SUMMER 2016VOICES of

A Home for Healing and Hope

23Number of youth the

Catholic CharitiesDepartment of Community

Resources (DCR) staffprovided in-home

after-care services*

197Provided residentialcare and treatmentto 197 Marylandchildren in crisis

70 Number of residentialfamilies that participatedin parent support group

of the children were able toreturn to families in the

community following treatment

84%

Fall 2017

HBOMA Baltimore Day of Service

For more information, please visit cc-md.org/svv

The data provided isfor fiscal year 2017.

* 2016 figure

Volunteers worked wonders as part ofthe Building Owners and ManagersAssociation’s (BOMA) Baltimore Dayof Service. The skilled team ofvolunteers partnered with St. Vincent’sVilla’s Environmental Services to weedand mulch playgrounds and courtyards,wash vehicles and windows, install bikeracks, and assemble a basketball hoop.

The Day of Service was organized byMalia Chapman, and sponsored byChapel Valley Landscape Company,BrightView, Mona Electric Group,Multicorp Commercial CleaningSystems, Infinity Environmental Inc.,Team Cam Construction and USSI.The results were spectacular!

Lord,I need help

forgiving thosewho have hurt me

For my mom tostop drugs

Dear God,will you help me have

good dreams and help menot to worry and watchover me and my family?

Love and amen.

From the Prayer BoxA prayer box sits in the St. Vincent’s Villa Chapel. Here, the children place their prayers, which oftenreflect their hopes of returning home, their concerns for their family or staff members they havegrown to love, their love of Godand their desire to makemeaningful changes in their lives.We are sharing their prayers withyou.

For my mom tohave forgiveness

towards me

For my family whohas abandoned me,

I pray they aredoing alright

For my mom anddad who died, andfor a better world

Dear God,I want to be good

and not cutmyself

Dear God,I want you to helpme with my high

cholesterol

I want to thankGod for the roof overmy head, clothes onmy back, and food

on my table

I pray forhomelesspeople

Letters From Former Children in Care

Hope mypet hamster Martin isok and stops losing hishair. I hope to go homesoon. I hope my lifewould get better.

For someone tolove me

Please give mestrength to keepfighting my way

through my troubles

Pray for aparticular staff toget a long vacation’cause she couldreally use one

Staff, read this aloud to the unit:I miss you Mercy, I will never forget youguys and what you taught me. You guys arethe best. All of you help me in differentways even the children. You gave me manychances, and talks, and fist pounds, andhugs. It was fun going to trips with youguys like the Ravens game and snowballs. Ihad fun sledding, playing basketball, soccer,skip bo, legos, bey blades, cards, and havingnerd talks. It was a nice time with you all.Bless Mercy kids and staff, never forget me.And the people I want to thank most areSteven, Caitlyn, Ms. Mellissa, Ms. Patrice,and Mr. Devin!Love, Jeremy

Dear Staff of Ambrose,

I learned a lot while I was at St. Vincent’s Villa.

I learned that things are not always going to

go your way. I also learned how to be patient

and respectful. I do not always have to have

a lot of attention. I also learned to use my

coping skills. I learned how to express my

feelings in groups with my statements. I also

learned how to say no to bad things and how

to use no. I learned how to ignore negative

behaviors. I learned how to be patient with

my peers. I have two words for you – thank

you! I miss you a lot.

From,Alice

Villa Maria School EnhancesLanguage Skills with Hip Hop Artist

Villa Maria students participated in an innovativeweek-long language workshop led by Hip Hopartist, Jamaal "Mr. Root" Collier, of Young Audiences,the nation's largest arts education network.

Through rapping, vocal percussion, and dynamicstage presence, Mr. Roots helps students gain abetter understanding of Hip Hop culture whilemaking seamless connections with current coursematerial. Students learned, listened, and rapped

rhyming couplets and non-traditional quatrains during theworkshop.

Young Audiences began inBaltimore in 1950. It's a nonprofitorganization devoted to enrichingthe lives and education ofMaryland's youth througheducational and culturally-diversearts programs. They partner withprofessional artists from alldisciplines and with schoolsthroughout Maryland for hands-onarts learning experiences.

Wish ListVolunteer SpotlightLuna Visits the Ambrose UnitVolunteer guest Erin Tschantret (c) recentlybrought her pet pig, Luna, to visit with theAmbrose Unit during their “Sassy Cats Club”meeting. Volunteer leaders, Melissa Parker (l) andJoAnne Cianfichi (r) coordinate the clubthroughout the school year, using theirconnections to introduce the Ambrose girls tospecial folks and resources in the local community.

Your Legacy,Their FutureInclude Catholic Charities in your willwhen you establish your legacy. Togive to Catholic Charities orSt. Vincent’s Villa, contact the office ofplanned giving, at 667-600-2026, orplannedgiving@cc-md.org. The staffwill assist you with specific languageto ensure that your gift (a general,specific, residual or contingentbequest) supports the program thatmatches your interest.

If you would like to donate an item, please contact thevolunteer services manager at volunteercfs@cc-md.org. Weare only able to accept donations of NEW toys and clothing.Please keep in mind that a majority of the children we serveare over age 10, so toys for preteens and clothing in adultsizes are most useful.

Cash donations can be made online at cc-md.org/give-svv

Deck the Halls Family Volunteer EventEach year, the community gets together to turn the gymnasium into a winterwonderland, and we need all the help we can get decorating Christmas trees,hanging garland, and positioning giant teddy bears. Together, we make the children’sChristmas extra special. Sign up to help by emailing volunteercfs@cc-md.org.

� Pre-Decking the Halls: Raise the Trees, Friday, December 1To get a jump start on the project, we meet the evening before Deck the Hallsto put together 100+ trees so that they are ready for the morning.

� Deck the Halls, Saturday, December 2Over the course of the day, we decorate the trees and the gym while listeningto Christmas music and enjoying light refreshments. Stay as long as you like!

� Un-Deck the Halls, December 30What goes up must come down. Help us pack everything away (we promise it’sa lot quicker!), and we’ll provide the Christmas cookies.

Individually-wrappedincentive toys (Matchboxcars, Bey Blades, Pokemonand football trading cards,sticker sheets, Legos –small, medium, and largesets, Baby Alive)

Sporting goods (footballgloves, basketballs, jumpropes, bike helmets)

Card games (Uno, Phase10, Skip-Bo, playing cards)

Writing journals suitablefor children (notnotebooks)

Therapy games and books(We have a list of types ofgames and titles of books;please contact us.)

Gift cards for children’sclothing needs (Kohl’s, OldNavy, Walmart, Target)

Gift cards for children’sactivities (AMF Bowling,Regal Cinema, Sky Zone,Red Zone, Go Kart Track(Pulaski Hwy), Skateland,Baltimore Tourist Attractionplaces (zoo, science center,Port Discovery, etc.)

Gift cards for off-grounddining (Applebee’s, IHOP,Subway, McDonald’s, ChuckE Cheese, Burger King,Chick Fil-A, Pizza Hut,Golden Corral, ColdstoneCreamery)

Thanks to our generoussupporters we are wellstocked with hats, gloves,scarves and Barbie dolls.

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDBaltimore, MD.

Permit No 5595

Catholic Charities | 320 Cathedral Street | Baltimore, MD 21201www.cc-md.org

Inspired by the Gospel mandates to love, serve and teach, Catholic Charitiesprovides care and services to improve the lives of Marylanders in need.

THESeasonWonderOF