Families reunite as nursing facilities allow in-person visits again
When Catherine Wyland's great-nephew had his third son on Sept. 10, she thought about how she had held his older children shortly after they were born – and how that was impossible during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 96-year-old resident of Caritas House understood the restrictions imposed by the virus, but felt a familial draw to [...]
What connects the tragic killings of George Floyd and Freddie Gray
William J. McCarthy Jr. Executive Director This piece originally appeared in Charities USA Magazine. On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis, Minnesota police officer who knelt on his neck for a continuous eight minutes and forty-six seconds while arresting him for the alleged use of a counterfeit twenty-dollar bill. There are [...]
Three extraordinary stories of service
In gratitude for more than 45 years of combined exemplary and humble service to neighbors in need, Catholic Charities will recognize three exemplary area servants the week of November 8. Mary Anne O'Donnell will receive the Msgr. Arthur F. Valenzano Joyful Servant Award. Commissioned to recognize a joyful life and spirit in service, the award [...]
Catholic Charities partners with Baltimore County on eviction prevention
The economic downturn associated with the COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating for large parts of the U.S. housing market. This summer, one think tank estimated that more than 30 million renters in America could be evicted from their homes. In early September, a federal order temporarily blocked many residential evictions for the rest of 2020. [...]
Helping more than local produce take root in Cherry Hill
To Eric Jackson, a stall in the newly renovated Cherry Hill Town Center is far more than a space to sell locally grown produce. The servant-director and co-founder of the Black Yield Institute envisions it as a hub of activity and a key step in advancing a dream. "Imagine yourself in the newly renovated space, [...]
A Christopher Place story: “he got the job, he got the girl … and he got his life back.”
When Tim McPherson looks back at his life, he can't believe where he is today. "I'm an alcoholic, and I really never did anything except what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it," he said. "I never could have even imagined this." McPherson, 58, now owns a three-bedroom house in Baltimore City [...]
Extending one family’s legacy at the Esperanza Center
Lydia Dibos remembers going to the Esperanza Center – then known as the Hispanic Apostolate – on occasional Saturday mornings as a teenager. Her mother, a pediatrician, had organized weekly clinics to serve children with no other access to health care. Over the following decades, her physician parents, Esther and Pablo Dibos, continued their unwavering [...]
“Not in My Neighborhood” author says it will take deep pockets to heal scars
When journalist and author Antero Pietila came to Baltimore from Finland 52 years ago, he encountered a city in turmoil one year after the infamous "race riots" of 1968. Crime was his first beat with the Baltimore Sun, allowing him to learn the area’s web of neighborhoods intimately. He quickly learned that the codification of [...]
Community-based health care to open in West Baltimore
Residents on Baltimore's west side have something new to celebrate. My Brother's Keeper is launching a comprehensive medical clinic in the Irvington neighborhood, in partnership with Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital. To commemorate the milestone, the partners held a small ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 5. The addition of the clinic allows neighbors to come to My [...]
Stop Racism Resources – Flyer
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