Christmas Charity

To our readers

The descriptions of charities, their missions and recipients were provided by each of the agencies, which are responsible for the accuracy of the content. — The Catholic Spirit

ProLife Across America

PO Box 18669
Minneapolis, MN  55418

Phone: 1-800-366-7773
Website: www.prolifeacrossamerica.org

How has someone been helped by your organization this past year?
Over the years, ProLife Across America has heard from many women and men who shared their testimonials about how one of our billboards saved a baby’s life. Some of those statements  include: “I thought you should know about a young woman who changed her mind and walked out of an abortion facility. She was traveling from northern Minnesota to St. Paul for an abortion appointment. Her father confided, ‘Seeing those billboards along the way tore us up inside.’” Also: “I used to be pro-choice until I saw your billboard. I didn’t know a baby had a heartbeat as early as 24 days. I’ll never say I’m pro-choice again.”

Our overall mission is: to reach out through billboard, TV, radio and newspaper ads to people who may not be reached in any other way. Our ads create an “atmosphere of life” in a “culture of death.” ProLife Across America is an educational non-profit that is non-political and committed to bringing positive, persuasive messages offering alternatives — including adoption and post abortion assistance — to those in need.

The best Christmas gift readers could provide our organization is: financial support.

Cerenity Senior Care

200 Earl St.
St. Paul, MN 55106

Phone: (651) 793-2110
Website: www.CerenitySeniorCare.org

How has someone been helped by your organization this past year?
We asked some of our residents and their families to share their experiences. This is what they said: “I have lived in an apartment at Marian Center for three years. I am very pleased. I have a nice apartment, and the staff is very helpful. When I need something fixed or done, they come right away.”  — Mary

“The nursing assistants that help us are like our children.” — Elaine

“The staff here at Marian is like a second family for my father. We never hear, ‘No, that can’t be done,’ or ‘That just isn’t possible here.’  We always hear, ‘We will make that happen for you.’ They accommodate his and our every need.” — Kathy

“We were very lucky to have dad at DayAway. It was a comfort to me that you were always kind to him. You always included him and he was happy.” — Kathy

Our overall mission is: to nurture the physical and spiritual needs of our residents.

Center for Mission

328 West Kellogg Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55102

Phone: (651) 222-6556
E-mail: missions@archspm.org
Website: www.centerformission.org

How has someone been helped by your organization this past year?
Annastancia, a parishioner at St. Alphonsus in Brooklyn Center, felt called by God to share her faith by returning to her birth place of Gweru, Zimbabwe. She came to the Center for Mission for guidance and support. Through her own efforts and assistance from the Center for Mission, Annastancia organized a drive to collect clothing, liturgical supplies and religious books, and delivered them last fall. The local church in Gweru, ignited with enthusiasm and hope, organized an outreach of prayer, community and evangelization to witness to faith in their area. Annastancia formed bridges of sharing faith and resources from this archdiocese to her parish in Zimbabwe.

Our overall mission is: to transform the lives of the people and parishes of our archdiocese and the lives of our brothers and sisters in global mission churches through the sharing of faith, culture and resources facilitated through local missionary efforts including education, mission partnerships, immersion trips and by encouraging missionary vocations.

The best Christmas gift readers could provide our organization is: to help support our efforts at bridging people and parishes of our archdiocese with the global mission of Jesus.

Saint Therese Foundation

8000 Bass Lake Road
New Hope, MN  55428

Phone: (763) 531-5459
E-mail: johnl@sttheresemn.org
Website: www.sttheresemn.org

How has someone been helped by your organization this past year?
Saint Therese serves seniors of all financial backgrounds. In fact, over 60 percent of individuals currently receiving services in the Saint Therese of New Hope Care Center are on financial assistance. Charitable gifts to Saint Therese help fill the gap left after government funding drops off, raising critical dollars for pastoral care, daily Mass, weekly ecumenical services, beautiful landscaping, gardens and so much more.

Our overall mission is: to serve seniors of all faiths and focus on the well-being of each individual. We look forward to the opportunity to better serve those with chronic or terminal illness at our newest community in Shoreview — Saint Therese at St. Odilia. It is a place where individuals can receive 24-hour nursing care in a beautiful residential house on the St. Odilia campus.

The best Christmas gift readers could provide our organization is: with donations of lap blankets for the individuals with chronic or terminal illness living at Saint Therese at St. Odilia.

Sharing and Caring Hands

525 N. Seventh St.
Minneapolis, MN 55405

Phone: (612) 338-4640
E-mail: info@sharingandcaringhands.org
Website: www.sharingandcaringhands.org

How has someone been helped by your organization this past year?
We see many heart-wrenching situations while working with people in need. For example, there was a homeless woman who had four children and was dying from breast cancer.

Her mother took the three boys, but she kept the little girl named Petra with her.

The staff and the sisters helped her while she was here, and she could not thank us enough. She stayed with us about one year until she died here. She was grateful to the end for our help, and we are grateful to all of you who make that help possible.

Our overall mission is: to provide a compassionate response to the needs of the poor. This includes providing meals, clothing, showers, shelter, transportation, rental help, medical assistance, dental care, glasses, beds, school expenses and other miscellaneous needs.

Mary’s Place, our transitional shelter (named in honor of the Blessed Mother), houses 92 families to help them get back on their feet after losing their housing. Currently, we are housing over 340 children and more than 120 adults. Sharing and Caring Hands provides these services with dignity, while affirming God’s love for all of his people regardless of their circumstances.

Sharing and Caring Hands, founded in 1985, exists as a vehicle for you to make a difference in the lives of others by your financial support, volunteer time, and donations of food, clothes and hygiene and household goods.

The best Christmas gift readers could provide our organization is: increased donations to help us handle the ever increasing number of people in need in this tough economic time.

Cradle of Hope

1935 W. County Rd. B2, #241
Roseville, MN  55113

Phone: (651) 636-0637
E-mail: cradleofhope@cradleofhope.org
Website: www.cradleofhope.org

How has someone been helped by your organization this past year?
In a recent Wilder survey of women assisted, more than 90 percent of respondents indicated that Cradle of Hope’s assistance helped them to relieve stress, feel more hopeful about the future and feel more supported in their pregnancy. Here are some of their comments:

“I was saving money for the new baby . . . and missed work due to complications. There’s no support from the father of the baby; he left. I can still cry when I think of how helpful Cradle of Hope was at that time.”

“It just relieved a lot of stress. I was on the fence about having my son, which I am so sad to say. Now, I am glad I had him. He is the light of my life.”

“Lifesaver. The thought of losing my home was crushing, especially when I didn’t expect it. It was a pick-me-up when someone helped me; it helped emotionally.”

Our overall mission is: to encourage life by providing financial aid to women and babies in crisis, especially those women who might not choose life because of economic pressures.

This quote from Mother Teresa is relevant at this time of year: “It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you.”

Christmas — the coldest time of year in Minnesota — is a time of great need for pregnant women who come to Cradle of Hope for help. Shelter is a primary concern during these weeks, as mothers seek suitable housing for themselves and their babies. Whether the need is rent, cribs or other maternity-related expenses, Cradle of Hope steps in when other sources of funding are unavailable.

The best Christmas gift readers could provide our organization is: support of our financial assistance program. To donate visit our website or send your gift to Cradle of Hope at the address above.