September 2015
In this issue... 

- Giving Refugees a new start and hope for their future.

- Catholic Community Hospice brings compassionate care to those nearing the end of life.

- Hunger hurts.  Save the date for a FREE viewing of "A Place at the Table."

- Make a difference. Become part of our Snow Ball team of volunteers.

- Hope Hero Shout Out.

...and more.
Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas

  Click here to view the story of one refugee family's first day in the United States.
Refugees get a New Start. New Hope.   KLPP
Imagine being forced to flee your country due to fear of being tormented or even killed for who you are and what you believe.  

You must leave the place you call home, the family and friends you love, your job and familiar surroundings. Then, after getting refugee status, imagine living the next seven years in a hut inside a refugee camp. This is the story of the Hre family who arrived in Kansas City this summer. With the help of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, they were reunited with a family member and able to start on the path to a new life in the United States.  Catholic Charities resettles 250-300 refugees like the Hre family each year through our Refugee and Immigration Services program. Our staff assists with housing, clothing, language classes, employment and more.

Catholic Community Hospice Provides Compassionate End-of-Life Care
DSLP
Billy Crabtree looks forward to home visits from the Catholic Community Hospice team.
 
Since Billy has been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, the Hospice Team helps manage his pain so that he can enjoy time spent with his family and friends. They also try to make him more comfortable by providing a hospital bed, wheelchair, oxygen and other medical equipment. But Catholic Community Hospice does more than take care of the physical symptoms of his disease. Billy appreciates the emotional and spiritual support the team provides. "It's a lift to talk to them," Billy says. 
Catholic Community Hospice, the only Catholic hospice in the Kansas City area, offers compassionate end-of-life care to people of all faiths.

Everyone Deserves a Place at the Table
table
50 million Americans - including 1 in 5 children -- suffer from hunger. 

They do not get enough food to eat on a regular basis to be healthy and active. To help the community better understand this epidemic and the relationship between hunger and obesity, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas is partnering with Saint Thomas Aquinas High School to present a FREE screening of " A Place at the Table," Thursday, October 8th in the school's theatre. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The movie begins at 6:45 p.m. 
This critically acclaimed documentary examines the connections between food access, food insecurity, hunger and obesity. A brief panel discussion and reception will follow. 
G uests are encouraged to bring a healthy canned food item in support of STA's annual food drive benefitting Catholic Charities.

Snow Ball Volunteer Opportunities SnowBall

 - Do you love to host a party that raises money for a good cause? 

 - Are you good at friendraising? 

 - Do you enjoy fundraising for your favorite charity? 

 
If you answered yes to any of these questions we want to hear from you! Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas has a variety of fundraising volunteer opportunities to support its 42nd Annual Snow Ball. The Annual Snow Ball is the largest fundraising event in Kansas City. In fact, it  raises nearly 50% of all private donations for Catholic Charities . 
In other words, without this event we would not be able to operate our  9 food pantries and  8 emergency assistance centers that  serve over 115,000 people each year as well as funding many of our other programs.

Please contact Kelly Kearney at  kkearney@catholiccharitiesks.org for details.

Hope Hero Shout Out!
HopeHero
This month's Hope Hero Shout Out goes to our very own, Cindy Gillispie, Manager of our Atchison Office. Cindy knows no stranger and is always working through innovative ways to help the Atchison community. This summer, Cindy received the Kansas Merit Award from the Department of Commerce for managing the Atchison Catholic Charities Office.
Congrats, Cindy! Such a well-deserved honor!
Dustin Hardison, Director of Family Stabilization, attended the Award Ceremony with Cindy. He shares, "We are thrilled with Cindy's leadership efforts in Atchison. Her vibrant heart, brilliant mind and charismatic spirit are inspiring! We always see positive community ripple effects in all the projects she manages."
We are so blessed to have Cindy as part of our amazing crew. Thank you, Cindy, for sharing your passion for helping others with us! 

Ways to Make a Difference

DONATE YOUR CAR.  MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Click for more info!
It's easy. It's tax-deductible. 
And it makes a big - and lasting - impact for local families right here in our community. 

If you have a vehicle you don't want anymore - in any condition - donate it to  Cars4KC . You'll avoid the hassle of trying to trade, sell or junk it, and you can get a tax deduction that may reduce your tax burden this year. Plus, when you donate your car, truck, RV or boat to Cars4KC, you help people right here in our community. That's because the proceeds benefit valuable Catholic Charities programs and services across the region.
9720 W. 87th St | Overland Park, KS 66212 | 913.433.2100

Looking to volunteer?
Contact  Michelle Carlstedt  at  913.433.2080
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