Returning home from the hospital after battling breast cancer left Carolyn Milano deeply grateful, and reflective of others who don’t have a place to call home.  Shortly after a series of surgeries and treatments, Milano decided to join Team Samaritan House for a six-day bicycle tour to raise funds for individuals and ...

Katie Lynch has always dreamed of owning a boutique that gives back. Shopping was a family affair growing up, and she and her grandma bonded over fashion and great deals. But becoming a mom to three little boys changed the ease and fun of shopping trips. “It’s not really your ...

Charity Works: How did you get connected with the team? Adam Dawkins: My uncles, Tom Dea and Tim Dea, got me started with cycling and riding for Team Samaritan House. Spending time with them has been a great blessing for me. CW: What motivated you to join the team? Adam: ...

As this senior fought cancer and struggled with impaired eyesight, Catholic Charities was there to offer help. “I am not afraid of death, but I don’t want to die. Cancer sucks, but I’m a fighter. God does not make mistakes. I’m not broken. …(Catholic Charities) was able to offer all ...

When raising a child becomes costly, Gabriel House Project is there to help. Now in Fort Morgan, more mothers and families can access the material and emotional support they need. “We’re very pleased to open this new location to help serve those in need,” said Mimi Eckstein, director. “We don’t ...

Six-year-old Ellie brought a special delivery to the Samaritan House Women’s Shelter: 48 boxes of Girl Scout cookies. “Everybody loves cookies,” said Mike Sinnett, vice president of shelter and community, to Ellie and her family. “You’re going to be the reason someone smiles today.” Ellie, a Daisy in the Girl ...

“Look to the horizon,” said Captain James Zielinski (Captain Jim), as he coached Sabrina while sitting in the United Airlines Flight Simulator. That was the message sent to her and other young residents of Samaritan House shelter as they had the opportunity to soar to new places on March 4. ...

It’s been 45 years since the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. In that time, we’ve had a non-stop political and cultural battle, with tens of millions of lives lost and damaged. We need to recognize that this is also an economic battle. Look at analysis from the ...

Many 9-year-old kids look forward to a 10th birthday party with great anticipation, imagining the presents, cake and fun with friends. When Ava’s birthday was around the corner, she decided to do something different. Ava, from Fort Collins, wanted to donate her birthday gifts to needy children at the Catholic ...

28 Days of Love initiative provides cards, flowers for single women and women with children struggling with homelessness throughout February   Three local flower shops are donating red, pink and white carnations for Valentine’s Day and this month for single women and children who are struggling with homelessness. Women staying ...

Thank you for sharing your joy! Did you miss this year's event? We have you covered! Watch a recording of the rally and march on the Office of Respect Life's website. respectlifedenver.org/celebrate-life-march-2018 Plus read about the march as covered by news agencies. Stay up-to-date about the latest Respect Life events ...

Riders gear up to raise $1 million for homeless shelters   Team Samaritan House gained more pedal power this year. The charitable cycling team, which started with six riders in the 2011 Ride The Rockies tour, announced its expectation for 100 riders to join the team for the 2018 Ride ...

A new closet stocked with items for senior citizens in need recently opened to help improve their quality of life. St. Teresa Jornet’s Closet, named after the saintly Little Sisters of the Poor sister who dedicated her life to caring for the abandoned elderly, is open every Wednesday for adults ...

Substance-abuse program, expanded school counseling added to services Sacred Heart Counseling, formerly Regina Caeli Clinical Services, celebrated the opening of its new location in Englewood. Donors, supporters and staff attended the opening on October 25 at 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 415. Larry Smith, Catholic Charities President and CEO, addressed ...

This year, donors have access to more tax credits when giving to Catholic Charities, so helping those in need can be a doubly rewarding experience. The new Samaritan House Women’s Shelter, which opened in September, and Marisol Homes, which opened a new location, qualify for tax credits in addition to ...

Denisa’s first appointment at Marisol Health was not how she imagined it. As a nurse moved the ultrasound wand over her pregnant belly, she held a phone close to the sound of the baby’s beating heart. Listening on the other end was Denisa’s incarcerated fiancé. “The feds picked him up ...

More donations needed to help families and individuals facing homelessness   Right in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, Samaritan House shelter will receive a truckload of turkeys delivered from Utah to help feed the homeless—3,000 turkeys donated by the Mormon church on Friday morning. The load of frozen turkeys crossed ...

More than 150 guests, including local affordable housing leaders, stakeholders and government officials are expected to attend the grand opening event at the complex, marking Archdiocesan Housing Inc.’s completion of the large-scale project and collaboration with organizations to make it a reality. The project was brought to life by countless ...

The following story was posted by the Denver Catholic on Oct. 10, 2017. Gradual infiltration of ideas so as to shape culture without its members even realizing it: This is what one man in the 20th century set out to do — and at the time, he even did it ...

