Investing in homeless services makes sense
Author: Gary FergusonOpinion: Michael FredericksPublished May 3 by the Anchorage Daily News Homelessness is a shared problem in our communities across the state of Alaska. Together, we need to support and expand on solutions that work, to invest in the future of our state.
Making a difference on homelessness begins with how we see people
Driving through Anchorage it’s possible not to see people. Not all people, of course — we’d still see our siblings or our neighbors. But through practice and repetition, we’ve attained a lamentable talent of clouding our vision. It acts as a buffer to our conscience: We see not a person, but a category: “the homeless.”
50 Acts of Kindness
Today Angela and her friend Clo came by Brother Francis Shelter. They were delivering 56 neck gators. Angela had started making neck gators for her parents, but she wasn’t able to finish before her father passed away. The material sat there until her birthday this year. To celebrate, Angela decided to do 50 acts of…
Be Positive, Think Positively
Terry works at Catholic Social Services for Homeless Family Services. She is a caseworker who oversees people receiving assistance due to chronic homelessness associated with a documented disability. She met Debbie almost 12 years ago at one of our partnering agencies. At that time, Terry helped Debbie move off the streets, into her first home, and stay there. Back…
The Future Is in Your Hands
A client of Refugee Assistance & Immigration Services made a special trip to the Welcome Center to talk about her role as a Peer Leader Navigator within the Anchorage refugee community. Marie Claire sat down and pulled out a couple binders, placing them on a desk in front of her. She is a nurse from Rwanda…
Surge of Happiness
Back in November, the Development staff sat around a conference table, going over the logistics of holiday volunteering and in-kind giving. Clara, our Community Engagement Manager, had been overseeing the collection of food for families so they could make Thanksgiving dinner. She announced she had a confession. A man had called her earlier in the…
Pets Can Be Food Insecure Too
Chris met Kari at the backdoors of the St. Francis House Food Pantry warehouse to unload more than 20 bags of pet food, most of which were 30 pounds each. Chris is the Program Director for our Food Pantry, and Kari is the owner of Dog Tired Doggie Daycare. “We met our 2018 goal!” she cheered….
Teaming Up for Below 10
Two weekends ago, Lisa, our Executive Director, was home on a Saturday night when she got a call from the Executive Director at Bean’s Cafe. Since December 20, it had been running an emergency cold weather shelter, thanks to funding from the Municipality of Anchorage, as back-up to Brother Francis Shelter until April 30. With temperatures in the…
What Do We Do with 675 Pounds of Broccoli?
Standing in the hallway outside of St. Francis House Food Pantry, one of the program assistants, Logan, talked with three employees from Bean’s Cafe – Josh, Justina, and Scott. They had come here to do a tour of our food pantry and warehouse. “We’re not going to turn anyone away if they need food,” Logan…
2019 Pick.Click.Give.
When you give a donation from your Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) through Pick.Click.Give., you are helping to create a stronger state for all Alaskans. Your donation to Catholic Social Services’ seven programs allows us to reach and support even more Alaskans who are in-need. Will you be a part of what makes Alaska great and…