Welcome our new Chief Financial Officer, Kris Palmatier!
We are thrilled to announce our new Chief Financial Officer, Kris Palmatier! Kris has joined the team at CSS, and brings with him nearly 20 years of cross-sector accounting and finance experience. Kris was born in Palmer, Alaska, grew up in Anchorage, and graduated from West Anchorage High School. He earned a Bachelor of Business…
Holiday blessings felt across our community
Thanks to our generous volunteers, donors, and hardworking staff, this holiday season was filled with extra joy! Our community showed their dedication this Christmas by giving an unprecedented number of volunteer hours, holiday gifts, and financial support to our neighbors this year. Keep reading to learn about a few of the holiday highlights from this…
Thank You and Happy New Year from Robin
In 2023, our Catholic Social Services community once again stepped up to meet an increased demand for services across the board, and I wanted to take the time to properly reflect on some of the successes you’ve made possible through your continued support of our services. Together, we have continued to build the foundation for…
Refugees in Anchorage shared stories of welcome during “Come from Away”
From November 29th through December 10th, Catholic Social Services was glad to partner with Alaska Center for the Performing Arts to share stories of welcome from refugees in Alaska, during the two-week performance of Broadway’s Come From Away. Focused on the arrival of 38 planes in the small community of Newfoundland on September 11, 2001,…
Brother Francis Shelter celebrates its 40th Anniversary
*Originally featured in the North Star Catholic On August 26th, Catholic Social Services was excited to celebrate Brother Francis Shelter’s 40th Anniversary with the community at the new 3rd Avenue Resource & Navigation Center. Many of our long-time supporters and friends joined in reminiscing on the early days of Brother Francis Shelter, Anchorage’s first emergency…
One man’s journey from Puerto Rico to Brother Francis Shelter
“These people, from the time I came here – they have opened doors for me, they are very nice with me.” – Daniel, commenting on his stay at Brother Francis Shelter. Daniel came to Alaska this spring, hauling a trailer, food service know-how, and plenty of hope. He had completed the last leg of a…
Health and Wellbeing Through Art
Sister Lucia believes the beauty of art is only half the reward; the other half is tending to the human spirit. By encouraging guests to pick up a pencil or brush and begin creating, Sister Lucia has initiated a healing journey for many of the guests at Brother Francis Shelter, Complex Care, and Clare House….
Providing Stability to new neighbors through family mentorship
Permanent stability is more than providing basic needs. A focus on long-term needs social and emotional wellbeing through programs like RAIS Family Mentorship provides clients the tools and resources to thrive in their new home. In FY22, RAIS helped to resettle 276 new arrivals – the majority of which arrived from Ukraine or Afghanistan. Thanks…
In the wake of the Sullivan Arena closure, our community needs empathy more than ever
Opinion article by Robin Dempsey, originally posted by Anchorage Daily News on May 2nd, 2023. Sullivan Arena has now closed its doors to most, and hundreds of our neighbors are now forced into an impossible situation, with nowhere to go. While the closure affects us all, let’s remember that for some, the stakes are much higher….
We’re moving!
Catholic Social Services is moving its main office to 4600 Debarr Road, effective late March and early April. With your help, Catholic Social Services has seen tremendous growth over the last few years in the services we’re able to provide to our neighbors in need and strengthen our community. To support this growth, we need…