|
|
|
Fall 2019 - In This Issue:
|
|
|
|
|
|
SHOW OF SHOWS
|
Venice--Tickets are now on sale for the 12th Annual Sugar Bowl Show of Shows
which will be held on Sunday, November 10 at 2 p.m. at the Venice Performing Arts Center.
Sponsored by Catholic Charities and the Knights of Columbus, the event will benefit the Sugar Bowl Fund which helps families experiencing financial difficulty in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties. Since 2010, a total of 357 families with 701 children have been assisted with $261,715.
The show will feature The Mystics performing pop, rock and doo-wop music. The Mystics provide a trip down memory lane and audiences of all ages will enjoy the excitement and harmony perfection of the rock and roll classics! Tickets are $25, $30 or $40 a person.
Walmart is the Presenting Sponsor and the Venice Gondolier Sun is the Media Sponsor of this fundraising event.
The Sugar Bowl Fund assists low-income families with children 18-years-old and younger with assistance for rent, utilities, medical and transportation expenses, and with relocation fees to resolve their crisis. All proceeds from the Sugar Bowl Show of Shows will go directly to the fund.
|
FLORIDA REPERTORY THEATER
AFCAAM of Catholic Charities
Fort Myers--The Florida Repertory Theater annually
packs up their sets, costumes and actors and brings a show to the students of the AFCAAM of
Catholic Charities After-School Reading Program. This year the production was Junie B. Jones the Musical.
Prior to the musical performance, the theater sends instructional materials for AFCAAM teachers to review vocabulary and concepts that will be seen in the upcoming play. M
any struggling readers benefit from a visual performance and the event enhances reading instruction while providing the elementary students the experience of attending a professional play.
For more information contact Catholic Charities at 239-461-0233, ext. 212 or [email protected].
|
 NAPLES LIONS CLUB
Judy Sullivan Family Resource Center
Naples--Free eye exams and eye glasses along with hearing screening and hearing aids were provided by the Naples Lions Club to clients of the Judy Sullivan Family Resource Center of Catholic Charities.
The center serves low- to moderate-income families and individuals with the mission of helping the surrounding neighborhoods to rise to a better standard of living and obtain greater self-sufficiency.
Catholic Charities is grateful for the partnership with the Naples Lions Club who is committed to providing these health services to anyone in the community who is in need and cannot afford them.
|
|
JUNIOR OFFICERS
|
 Sarasota--Officers from the Sarasota Police Department made a special visit to St. Martha's Early Learning Center of Catholic Charities. The preschool students enjoyed a positive learning experience with the men and women in blue.
Sarasota Police Officers discussed with the children what an emergency is and how to dial 911. They handed out Junior Police Officer badges and coloring books.
"The officers also joined us for a dance party," said Catholic Charities Program Director Jamie Van Dyke. "Every one of the students now plans on being a police officer when they grow up!"
St. Martha's Early Learning Center offers the Creative Curriculum for Preschool Program where children are encouraged to explore Science, Math, Reading, Writing, Art, Technology and Music through indoor and outdoor learning centers. The program prepares young students for kindergarten with quality education at an affordable price. St. Martha's Early Learning Center received a 4.5 Star Rating from the Early Learning Coalition Look for the Stars Program.
For more information contact Catholic Charities at 941-366-1395 or [email protected].
 
|
ROTARY CLUB OF NAPLES BAY
Catholic Charities Collier County
Naples--
Catholic Charities is grateful to the Rotary Club of Naples Bay for supplying free shoes to clients at the Family Counseling Center and Judy Sullivan Family Resource Center.
The Rotary Club sponsors their Kids Kick for Shoes Program that provides shoes for needy children in Collier County. A total of 50 pairs of shoes were offered and Catholic Charities was able to share the donation with partner organizations such as the Redlands Christian Migrant Program for disadvantaged students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
|
 FAMILY OUTREACH
Judy Sullivan Family Resource Center
Naples--The Family Outreach Program of the Judy Sullivan Family Resource Center of Catholic Charities assists people who do not have access to the programs and services of Catholic Charities. The program distributes food and baby items to hundreds of families in under served neighborhoods.
Catholic Charities recently assisted a Habitat for Humanity neighborhood with bags of food for over 100 families. "Often
people cannot receive assistance because they do not have transportation or they cannot get to us because they are working during our service hours," Catholic Charities Program Director Allegra Belliard said.
|
|
EARLY VOTERS
|
 Fort Myers--Many young people do not vote because they were never taught the process. This will not be the case for AFCAAM of Catholic Charities Youth Mentoring Program students. The Lee County Elections Office provided the youth a first-hand opportunity to learn and experience the voting procedure.
Although most students will not be eligible to vote for a few more years, Youth Mentoring Program Coordinator Veronica Barber said that knowledge is power. "It is important for young people to understand the importance of their vote, their right to vote and the power of their vote," Barber said.