Cindy Brown calls Samaritan House her lifesaver. “If I kept going on the road I was on, I’d probably be gone,” she said in her Denver apartment. “So, they saved my life.” A previous drinking problem and losing her job and apartment made the phrase “hitting rock bottom” a reality. ...

More bottoms will be covered with Huggies diapers after healthcare services company Vizient donated 10,000 diapers to the Bottom Line Diaper Bank in Denver. The diaper bank, operated by Catholic Charities of Denver, provides some 350,000 diapers a year to low-income families for their infants and toddlers. Staff and a ...

This is a special story on the issue of women and homelessness in Denver, a growing problem in recent years. Samaritan House Women's Shelter is one of Denver's leading advocates for helping women out of homelessness. The housing market is booming. Bad neighborhoods are becoming gentrified, cranes tower over downtown, ...

Shelter’s art and music program helps residents find renewed self-worth More than a place for a hot meal and warm bed, Samaritan House shows residents the fine art of dignity. Shelter case manager Eric Johnston launched an art and music program two years ago to help reacquaint homeless residents with ...

Several months ago, an unexpected gift was brought to the Samaritan House shelter in Denver. Deby Schwartz saw a posting online for volunteers needed to help decorate the shelter for the holidays and quickly jumped at the opportunity. Deby, who is Jewish, got in to the giving spirit by dedicating ...

Sara Lugo is the Director of Marisol Health Denver East. Sara previously was the Intensive Case Management Supervisor of the GPD Veterans Program at Samaritan House, a position she has held since 2015 and where she has also worked as a client services case manager. In addition to her work ...

“I’m Tommy and I’m a cook at Samaritan House shelter. As sous chef (second in command), I oversee cooking dinner for 350 residents—plus I train residents in the new culinary program. I’m grateful to work here. I struggled before I came here. My wife was killed by a drunk driver ...

Richard Hall was ill last year and wary about going to rehabilitation. That’s when Catholic Charities came in and helped the 90-year-old man connect with services to help him improve his health and live independently. “We want to keep him independent for as long as possible,” said Roberta Trujillo, his ...

After 22 years of working in higher education, Karl Hotz decided to give his time back to the Church. “My whole reason for retiring is I wanted to serve God and my Church,” said Hotz, 62. Giving back meant being hands on and helping others in need. Hotz, a parishioner ...

There was a time when Million didn’t want to live. At 26 years old, the Ethiopian native’s life drastically changed after a 10-year fight with a deadly virus led to a rare disease of the brain, stripping him of the ability to walk and talk. “Even the doctors didn’t know ...

Katie Abboud and her friends will dress up and run in the Bolder Boulder 10k on Memorial Day to share a special message: regular physical activity plays a part in women’s health. Jen Boryla This year the group of seven seasoned runners will sport teal tutus and yellow sunglasses to ...

Amy Eurek packed her bags in her hometown of St. Paul, Minn., and headed to work for Samaritan House shelter in Denver. She felt inspired by Catholic Charities’ mission to serve the whole person and its active pursuit of its Catholic identity. After several years of working for Catholic Charities, ...

  About 10 months ago Zeresh enrolled her daughter into Catholic Charities’ Early Childhood Education center at Mariposa. The progress she’s seen has been amazing, she said. Her daughter made great strides in language and socialization skills. Zeresh, who lives within walking distance of the center in Denver, shared her ...

Jerry Fitzgerald calls volunteering the sure way to grow in appreciation for life. “To see the struggles and, at times, the desperation and lack of hope in other people—you try to have a positive impact on them,” Jerry said. “It can’t help but improve your appreciation of your own life ...

As massive demonstrations and protests against severe military rule in Burma caused more unrest, Nandar and her husband fled. A government crackdown had Burmese living in fear after some 200 people were killed and many more arrested. “My husband went to the demonstrations and they (shot) the people participating in ...

We often talk about offering time, talent and treasure, with a focus on the treasure, such as donating to Catholic Charities. But what do time and talent really mean? Here are some ideas to consider. Get involved in your parishes, in your church, in local politics. Stand up, defend life ...

Regina Caeli launches substance abuse program Every day people can walk away from addiction, and Mark Sanders is there to help them take the first step. “Many people struggle with addiction, and a lot have a hard time getting away from it, but the reality is that people stop every ...

Some of the smallest teams in Denver have the biggest dreams of putting works of mercy into action. They call themselves Mercy in Action Teams, a group of nine cause-driven teams recently launched by Catholic Charities to encourage people with shared passions to create positive change. Amanda Perrault, a stay-at-home ...

Retired construction manager offers talents to oversee a new Marisol Home operation For Paul Camp, volunteering to renovate a new Marisol Home fit like a glove. His 30-some year career in construction and project management for the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service made him the right ...

Thousands joined for a celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and all things green, including the Samaritan House shelter, which proudly walked in the parade held in downtown Denver. “Being a part of the parade was an incredible honor for us as we are a part of the downtown community,” said ...

