the Volunteer Office
Dear Valued Volunteers and Community Members,
Your selfless contributions of time, compassion and love make an incredible impact. As we celebrate National Volunteer Month this April, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our dedicated volunteers and interns who serve alongside us in uplifting our neighbors in need. Thank you for being a vital part of our mission to strengthen families, support individuals, and create a community of hope.
At the heart of all our volunteer opportunities is a person-centered approach. While many of our volunteers may start with a specific task in mind, it's important to remember that the true impact goes far beyond the task itself. The real difference you make is in the relationships you build and the moments of connection you create.
By being present, offering your time, and showing someone that they are cared for, you are making a profound difference. Whether you're sharing a silent moment completing a puzzle together at the Adult Day Center, helping your learner master a single new English word, organizing only a fraction of the kitchen with your hoarding client, or enjoying a simple game of Jenga together at our Adoption Support Group, these seemingly small moments add up to something truly significant.
These moments show that someone in their community cares, listens, and responds to their needs — often in ways they may not experience beyond your visit. Your kindness and dedication have an immeasurable impact.
Thank you, volunteers, for all that you do. Your presence and care are invaluable.
Sincerely, Catholic Charities' Volunteer Office
What's Inside this Special Edition Volunteer Newsletter:
- Celebrating Volunteer Anniversaries!
- Volunteer Impact on our Programs this Year
- Messages of Gratitude from our Program Staff
- Volunteer Spotlight Story — Malysha
- Inspiring Stories
- Photo Gallery
In 2024, Catholic Charities 320 volunteers contributed a total of 12,677 Volunteer Hours to support our mission!
Thank you for sharing your time!
Volunteer Anniversaries during the First Quarter!
1 Year
- Liz (Spanish Translations Volunteer)
- Helen M. (English at Home and Citizenship Tutor)
- Kathy (Adult Day Center Companion)
- Joyce (English at Home Tutor)
- John (JVC Legal Volunteer)
- Elsa (Spanish Translations Volunteer)
- Lucy R. (Spanish Translations Volunteer)
- Barry (English at Home Tutor)
- Lucy N. (English at Home Tutor)
- Nancy K. (Swahili Translations Volunteer)
2 Years
- Patty (English at Home Tutor)
- Wendy (English at Home Tutor)
3 Years
- Kerstin (Citizenship Tutor)
- Kim (English at Home and Citizenship Tutor)
- Maisoun (Arabic Translations Volunteer)
4 Years
- Judith (English at Home Tutor)
5 Years
- Alane (Citizenship Tutor)
6 Years
- Paul L. (Pro Bono Attorney)
11 Years
- Marty (RIS Special Projects Volunteer)
Shout out to Mary! 🎉 You truly went above and beyond to help your learner get signed up for free monthly food box! Your dedication and effort make all the difference!
Volunteer Impact for Neighbors
From January to March, 212 volunteers and interns contributed 4,037 hours making a BIG impact on our mission to serve neighbors in need.
The Impact on Our Programs:
Refugee and Immigration Services Volunteer Impact
- There are 27 citizenship learners being served and 65 English language learners being served.
- 2 learners during February became new citizens of the United States!
- Our YouTube channel has 23.9K subscribers, 949 total videos, and 519,467 views thanks to our translations volunteers who help make this possible.
- Just in March our YouTube channel gained 30 new videos (in 10 different languages) with 28.2K views, and 384 new subscribers!
- 90 women are being engaged through Catholic Charities Rohingya Women's WhatsApp Group.
- Our team member, Zetho, helped 11 learners find employment!
- Over $2 million dollars' worth of solar panel loans were forgiven amid the recent a solar panel scam affecting the Rohingya community.
Adult Day Center Volunteer Impact
- 22 older adults/adults with disabilities are impacted by our volunteers.
- Two new members felt encouraged this year by a volunteer to participate in a baking activity.
- Linda and Donna have been introduced to a new card game from volunteers and have made new friends!
Hoarding Support Volunteer Impact
- Three clients are receiving additional support from our volunteers.
- Volunteers helped wash dishes, move furniture away from the heater for the client's safety, helped organize small items, and cleared space in the living room, removing fall hazards.
- All clients report that they greatly look forward to their visits with volunteers and feel safe and respected to receive support for them.
