Keith and his wife Shelly were paired with Jim and Dee for over eight years through Catholic Charities’ Friendly Visitors program. Jim and Dee never had children. Each was the last remaining sibling in their families. This foursome would enjoy visits and monthly dinners together. Shelly and Keith helped when it was time to [...]
We had an adoption finalize recently. While every adoption finalization is a hope story of God’s divine intervention, God’s grace and beauty, and God’s love for all his children including adults and children; this adoption was no different. The timing of how the couple, birthmother, and child met was quick. The turnaround time was [...]
Mary is a bus driver and only receives steady income during the school year. A Program Specialist has been working with her for the last 7 months through our Family Financial Transformations™ Program. Mary is also receiving housing assistance through Catholic Charities. At the beginning of the program, Mary was not able to pay [...]
Brent, age 40, was raised on a farm in Basehor, KS. Like many hard working families, both of his parents worked full-time jobs. Growing up, Brent spent many hours with his grandparents. His grandfather was his role model, and would be instrumental to a major decision Brent would make later in life. After high [...]
In our VITA program, we are fortunate to partner with Benedictine College. We have a great group of volunteers and interns from the school. VITA gives them an opportunity to hone their accounting skills while serving their community. As volunteer tax preparers, they have seen first-hand the extreme poverty some of our brothers and sisters [...]
Michael Shirley grew up with humble means. His parents were the product of the Great Depression and barely had the resources to care for their family. “They taught me early to save everything that I could,” says Michael. “They taught me to be frugal.” It was his mother, Irene, who grew up in an orphanage [...]
Hope Hero Shout Out! Four-year-old Joslyn bounced through the doors at Catholic Charities pulling a wagon twice the size of her small frame. Days earlier, Joslyn had been pulling that same wagon through her neighborhood collecting food to donate to our Emergency Assistance Centers. Quiet and unassuming, Joslyn didn't quite know why all the fuss [...]
Jane Godar Kreiter, a member of Church of the Ascension in Overland Park, has made more than 200 lap afghans for hospice patients. LEAVEN PHOTO BY JOE MCSORLEY by Carol Cowdrey Special to The Leaven OVERLAND PARK — Jane Godar Kreiter, a parishioner at Church of the Ascension here, learned to knit when [...]
Barbara and Steve are a couple in their 60s, and both are disabled. Steve was a social worker, but had to retire early due to heart disease. Barbara is a retired school teacher struggling with cancer. Together, they owe over $50,000 in medical fees, and are behind on those payments. They’ve tried to sell their [...]
The following is a reflection written by Andrea Curnes, a St. James Academy high school student who volunteered with our Refugee School Impact (RSI) Summer Program. The program collaborates with community partners, other Catholic Charities’ programs and volunteers to help prepare newly arrived refugee children for school in America. I had an incredible experience working [...]