Catholic Charities staff and ministry partners testified before state legislators at the Capitol last week, urging protection of women’s health and awareness of abortion pill reversal services. Jenny Langness, program director for Marisol Health, and Dede Chism, executive director and nurse practitioner at Bella Natural Women’s Care in Englewood, both ...

The following story was published by Catholic News Agency on Feb. 9, 2017 online. CLick here to see the story. Denver, Colo., Feb 9, 2017 / 12:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Women's healthcare is reaching a new dawn in the state of Colorado, courtesy of a new Catholic Charities initiative whose ...

After nearly a decade at Catholic Charities, Vice President of Shelters Geoff Bennett has taken on new responsiblilities. He now also oversees the Respect Life Office. In this interview with Charity Works, he talks about the thread that combines these ministries – treating each person served as a child of ...

For women journeying through homelessness, Marisol Homes is the last stop before achieving independence. In a competitive and expensive housing market, women in Colorado often hop from shelter to shelter, lacking the long-term stability needed to find independent housing. But with Marisol Homes’ indefinite-stay program and its new location in ...

Samaritan House is celebrating 28 Days of Love this February. And what better way to show love than through the kindness and support of those less fortunate—especially the growing number of homeless women in the community. According to the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative’s 2016 Point-in-Time survey, over 5,467 homeless men, ...

Our vision of Catholic Charities is to provide a continuum of care that eliminates the need for abortion—due to homelessness or lack of family support or lack of medical care. In 2016, we converted our pregnancy resource centers into medical centers and renamed them Marisol Health. We acquired two maternity ...

For more than 100 years, the fruits of the Vettel family’s farm in North Dakota supplied grain across the country. This year, Sherri and Tim Vettel sold their family’s 1,000 acres and gave a portion of the sale to benefit Samaritan House. “I just hope and pray that it affects ...

  Pregnant mom finds support, caring environment at Denver medical clinic Joselyn was shocked—she was pregnant … again. “I didn’t want to be pregnant. I was actually shocked that I got pregnant again,” said the 21-year-old El Salvador-native. “I just couldn’t do it. I was so alone, and I had ...

Since Marisol Health first opened under Catholic Charities, volunteer Jill Heringer has been the gentle voice and welcoming smile to women walking through the doors. “That’s my role as a volunteer—to be that gentle voice that helps them through,” said Jill, a parishioner at St. Mary Church in Littleton. Her ...

Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock stood before the crowd at the Beacon of Hope Gala to thank them for their presence and their compassion toward those in need. “Our job, as Christ commanded us, is to care for his sheep,” Mayor Hancock said Jan. 28 at the Wings Over the ...

It was a little before a cowboy barreled out of a chute, riding a bucking bronco, when Father Randy Dollins led a prayer Wednesday night with a stadium of onlookers. Before a hushed audience, he prayed for the nation and thanked God for the gift of animals at the beginning of ...

On the Dan Caplis Show on Jan. 12, 2017, Larry Smith, president and CEO of Catholic Charities of Denver, talked about Marisol and Catholic Charities' unique continuum of care model that will end the need for abortion in Colorado. Listen

Grab your boots and a big heart for a good cause during Catholic Charities night at the rodeo Jan. 18. The National Western Stock Show and Rodeo partnered with Catholic Charities of Denver to offer a night of faith and fun to support services for the poor and needy in ...

Welcome Saint Teresa Prayer Society Members.  Join us as we begin our prayer journey.  This month, we invite you to reflect and pray about respect for life and sharing the love, mercy and compassion of Jesus Christ with others. Together, we can lift-up the lives of each person we meet ...

Thirty years after Samaritan House made history as the first shelter in America built and designed for the homeless, a group of Catholic Charities donors and staff commemorated its years of mercy to the poor. Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila of the Archdiocese of Denver celebrated Mass and rededicated the building ...

Thousands are expected to gather outside the state Capitol in downtown Denver for the annual Celebrate Life rally and march on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017. The pro-life rally and march has grown every year to include joyful youth, clergy and families who publicly proclaim the sanctity of life from conception ...

Charity Works interviewed Dr. Linda Montagna, the executive director of Sacred Heart Counseling (formerly Regina Caeli Clinical Services), about its work to serve the community and its expansion this year to address more needs.   Charity Works: Some readers may be unfamiliar with Sacred Heart Counseling. Tell us more about ...

When Jennifer walked toward the doors of Samaritan House with her two young girls, she started crying. “I just didn’t want to be there. It’s not where I wanted my girls. I felt like the worst mom,” she said. Jennifer’s two daughters sit outside Samaritan House shelter with their belongings. ...

Catholic Charities transforms clinics to provide women comprehensive services Catholic Charities opened newly remodeled medical clinics called Marisol Health to provide life-affirming and compassionate care for women and their families. The clinic locations in Denver and Lafayette were recently transformed to increase capacity and meet more women’s physical, material, emotional ...