Work or wellness? A barrier-breaking new law means less need to choose
Workers who have struggled to balance the needs of their families with economic stability will have additional protections available to them now that the Maryland General Assembly passed the historic Time to Care Act. Advocacy for paid family and medical leave has been a key priority for Catholic Charities and a broad coalition of partners, [...]
Shine a light: The law and love
It's Volunteer Appreciation Week, and we're celebrating these amazing givers by sharing a short story about one of our thousands of volunteers each day. Joe Dyer volunteers his time as a pro bono attorney for Esperanza Center’s Immigration Legal Services and tutor for the ESOL program. Joe stands out for a few reasons amongst our [...]
Shine a light: Cookies and COVID
It's Volunteer Appreciation Week, and we want to use it to share a short story each day about one of our thousands of amazing volunteers. Paul Casey has been a longtime volunteer at St. Elizabeth Rehabilitation and Nursing Center Each day he volunteers at St. Elizabeth Rehabilitation and Nursing Center's pastoral care and [...]
Shine a light: The call to care for a traumatized child
Volunteer Therapeutic Mentor Darlene Hampton felt called to become a mentor in our Therapeutic Mentoring program. Reflecting on the powerful influence of positive adult role models in her own life, Darlene explains that she knew it was time to “pay it forward.” “I recall the adolescent years being full of confusing decisions," she said. "If [...]
Shine a light: Ms. Pamela’s consistent presence
April is National Volunteer Month, and we want to acknowledge, thank and celebrate the amazing individuals who give so much of their time and talent to encountering our neighbors with us! Ms. Pamela Leonard has spent more than 2,000 volunteering at Our Daily Bread so far. Ms. Pamela Leonard has been volunteering at [...]
Beauty in the shift: a recovering substance user’s unexpected gifts
Fifty-one years after his first hit of a drug, William “Al” Baker says he’s done with substance use and into creating beauty. “I believe in God and everything, but heroin always won out,” he said. When Baker was around 9 years old, something happened to him that he doesn’t talk about. He started using substances [...]
A big move back – and forward – for neighbors experiencing homelessness
Neighbors experiencing homelessness – sheltered in hotels or elsewhere since the COVID-19 pandemic forced traditional shelters to transfer its full operations in order to protect health – can once again return to the Weinberg Housing and Resource Center. The relocation, required by the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services to reduce risk, involved the evaluation and [...]
Now literally anyone in the city can find help getting a job through Our Daily Bread Employment Center
Want help finding a meaningful job, but don’t think you qualify to get assistance from Catholic Charities? Think again. As of late February, any city resident looking for work—from any situation, education level, background, or income level—can find assistance at Our Daily Bread Employment Center. The center, located at 725 Fallsway, joins My Brother’s Keeper [...]
Computers help empower careers thanks to Comcast donation
Individuals who need work and computer literacy training will benefit from a gift Comcast has made to Catholic Charities.On February 23, Comcast donated 50 new laptops and $15,000 to Catholic Charities for its ongoing work of empowering careers. Neighbors will be able to use the computers as they build résumés, search for job opportunities, conduct [...]
How compassion can lead to a new career
The staggering need for medical care providers – including certified nursing assistants and geriatric nursing assistants – has led to a new Catholic Charities program aimed at helping individuals achieve their career goals while finding the assistants the medical community – and its patients – need. "Compassionate Caregivers is a program designed to train the [...]