Adoption Support Groups
- Four volunteers, three of whom were new to Catholic Charities, helped create a fun and supportive environment for 12 children while their parents attended our Adoption Support Group during March. With our volunteer support, families were able to gain valuable information on navigating the adoption process and fostering a sense of community with each other.
Messages of Gratitude from our Program Staff
Adult Day Center
A message of gratitude from Annette, Adult Day Center Program Director
"At the Adult Day Center, we are blessed to have many long-term volunteers. Friendships and relationships have formed over the years. Weekly card games and art are highlights for Louis with his volunteer friends Jim, Paul and Aggie. Baking has been a weekly joy for Alize, Cheryl and Linda. Linda reflects on how much she used to enjoy baking when she was younger. This brings back so many nice memories! The beauty of a harp concert and prayer services throughout the month keeps their connection to spirituality and angelica music. Farkle and Yatzhee are loved by all, and Kathy helps bring in the fun 😊
We also love our short-term volunteers — especially students from Divine Savior Holy Angels High School, Marquette High School and our seminarian students. Seeing the youth interact and engage with our seniors is a beautiful thing to watch." — Annette Jankowski
“I discovered the importance of the non-verbal aspect of relationships. As I read the same book with Mike over and over, witnessing the joy it brought him, I came to realize that it wasn't about the book itself; it was about my presence— that he had someone to share his joy with.” —Thomas, ADC Volunteer
Adoption Support Groups
A message of gratitude from Jen, Director of Child Welfare Services
"Volunteers are essential in the Child Welfare programs! Our small but mighty group of volunteers allow our teams to serve the community in a more comprehensive way: Mary and Russ repack diapers that we are able to offer to the community at community fairs and events. Mary B. sorts baby clothing donations to be sure everything we give clients and community members is clean, season appropriate, and organized. Jen R. gives so much of her time to our program! She has spent hours upon hours updating and organizing the resource guide we give to clients AND she is someone we can count on to provide child care at our Adoption Support Group. Jen's teen and young adult children have been a blessing for jumping in to provide extra support at program events! We are excited to continue working with our newer volunteers for Adoption Support Group, too!
The time and effort of these volunteers is essential to our services. Without volunteers, we would not be able to offer childcare for support group or have a good resource guide for clients. We would not have the time to repackage diapers for the community or be able to maintain a supply of baby and children's clothing for community members. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! to our volunteers!" — Jen Layton
Hoarding Intervention and Treatment
Messages of gratitude from Carla, Hoarding Intervention and Treatment Program Director and from Brittney and Dalia, In-Home Support Coaches
"We appreciate all the time the volunteers put in with our clients. Teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success." — Carla Alejo
"As an in-home coach supporting individuals with hoarding challenges, I had the privilege of working alongside Jonathan, a seminarian who volunteered his time to assist my client with essential household responsibilities. Jonathan approached each task with compassion, humility, and a genuine willingness to serve. His support made a noticeable and lasting difference in my client's journey." — Brittney Spakowicz
“Our hoarding support volunteers are like angels — they are so kind and helpful and always do a great job supporting our clients. Our clients love having the volunteers in their home and asking them questions. Everyone looks forward to seeing them.” — Dalia Segarra
“No one is immune to hoarding disorder — it does not discriminate affecting people from any socioeconomic statuses. There’s a beautiful space to enter into through this experience, and it’s into the heart of connection.” — Andrew, Hoarding Support Volunteer
Refugee and Immigration Services
A message of gratitude from Claire, Refugee Integration Specialist
"One of the favorite parts of my job is being the bridge between our program participants because this is where the actual refugee integration happens. It never gets old hearing both volunteers and people from refugee backgrounds talk about why their partner is important to them and what they’ve learned through this experience. I love hearing the pride in people’s voices when they tell us that thanks to their teacher, they can write their name, tell the doctor their child’s date of birth, or greet people in the community. I love hearing volunteers talk about the new foods they’ve tried or the family party they attended. We are a team at Catholic Charities, and all of these successes feel like my own. They motivate me to come to the office every day and especially when times are tough, they remind me that one person can make a big impact." — Claire Reuning
“I don't know how to thank you for everything you did for me and my family. You are always there in my every prayer, I can't help you with anything because you are more educated than me, so I can pray for you and your family, I pray that your family always stay happy and healthy, thank you!!!” — Anwar Begum, RIS English at Home Learner
