Voice of Charity

This past December there was a flurry of media attention on the cost of eating a healthy diet. Time magazine, in an article, “Eating Healthy is Cheaper Than You Think,” reported on the Harvard School of Public Health’s finding that it costs only $1.50 more per day to eat more fruits, veggies and high quality meat and fish. However, for persons with very low income, $1.50 adds up to $550 per person per year. While encouraging for the general public, many of those served by Catholic Charities may not be able to afford healthier foods. Katie Bambacht and Atinuke Isola, nutritionists from Catholic Charities, join Monsignor Boland to discuss how our programs help people eat well on a budget.

With foreclosures and unemployment still affecting Chicago-area families, suburban homelessness presents a growing challenge for many communities. Today Rev. Monsignor Michael Boland talks with Margaret Onekmope and Tefamariam Kefle, directors from Catholic Charities New Hope Apartments programs serving suburban Cook County, about how we help families move to self-sufficiency in a tough economy.

Recent budget cuts to the Food Stamp program, now known as the “SNAP” or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, will impact many Catholic Charities clients. We already see so many people struggling to make ends meet at Catholic Charities—everyone from single adults to families to seniors is trying to stretch their limited resources. Catholic Charities offers a wide range of programs that provide nutritious food to millions of people annually. Today, Monsignor Boland is joined by Angel Gutierrez, Vice President of Community Development and Outreach Services, and Stephanie Johnson, Director of Government Relations to discuss how Catholic Charities helps individuals and families facing food insecurity.

2013 was marked by many social ills that continue to plague the Chicago area, particularly those living in or near poverty. As we have every year since 1917, Catholic Charities has worked tirelessly address these ills, seeking better and better “antidotes.” Every time you read a headline or see a story on the news about issues plaguing our communities, Catholic Charities is in those neighborhoods working side by side with the community to improve the lives of those who live there. Monsignor Boland looks at three major problems that were in the news a lot this year: Violence, Homelessness and Food Deserts, and how Catholic Charities has responded.

At Catholic Charities, we empower families to develop stability and self-reliance by enhancing their education, health, safety and connections to their community. One way we do this is by offering high-quality child care services to children and their families. Joining me today is Laura Rios, Vice President of our Child, Youth and Family Services area to tell us more about our child development centers.

At Catholic Charities offers high-quality mental health counseling to children and their families so they can strengthen their understanding and ability to weather emotional storms. Joining me today is Laura Rios, Vice President of our Child, Youth and Family Services area, and Hector Rivera, Supervising Therapist, to tell us more about this important service.

Catholic Charities Emergency Assistance Department (EAD) provides a full array of concrete services including food and clothing for persons in crisis as well as those who are struggling to survive on very low incomes. The department also connects clients with shelter, emergency financial assistance, referral, advocacy, short-term case management and benefits screening at many locations in the City and Suburbs. Christine Dykes-Sorrells, Director of the Emergency Assistance Program at Catholic Charities, joins Monsignor Boland to discuss the history and current activities of EAD.

Refugees face many challenges upon arrival in their new home countries, including how to feel part of the community. Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Services, with funding from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, has created a new support for refugee women called LOOM. LOOM is a social enterprise project where the women work together creating wearable art which they then sell to help support their families. Most of all, LOOM provides a place where the women can connect despite differences in culture and language. Sarah Aulie of Catholic Charities and Lori Felix of the Archdiocese’s Office of Peace and Justice join Monsignor Boland for a lively and enlightening discussion.

The Southwest Region of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago stretches from Evergreen Park and the Beverly neighborhood in the East to Lemont in the West and from Bedford Park South to Orland Hills. Catholic Charities provides comprehensive services to the needy and disadvantaged in the area, including: emergency food and utility assistance, counseling, employment services, supplement, and housing. Teresa Rodríguez, Southwest Regional Director and Don Larson St. Blase Food Pantry Volunteer, join Monsignor Boland to discuss the many activities of Catholic Charities in the Southwest Region.

The Catholic Charities Hospital Transition Program focuses on helping seniors self-manage their conditions, take an active role in their health care, and communicate more effectively with their physicians; with the goal of preventing re-admission to a hospital. Catholic Charities’ Hospital Transition Coaches work with patients in the hospital and home. Joining Monsignor Boland is Anne Posner, Associate Vice President of Care Coordination to discuss this new and promising program.

For 66 years, Catholic Charities staff and volunteers have worked to fulfill the Church’s mission of charity through our Annual Christmas “Celebration of Giving”. Starting now through November, the agency collects new, unwrapped gifts for pregnant teens in our Arts of Living Program or new moms receiving maternity services, homeless children in our shelters; or families struggling to survive day to day. Though Christmas seems like a long way off, we are seeking donations now for this special program that touches so many lives. Joining Monsignor today is Lisa Jerzyk, Director of Volunteer Relations at Catholic Charities, to talk about this heartwarming initiative and how listeners can help.

