Working together to serve the homeless
Lisa DH Aquino | August 2021 | The North Star Catholic This month we find ourselves focusing on our children and young families as schools reopen for the fall. Back to school is often full of excitement, joy, and sometimes worry. Many parents purchase school supplies, read to their children, practice ABCs, and much more…
Thanks to you, our second year of Grow Local, Give Local was even more successful than the first!
During that first year of Grow Local, Give Local, you stepped up and gave more than $5,000 to purchase produce from refugee farmers to be donated to St. Francis House Food Pantry. Throughout the summer, you provided income for refugees and healthy, locally grown vegetables for families in need. We were so impressed by your…
As a Health Care Navigator, Ben helps fellow Veterans access care and achieve justice
This year, Catholic Social Services has been excited to staff a brand-new position: Health Care Navigator (HCN) for Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF). HCNs are trained to work with Veterans on a variety of issues to assist them. Health Care Navigator, Ben, is a combat Veteran who has navigated the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare…
CSS programs help refugees flourish with community support
Lisa DH Aquino | June 2021 | The North Star Catholic June 20th is World Refugee Day, a day celebrated internationally to honor refugees worldwide – those who have fled war, violence, conflict, or persecution, and have crossed an international border to find safety in another country. We spend this time celebrating the strength of…
Our volunteer teachers help refugees start their new lives and prepare for the future
When a refugee first arrives in Alaska, their travels may be over, but they still have a hard journey ahead of them. Over the next several years, they will go through the resettlement process—adjusting to the culture and the cold environment, learning language and job skills, applying for citizenship, and figuring out what their new…
Arriving in Alaska: A RAIS Friendship Story
Arriving in Alaska as a Somali refugee by way of Egypt comes with some expected shocks…namely, the weather. When Mahdi Akal was resettled in Anchorage with support from Refugee Assistance and Immigration Services (RAIS), both he and RAIS Director Issa Spatrisano would be pleasantly surprised to find a new friendship as well—and it all started…
Anchorage leaders combine their efforts in the Healthcare and Homelessness Partnership
Homelessness is a public health issue. That’s why in April 2017 we formed the Healthcare and Homelessness Partnership, a collaboration between Catholic Social Services dedicated partners: Providence Health & Services Alaska , Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Alaska Regional Hospital, Southcentral Foundation , Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center, and the Municipality of Anchorage With funding and…
Your gift helps veterans like Kamal find justice, support, and stability
Kamal grew up in a tough neighborhood in Harlem and joined the Army when he was only 17, serving in the Vietnam War as a paratrooper. Although Kamal lived and worked all over the country, his military service left him with several chronic injuries—paratroopers often sustain long-term injuries to their feet, knees, and backs. Large…
CSS Lenten food drive a success
Lisa DH Aquino | April 2021 | The North Star Catholic “The food is falling off the shelves.” You can imagine my delight and gratitude when our AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America), Katie Gordon, told me how crowded the shelves at St. Francis House Food Pantry were this week because we had so…
Direct Care Providers Like Nathan Provide Help and Hope
Today we are highlighting one of our incredible Direct Care Providers at Family Disability Services: Nathan! Nathan works with Henry, his 16-year-old client and “buddy.” Henry was born with an undiagnosed seizure disorder that caused some early damage to his brain, which makes it hard for him to organize and retain information. Henry also struggles…