Catholic Charities moving to new location; open house planned today

Boxes are packed and plans are being made for Catholics Charities to move its business operations to a new location, where it will be more accessible, have more storage space and be able to improve services in a more welcoming atmosphere.

An open house at the new building, 1500 S. Ninth, is planned for 2:30 to 4 p.m. today, although most of the moving will be completed later.

Purchase and renovation of the new building was funded by an anonymous donation and the Salina Catholic Diocese 2010 capital campaign, Yesterday, Today and Forever, said Michelle Martin, executive director of Catholic Charities.

After the money was raised, she said, officials questioned whether to renovate the facility at 425 W. Iron or to move.

“We determined it would be much more cost-efficient to move elsewhere,” Martin said.

She said the building on Iron Avenue wasn’t designed for use by the public.

“We serve 31 counties and need more room,” she said. “We have three floors, and when someone comes in to see us who is handicapped, this facility isn’t the best at accommodating those individuals.”

Martin said most of the moving will be done Thursday and Friday, and services will be limited on those days. She hopes to be fully operational in the new building by April 3.

After the move, the facility on Iron Avenue will be razed.

New look, more services

The new facility will have just one level, and the space will allow for more community partnerships.

“We have a new training room that we plan to use for more than just our own staff and clients. We hope to develop future collaborations with other community partners,” Martin said. “Our vision is to provide clients with tools to help them long term. We can achieve a greater impact if we help our clients with skills they may need to find a job, keep a job and maintain a stable lifestyle.”

The new facility also will have a more welcoming atmosphere, she said.

“We want to have a place where people can feel comfortable and welcomed,” Martin said. “We believe in treating people with dignity and respect. Our clients are so grateful and it’s their stories and their gratitude that keep us going.”

Plans are being made to open a thrift store at the new location, which will help make Catholic Charities more sustainable, Martin said.

Unlimited opportunities

Martin said sharing a parking lot with Sunflower Adult Day Services has been challenging “with the awkward parking lot and small layout.”

“It’s not just the parking, but the current location. People have a tough time finding us right now,” she said. “The new location has a lot more space for parking, greater visibility and unlimited opportunities for growth.”

“We don’t know what the future holds. Starting off as an orphanage, we didn’t see ourselves becoming what we are today, so part of this move is planning for the future. We want to be able to adapt to meet the needs of the community. Yes, we have limits, but we want to be able to help as many people as we can and this move helps make that possible.”

— Reporter Eric Wiley can be reached at 822-1407 or by email at ewiley@salina.com.

Catholic Charities programs and services

Catholic Charities offers the following services and programs:
• EAS (Emergency Assistance Services): aids with emergency needs such as rent, utilities, food, bus passes, hygiene items and more.
• Mobile Outreach
• Disaster relief
• Adopt-A-Family: A Christmas assistance program.
• REACH: Assistance for individuals with disabilities
• KELLY MEAD: Assistance for families impacted by catastrophic illnesses who have uncovered medical related expenses.
• Adoption: Assist with adoptions as a certified adoption/placement agency.
• PMI (Pregnancy Maintenance Initiative): Helps mothers during pregnancy with the goal of a full-term, healthy baby through caseworker support which continues up to six months post delivery.
• Counseling
• KLPP (Kansas Loan Pool Project): Assistance for individuals trapped by predatory lenders (payday and title loans)
• Immigration/Hispanic Services: Assist individuals with all the paperwork needed to establish citizenship, obtain legal rights to work and other legal residency status.
• Community Re-entry: Assistance for individuals transitioning out of the Saline County jail to establish stable housing and help obtain employment.