Catholic Charities, in collaboration with Mujeres Latinas and Taller de Jose, provides comprehensive specialized legal services to immigrants who are also victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking. Carlos Rinconeno of the Immigrant Survivors Project at Catholic Charities joins Monsignor Boland to discuss this compelling and complex work.

Gaining legal status as immigrant and becoming a US citizen are issues that concern millions of people across the country. For many years, Catholic Charities has provided and supported people in gaining legal status in the U.S. and becoming U.S. citizens. Nancy Gavilanes, Program Director of Immigration and Naturalization Services joins Monsignor Boland to discuss the ways Catholic Charities assists immigrants.

Cooke's Manor is a recovery home for veterans operated by Catholic Charities on the Hines VA campus. Today Monsignor Boland speaks with Gloria Wright and Danita Pines about their work at this unique program.

CSI and ACES are two of the programs Catholic Charities runs to help persons struggling with substance abuse. Today Monsignor Boland speaks with Kevin Doyle and Patricia Bogie about their work.

Catholic Charities Congregate Meal program serves hot, tasty, noon-time meals at senior centers or other programs. Congregate meals help seniors maintain good nutrition and provide socialization for many who might otherwise eat alone in their homes. Today, Monsignor Boland talks with Donna Schultz, Food Service Manager and Rob Boyd, Senior Center Director, about the program.

Nearly 35 years ago, Catholic Charities began groundbreaking work by counseling the survivors of suicide; those family members and friends left behind when someone made the tragic decision to end their life. Our Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide (LOSS) program has helped thousands of people over the years. Our model of individual counseling by trained professionals and support groups facilitated by survivors has been recognized internationally. A few years ago, we started a new chapter in LOSS’s history by launching a program for children and youth impacted by suicide. Today, Monsignor Boland is joined by Jessica Mead and Cynthia Waderlow who will tell us more the child and youth program and an upcoming fundraiser that supports it.

Today’s youth face many challenges from a fast-paced society full of questionable influences. Parents are busy making a living and may not be able to give their children all the attention they would like. Catholic Charities in Lake County has realized a need in that community and is starting a Youth Mentoring Program that will pair adult volunteers with children ages 9 to 12. Joining Monsignor Boland today are Sarah Loffman and Beth Sheehan-Lucas of Catholic Charities’ Child, Youth and Family Services. Together, these women are launching this new program.

20 years ago, Catholic Charities created a new model for delivering federally-funded nutrition services to pregnant or nursing mothers and their young children. The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program provides nutritious foods like milk, whole grain cereals, and fresh fruits and vegetables to thousands of families in Cook County. Catholic Charities’ model includes food centers where participants “shop” for healthy foods while their children play in supervised onsite daycare. Participants can also access other services at the sites, such as vision screenings, and assistance with childhood immunizations. Catholic Charities’ WIC centers are hubs of support in the low-income communities where they are located. Associate Vice President Diane Nunley joins Monsignor Boland to discuss the WIC program and its impact.

One of the many ways Catholic Charities attacks the problem of hunger in Chicagoland is through its Summer Lunch Program, which serves thousands of children during the months they are out of school. The program provides “more than a meal,” by offering activities and consistency to children whose lives are often disrupted by the challenges of poverty. Mike Hyzy, Project Director and Business Specialist with Catholic Charities joins Monsignor Boland for an insightful discussion.

Keenager News is a 12-page, free newspaper published by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago. The paper brings news, entertainment, reflection and humor to nearly 100,000 seniors each month. Now in its 44th year, Keenager News is mailed directly to seniors’ homes. For more information, please call: (312) 655-7425 or visit: www.keenagernews.org.

Catholic Charities’ Senior Unity Mass is an annual celebration of seniors held at Holy Name Cathedral. Over 300 seniors gather to worship together, and then enjoy fellowship over a box lunch. Board of Advisors members Mary Ellen Kastenholz and Jeanne Hardy are volunteering to help with this year’s Unity Mass.

“A Day at the Races” benefit for Catholic Charities North Region Office, Emergency Services. Volunteer Nancy Morrison who is a member of the North Region Advisory Board discusses volunteerism and the upcoming benefit which will help the North Region provide food and other emergency services to a growing population of suburban poor.

Monsignor Boland speaks to Sharon Tilmon, Assistant Director, Catholic Charities Emergency Assistance Department, about the St. Sabina emergency assistance center in Englewood and the upcoming Hunger Walk, which benefits a number of Catholic Charities food pantries.

