Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 2253, Spokane WA 99210, Attn: Haiti. Thank you, Eastern Washington!
Joe Hastings, Education Officer for Catholic Relief Services, speaks on "Reading the Bible in an Age of Globalization"
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Gonzaga University's Campus
12 noon - Coughlin Hall #104 and 7 p.m. - Globe Room at Cataldo Hall
Events are free of charge.
 THE ST. FRANCIS PLEDGE
PRAY and reflect on the duty to care for God's Creation and protect the poor and vulnerable. LEARN about and educate others on the causes and moral dimensions of climate change. ASSESS how we-as individuals and in our families, parishes and other affiliations-contribute to climate change by our own energy use, consumption, waste, etc. ACT to change our choices and behaviors to reduce the ways we contribute to climate change. ADVOCATE for Catholic principles and priorities in climate change discussions and decisions, especially as they impact those who are poor and vulnerable.
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