The youth were educated on the history and importance of voting and the voting process in a three-hour workshop that concluded with a mock election. Elections staff set up a voting station with machines, check-in desk, a youth-focused ballot, voting booths and "I Voted" stickers.
Catholic Charities staff created photo ID's that the students used for check in which began the process that allowed them to experience the complete voting procedure from beginning to end, including the results of their votes. The ballot consisted of subjects related to school and future careers, family, crime and social media influences.
Students enjoyed the experience, discussed their voting results in a group session and committed to sharing the experience with their parents, along with encouraging people who do not vote to vote.
For more information contact Catholic Charities at 239-461-0233, ext. 203 or veronica. [email protected].
|
 YOUNG LEADERS
Catholic Charities
Collier County
Naples--
Catholic Charities in Collier County held a Young Leaders Reception to connect with the next generation of leaders in the community.
The event was held at the Judy Sullivan Family Resource Center of Catholic Charities in Naples. It was an opportunity to share the mission of Catholic Charities and get to know young professionals in Collier County and the issues they care about.
Catholic Charities plans to hold future friend-raising receptions.
Thank you to everyone who attended!
F
or more information contact Catholic Charities at 239-455-2655 or [email protected].
|
|
BATTY STORY TIME
|
 Sarasota--The ladies of the Christ Child Society of Sarasota afforded the children at St. Martha's Early Learning Center of Catholic Charities an opportunity to begin their Halloween celebration with a day of spooky fun.
As part of their annual Make a Difference Day, the society helped the preschoolers create their own bat wing headbands. Afterwards, they read the students the story There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat. Each student was given a copy of the book to take home.
Catholic Charities is grateful to community organizations that generously provide volunteer support, creative experiences and much needed resources to St. Martha's Early Learning Center.
For more information contact Catholic Charities at 941-366-1395 or [email protected].
 
|
 PUBLIX CHARITIES
Catholic Charities Collier County
Naples--Publix Super Markets Charities awarded both the Judy Sullivan Family Resource Center of Catholic Charities in Naples and Guadalupe Social Services of Catholic Charities in Immokalee a grant of $20,000 to nourish those who are hungry in the community.
The Judy Sullivan Family Resource Center will use the funds to purchase food for the Weekend Power Pack Food Program to feed hungry children over the weekend. Catholic Charities provides food to 350 students at three elementary schools in Naples.
Guadalupe Social Services plans to spend the grant to buy food for the center's Food Pantry, Pantry on Wheels Program and the Casa Maria Soup Kitchen.
For more information contact Catholic Charities at 239-455-2655 or [email protected].
|
|
CALM CLASSROOM
|
 Fort Myers--With a grant from the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, AFCAAM of Catholic Charities After-School Reading Program is providing Mindfulness Education for kindergarten to fifth graders. The curriculum is called Calm Classroom.
The exercises take three minutes to complete and are done at the beginning or end of class, or both. They teach children techniques for focusing their mind through imagery and centering their energy on their own breath. AFCAAM teachers are trained to implement the curriculum in their classrooms
to give students with trauma the tools to self soothe, gain academic focus and improve behavior.
The children expressed they have learned to calm themselves at home and school before testing. One child exclaimed, "This is good stuff, I never knew just following my breath could calm me down!"
Three of the fourth-grade students shared their stories about how Calm Classroom exercises are assisting them at home and school:
 Jermaine, age 9, has many issues with anger. He said now when he feels angry, he remembers to breathe deeply. The exercise has helped him avoid conflict and troubles that come with demonstrating anger.
Arrianna, age 9, explained that before she took a test in school, she took a minute to breathe and this calmed her enough to recall the material she was being tested on. This demonstrates that mindful breathing is connected to improved focus.
Shantae, age 10, shared that she gets upset when she encounters loud voices and yelling. She said that closing her eyes and concentrating on the natural rhythm of her breath keeps her calm and this activity has taught her how to soothe herself when her surroundings become chaotic.
Calm Classroom is now another aspect of the After-School Reading Program which supports and enhances the lives of children academically and socially.
For more information contact Catholic Charities at 239-461-0233, ext. 212 or [email protected].
|
|
Weekend Power
Pack Program
Naples--Wintrust Bank and Culvers Restaurant both held food drives for the Weekend Power Pack Food Program at the Judy Sullivan Family Resource Center of Catholic Charities.
The center relies on local businesses and community organizations to donate items to the program.
The Weekend Power Pack Food Program offers students in Collier County food to sustain them when they are not in school. Children who participate in this program are living in situations where they do not have a reliable source of food during the weekend or otherwise live in a "food insecure" home. The program provides children with food over the weekend during the school year.
Catholic Charities appreciates the generous donations!
|
|
|
STAY CONNECTED
FOLLOW CATHOLIC CHARITIES, DIOCESE OF VENICE, INC. ON SOCIAL MEDIA
|
|
|
|
|