Bishop Conway Residence is a “Supportive Living” facility that offers seniors an affordable place to live safely and socially when they can no longer live independently. Gaby Saldana, director of Bishop Conway Residence, talks with Monsignor Boland about the program.

This week, Monsignor Boland speaks with Jody O’Connell, Maureen Kelly and Ellen Gorney who volunteer with Catholic Charities’ After Supper Visions photography project. The women devote hours each week to helping our supper guests realize their creative potential through photography. The After Supper Visions gallery show will be held on June 7 and 8th.

Mgsr. Mike Boland has Mike Ward, board member and member of The Government Relations Committee, talking about our advocacy efforsts in the legislature in Springfield.

Msgr. Mike Boland speaks with Kate Mulvaney, Regional Director for the City of Chicago and Director of Health Initiatives about the upcoming community health fairs.

This week, Monsignor Boland speaks with Norman Carlson, Catholic Charities’ Board of Advisors Member and Co-Chair of our Veterans In Need event, which benefits Catholic Charities veteran’s programs.

This week, Monsignor Boland speaks with Bobbie Magurany, Director of Holy Family Villa and John Parisi, co-chair of the Bishop Lyne Celebration Dinner about this event and its beneficiary, Holy Family Villa.

This week, Monsignor Boland speaks with Reverend Gerard Kelly, Associate Administrator and Chaplain of Catholic Charities about the selection process of the new Pope in Rome.

This week, Monsignor Boland speaks with Rev. John Moulder, Director of the Chi Town Jazz Festival about this wonderful upcoming benefit, whose proceeds go to help feed the hungry in Chicago.

Monsignor Boland speaks with Luiz Barbosa of the Mobile Outreach Program

Monsignor Boland speaks with Sandra Murray about the Homelessness Prevention Call Center

Monsignor Mike Boland speaks with Mary Ann bibat, Vice President of Senior Social Services at Catholic Charities about celebrating the holidays with our seniors.

Monsignor Michael Boland speaks with Sr. Cathy Ryan, OSF, Director of Maryville Academy.

Monsignor Boland talks with Jim Wogan about the Lake County Adopt a Family Program

Monsignor Boland talks to Pat Drott about HIV/AIDS and World AIDS Day.

Monsignor Boland speaks with Bob Sullivan, President and CEO of Fifth Third Bank about the ongoing partnership with Catholic Charities and Fifth Third Bank.

In today’s show Monsignor Boland speaks with Norene Chesebro, Director of Catholic Charities Maternity Adoption Department, and Lisa Holmes, Dawn Earp, and Doug Earp who were all adopted through Catholic Charities.

Monsignor Boland talks to John M. Breen about religious liberty and the HHS mandate.

Monsignor speaks with Deborah Hammond, Program Director of Catholic Charities’ Domestic Violence Programs and Patricia Ann Broderick, Clinical Family Services Specialist on Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Dr. Maria Vidal – Professor of the Loyola Univesity School of Social Work and member of Catholic Charities’ Board of Advisors and Latino Advisory Committee, Estefania Arreguin from the Department of Latino Affairs at Catholic Charities and Mauricio Alvarez, a student at IberroAmericana and volunteer at Catholic Charities about our IberroAmericana exchange program.

Monsignor speaks with Dalia Rocotello, Director of Latino Affairs for Catholic Charities and Clem Martin, Executive Director of Cicero Catholic Schools and member of the Catholic Charities Board of Directors and West Region Advisory Board.

Monsignor speaks with Angel Gutierrez, Vice President of Community Development and Outreach Services for Catholic Charities about Hunger Action Month.

Monsignor Boland speaks with Evelyn Diaz, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services about the rollout of the city’s Plan 2.0 to end homelessness and Catholic Charities’ involvement.

Monsignor Boland speaks with Christene Dykes-Sorrells about our Emergency Assistance Program.

Brother Leo Keigher, a St Vincent DePaul brother who has been working with the homeless for over 40 years in the Chicagoland area. These are his stories of his dealing and helping the homeless.

This week, Monsignor Boland speaks with Jim Thompson, President of Affinity Marketing and Travel Consulting and Culinary Classics Committee Co-Chair and Tom Zimmer, Catholic Charities Board Member and Meals on Wheels Volunteer. Jim and Tom discuss our Lake County Meals On Wheels Program and the Culinary Classics Event to benefit the program

This week, Monsignor Boland speaks with im Rivelli, partner at Winston & Strawn, LLP and Catholic Charities board member about the recent lawsuit Catholic Charities joined involving the HHS mandate.