It’s time for Maryland to pass the Trust Act in support of immigrants
By William J. McCarthy Jr. Executive Director This piece originally ran in the Catholic Review. Last week, during a return flight from Baghdad, Pope Francis hosted an in-flight press conference where he charged us all to receive immigrants, accompany them, help them progress and integrate them. "The integration of immigrants is key," the pope said. [...]
Five years into Catholic Charities Safe Streets programs, an unwavering commitment
On a recent Friday morning, Corey Winfield was on his way to pick up donated diapers. It's just another way the director of Catholic Charities' Safe Streets program in Brooklyn-Curtis Bay is trying to disrupt violence and save lives. Why diapers when Safe Streets is aimed at stopping the shooting on Baltimore streets? "You have [...]
A troubled child learns to breathe
Jonaya admits there was a time she allowed her temper to determine her actions. But she’s learned so much now. "If I find myself getting mad or upset, I now know to walk away and go to my bedroom to sit alone and breathe through the moment," said the 14-year-old. That small tactic has made [...]
Telehealth has been “a godsend” to clients during the pandemic. Will it continue?
Kelli A., a client at Catholic Charities' Villa Maria Behavioral Health Clinic in Frederick, calls telehealth "a godsend." When COVID-19 struck, she didn’t want to leave her house, but worried about missing appointments with her therapist and doctor. "I have anxiety about going out," Kelli said. "It's due to PTSD. It would take a lot [...]
Back on track, after finding “a light”
Sometimes life comes at you fast and things can quickly spiral out of control. That's how Jan Little describes the latest chapter in her life. As the country rang in the New Year, Jan found herself without a job, home, or car. "I knew I could turn to Sarah's House for help to get my [...]
COVID-19 vaccines and the impact of historic race-based experiments
This story was originally posted in February 2021. Some edits have been made to reflect updated information. Janel Smith, BSN, RN, knew the idea of vaccination from COVID-19 was going to be challenging in the Black community. “My mind couldn’t help but reflect on the Tuskegee experiment with the infamous syphilis study,” she told a [...]
Volunteer service at Anna’s House helped this Scout soar
Eagle Scout service projects are supposed to be challenging, testing a Scout's determination and leadership. But Tyler Kendrick's project at Anna's House was particularly tough – a year-and-a-half journey that required adaptations for a global pandemic and special permissions from a Boy Scout council. Kendrick had volunteered at Anna's House in the past, babysitting children [...]
A tremendous talent who just needed an opportunity
Derek Tucker had always been good at cars – a skill he learned at an early age. But it wasn't until he got out of jail that he started thinking about his talent as a career option. "The older guys told me I had a lot of potential," he said, remembering how he first learned [...]
Homecoming, a little at a time, for the Esperanza Center
Two and a half years after a nearby fire rendered it uninhabitable, Catholic Charities' Esperanza Center is moving back home. "It's been a long time in the making," said Matt Dolamore, Esperanza Center program director. "We are grateful for our neighbors at the Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response. Thanks to CEPAR [...]