"With heartfelt gratitude, we celebrate our incredible volunteers who dedicate themselves to supporting our neighbors in need. As a volunteer coordinator, it’s truly rewarding to witness the deep connections that form between our volunteers and those we serve. These relationships often extend far beyond volunteering, fostering lasting friendships that help build stronger, more vibrant communities." —Caitlyn Proietta, Volunteer Coordinator
Volunteer Spotlight REFLECTION
Meet Malysha, an English at Home Volunteer Tutor
"Volunteering with English at Home has been one of the most meaningful parts of the last year and a half. Working one-on-one with a refugee student in her home has shown me how powerful, consistent and compassionate support can be in someone’s learning journey. We practice reading, writing and conversational English each week, and it’s been incredible to witness her confidence grow. Our sessions are about more than language. They’re about connection, encouragement and trust. She brings determination and heart to every lesson, and I feel honored to be part of her journey. I’ve learned just as much from her as she’s learned from me. This experience has deepened my commitment to building inclusive, welcoming communities for all. I’m so grateful to Catholic Charities for making this work possible." — Malysha, English at Home Volunteer
A big shout out to our volunteers Matt and Carrie who supported Zahid's family in learning English and preparing Zahid for the United States citizenship exam. Your support made the featured success story below possible! 💛
Inspiring Stories
Zahid's Story
How volunteers and our Refugee and Immigration Services staff came together to support his path to citizenship
In March, Zahid became a United States citizen. Zahid, his wife, and his son were one of the last families that Catholic Charities resettled in 2018. After our shut down our resettlement services, Zahid's wife was one of the first people to sign up for our new integration services, and she's been part of our in-home tutoring ever since. Zahid has been a loyal employee of Pitney Bowes since he arrived, and he and his wife have added 4 little boys to their family. They are proud owners of their own home on the Southside. Zahid started studying for citizenship in 2023 and passed his test in February. It's been our honor to support them since the beginning.
“The in-home education program has helped me and my family so much. I never had a chance to get an education in my own country, and I didn't even know the alphabet. Since I was resettled, Catholic Charities and Ms. Claire have constantly provided my family with education and there have been so many benefits for us. Our teachers have been great. My teacher answers my questions so that I learn the information that I need for my daily life in Milwaukee. Thanks to my teacher, I can read English words and use a GPS system. When I came to the US, I didn't know how to get around, and I would get lost all the time. Now I drive for rideshare companies and if you dropped me in any of the 50 states, I could get around! I'm also a citizen and that's a huge thing for me because I wasn't a citizen in my own country. We will never forget Catholic Charities, Ms. Claire, and all our teachers.” — Zahid, Catholic Charities Citizenship Learner
Recipients of the Treasurers of the Church award
Lenten Luncheons Bring Awareness to Neighbors in Need
Much more than just soup, salad, and dessert, Catholic Charities Lenten Luncheons have become a cherished tradition for many in southeastern Wisconsin. In a time often marked by austerity, these gatherings offer an opportunity to indulge in fellowship, express gratitude, and, most importantly, recognize the incredible work being done by local individuals, organizations, clergy, and religious orders in service to their communities.
At each luncheon location, host parishes took time to highlight the impactful efforts of those being honored for their unwavering compassion and dedication to service. These honorees were celebrated not only for their contributions to their local communities but also for their ongoing partnership with Catholic Charities.
Newly installed Archbishop Grob enjoyed being a part of the luncheons this year, sharing his enthusiasm for Catholic Charities' mission:
"Since 1920, Catholic Charities has been caring for the wellbeing of families impacted by poverty with compassion, dignity, and respect. I am happy to be a part of that mission,” he said.
One of the many touching moments was when Mary LaBadie, who received an award for her work with the Helping Hands ministry, spoke about her experience. Through this ministry, she has dedicated herself to bringing joy, support, and care to older adults. Reflecting on her award, she shared,
“Yesterday was a day I will never forget — so heartwarming! Everyone I spoke with feels the same way.”
For those who were unable to attend this year’s Lenten Luncheons, make sure to mark your calendar for next year. It’s an event that offers not just a meal, but a chance to be a part of something much greater — a celebration of the good work being done to help others and a reminder of the power of community.
Volunteers in the commuNITY
Credits:
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