Michell Mitchell has come a long way in one year. Last summer she freed herself and her children from a violent relationship, finding help at a family shelter. Shelter staff told her about Catholic Charities’ New Hope Apartments program. Last August, Mitchell began the application process, and by October was housed in a New Hope apartment in a northwest suburb. Now employed as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at a nursing home and taking classes at a local college to further her career, Mitchell credits New Hope with showing her a new way to live. “New Hope helped me gain the independence I have by giving me a place to live and showing me how to save money. I really appreciate that the most,” says Mitchell. 

Many other New Hope “success stories” joined Mitchell on June 29 at a Catholic Charities’ “Success Day” celebration held in the Englewood community. The event recognized achievements made by New Hope participants, from completing certification or degree programs to holding a job for six months or longer, to purchasing a home.

To the Editor:

At Catholic Charities, we are overwhelmed by requests from so many families because they are hungry, unemployed, or even living out of their cars. A destitute family of five came to Catholic Charities yesterday. Desperate for work, they drove to Chicago seeking temporary labor, and upon arrival found these “jobs” were empty promises. They had nothing, and their young children had not eaten anything substantial in two days. We fed them and found a shelter where they could spend the night and plan their next steps with a caseworker.

 Catholic Charities Board member John E. O'Neill secured a $1,500 grant from the MDRT Foundation to help Catholic Charities provide a healthy, drug-free, residential environment for mothers who are recovering from substance abuse in the agency's Forever Free program. 

  Lake County Single Parents to Celebrate Achievements in Education and Job Skills at June 6 Ceremony

Catholic Charities will recognize the educational and employment achievements of Dove and 83 other Lake County single parents at the annual "Achievement Celebration" to be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 6 at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Gurnee.  The ceremony honors participants in the Family Self-Sufficiency Program and Substance Abuse Free Environment (SAFE) Housing Program at Mary Pat Maddex Place.

Media are invited to send a reporter/photographer to cover this event.  The awards portion of the event will begin at 11:45 a.m. Interviews can be arranged upon request.  Please call Laura Kuever at (847) 782-4150 .

Catholic Charities Lake County Senior Services offers a full range of programs and hope for many in their golden years who need assistance. As a person ages, they are faced with many changes in their needs and they begin to look at what services are available in their community to help them remain independent and safe. Lake County Senior Services staff help seniors remain in their homes and communities as long as possible, said Marla Harris, Program Director. For more information, contact Catholic Charities at (847) 546-5733.