Denver Catholic

13 DENVER CATHOLIC | JUNE 9-22, 2018 Your gift helps support parish operations and funds nearly forty ministries Forming 60 future priests in our 2 seminaries Educating 9,000 Catholic school students 212,000 nights of shelter 732,000 meals served 3,000 Hispanic adult education students www.archden.org/givetoday • 303-867-0614 20 18 20 18 Colecta Anual Del Arzobispo 'A BLESSING FROM GOD' Samaritan House is a shelter run by Catholic Charities that provides a safe environment for people who are homeless. It o§ ers meals, shelter, secu- rity, case management and individual guidance to help those it serves get on a path to success. Samaritan House receives a per- centage of funding from the Archbish- op's Catholic Appeal, and the lives of families like Andrea's are transformed through its gifts. "The new start my family has been able to make here in Denver is a bless- ing from God — heavily due to the pro- gram we went through at the Samaritan House," said Andrea. The family that was once over- whelmed by the daunting challenges of life was suddenly overwhelmed by the goodness of mankind. "Love and compassion were avail- able and obvious throughout the entire facility," said Andrea. "The children and I always felt safe and protected." Andrea worked with a case man- ager who helped her reach short- and long-term goals related to employment, housing, healthcare and education. She was able to search for jobs, houses and other necessities because of the computers available inside Samaritan House's resource room. Andrea's kids loved the meals they shared and the activities they partic- ipated in — including hiking, swim- ming, sports camps, birthday parties and youth groups. "All of my three kids never once felt 'homeless' during our time at Samari- tan House," said Andrea. "In fact, they referred to the program as home …" Daily life in the program also required focus and discipline from the family, which Andrea says has helped them in their fresh start. "The required sobriety, savings goals, curfew and chores we had to do while in the program made it so much easier for me to establish a healthy structure and way of life in our current home," she said. RENEWED FAITH One of the greatest gifts Samaritan House granted Andrea and her family is a restored faith in God. "Most importantly, the greatness of faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that has been restored in my children and myself is much due to the faith- based care and guidance we received at the Samaritan House," Andrea said. The di§ erence the program made in the family's spiritual life is apparent. "We smile more, hold our heads higher, walk with more confi dence," she said. "The strength the children developed through last year's struggles resounds in their personalities, school- work and in their precious eyes when they commit to a goal. "A spiritual growth in the children is clear to me as well," she added. "They pray more, read the Bible more, ask questions about it all and seem to have an understanding that was previously lacking. I, too, have a zeal for the Lord that perhaps had been put on hold often in the past." Andrea and her family now have their own home. Her children fl ourish in sports, independence, interest in education and compassion for others. Andrea has hopes for getting a degree to be a music therapist and eventually starting her own nonprofi t devoted to serving the community and those in need through art and creativity. Andrea remains grateful and deeply inspired by those who served her family during a time of dire need. "I treasure and thank the Lord for my experience at the Samaritan House," she said. The Samaritan House provides a safe environment for people who are homeless. FILE PHOTO SUPPORT SAMARITAN HOUSE To donate to the Archbishop's Catholic Appeal, which helps fund Samaritan House, visit archden.org/givetoday.

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