"Happy April my friends! On April 5 we celebrated Easter Sunday, and in the Catholic Church we celebrate the Easter season for 50 days! Christ is Risen! This is truly the most wonderful time of the year and the foundation of Christian faith. Jesus took on the burden of our sins and died and rose again so that you and I may have eternal life with Him, the ultimate act of sacrificial love and redemption. I would like to share a true story that touched my heart and I hope it will touch you too. You many know about Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s order, the Missionaries of Charity, which serves the poorest of the poor and those most vulnerable in India and around the world. One such person was a young girl. She was 10 years old when her mother began selling her into prostitution. By the time she came to the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity as a teenager, she was emotionally broken, angry, aggressive, and sick with AIDS. The Sisters gently cared for all of her needs. They loved her unconditionally, but she responded only with anger and verbal abuse, sometimes slapping and spitting on them. Yet the Sisters continued to show her compassion and kindness. One day, she said to the Sister who was lovingly attending to her, “I have been only cruel to you and yet you are still kind and loving to me. Why?” The answer was a simple, quiet response, “You are Jesus to me, when I care for you, I am caring for my Lord”. Grace flooded her heart and the young girl had a dramatic and instant conversion. Sadly, from that day on, the girl grew sicker but no longer responded with anger but love instead. Not long after, she died in joy and peace, surrounded by the Sisters who loved her. This story reminded me, Do I see Jesus in those who come to me in the most distressing disguise? Dear Jesus, help me to see Your face in those in need. Remind me to love as You love. May the Peace that surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." - Katie Baxter, CEO and President
Upcoming Events and Opportunities
- April 10: Co-Dependents Anonymous for Veterans | Hosted by MCC's Justin Wilson | SHVV | 2PM
- April 15: Mott Community College Job Readiness Orientations for Veterans | SHVV | 2PM
- April 22: Earth Day Cleanup at Sacred Heart Veteran Village | 10AM-4PM
- April 23: Volunteer Appreciation Lunch | RSVP here: https://catholiccharitiesflint.dm.networkforgood.com/forms/volunteer-appreciation-lunch-2026
- May 8: Blooming Bumps and Babies - Molina Healthcare Community Baby Shower | Register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf8r-Ds3b9lt8EEmA89jZW-ogoDAFksPRopj6dTEHckQzDcyg/viewform
- May 10: Mother's Day: Create a customized e-card for an important woman in your life: https://catholiccharitiesflint.networkforgood.com/projects/295121-mother-s-day-2026
- May 21: Operation: Welcome Home at Sacred Heart Veteran Village | 3PM-7PM
- May 30: Blessing of the Bikes | Good Shepherd Church, Montrose: https://67a238cea96d1.site123.me/
- June 21: Father's Day: Create a customized e-card for an important man in your life: https://catholiccharitiesflint.networkforgood.com/projects/295132-father-s-day-2026
- June 27: Flint City Bucks Military Appreciation Game and Jersey Auction
- November 5: Chair-ity Fundraising Event | Sponsor our event here: https://catholiccharitiesflint.networkforgood.com/events/97148-chair-ity-2026
Get Involved
- Select Catholic Charities in Kroger Community Rewards Program
- Help sort donations in Owosso | call: (989) 723-823
- We're Hiring: SMCC Event workers, MMRW workers, HR Manager, Foster Care Case Worker, Therapists for Owosso
- Sponsor a Meal or Haircut Day at the Sacred Heart Veteran Village | call: (810) 239-4417
- Adopt-A-Day at the Center for Hope or North End Soup Kitchen (weekdays and weekends)
- Apply for a Membership to our Mid-Michigan Resource Warehouse - Teachers, First Responders, and Non-Profits | apply on our website
- Rent our St. Michael Conference Center for your next meeting or big event | call (810) 232-7586
- Join us for Mass on Thursdays at 12:10PM in St. Michael's Chapel
What is Needed
- Hope in a Box Collection for April: Deodorant and First Aid Items
- Foster Parents: Contact Ken at Child Welfare - Ken Schram, kschram@ccsgc.org or (810) 232-9950 ext. 358
- Plastic Banquet Tables: Owosso Location
- Steel Toe Boots, Non-Perishables and Personal Needs Items: Center for Hope
- Household Furniture, Dishes, Towels, Microwavable Shelf-stable Meals: Offender Success
"I can tell you that our God is not dead. He is alive and he is with us, right now, in the middle of our routine lives, in our anxiety, pain, brokenness or whatever it is we are going through. We just need to learn to notice him. Simply by taking time to reflect on our day, we can know that we felt his touch through a hug, a handshake, a pat on the back, or a helping hand. We can recognize his voice in a kind word, a good morning, or a hello. We can see him in a smile, a wave, or a kind act. He’s alive." - Deacon Ken Preiss, Chaplain
Staff Contacts
Katie Baxter, President and CEO: kbaxter@ccsgc.org
Mary Stevenson, Director of Center for Hope: mstevenson@ccsgc.org
John Manse, Director of Community Services: jmanse@ccsgc.org
Shelly Safi, Director of Finance: ssafi@ccsgc.org
Robert Benish, Director of Development: rbenish@ccsgc.org
Michelle Simpson, Manager of Human Resources: msimpson@ccsgc.org
Rochelle Gasso, Director of Offender Success and Prevention: rgasso@ccsgc.org
Cathy Sprague-Emans, Manager of Owosso Site: cemans@ccsgc.org
John Inman, Director of Facilities: jinman@ccsgc.org
Daily Services Offered
Center For Hope: (810) 265-7025
Community Closet: Monday-Friday | 1-3PM | 2x/Month
Soup Kitchen: Daily | 12PM-1PM
Personal Needs Room: Monday-Friday | 9:30AM-12PM | 1x/30 Days
Showers and Laundry: Appointment Only | ext. 711
St. Christopher Medical Transport: Schedule Only | Bennie
Work Ready Room: Appointment Only | Mary ext. 712
Warming Center: December - March
Center for Hope Donations: Monday-Friday | 9:30AM-3:00PM
Outreach: Monday-Friday | 8:30AM-4:30PM | Cyndi (810) 234-4693
North End Soup Kitchen: (810) 785-6911
Monday-Saturday Lunch 11:30AM-12:30PM, Dinner 4PM-5PM | Sunday Lunch 1PM-2PM
Sack Lunch Distributions: My Brothers Keeper, 101 N. Grand Traverse St., Flint, MI
South Flint Soup Kitchen, Lincoln Park United Methodist Church 3410 Fenton Rd., Flint, MI
Sacred Heart Veteran Village: (810) 239-4417
Resource Center | Monday - Friday | 9:30AM-5:00pm
Prevention and Education
Schedule a Program | (810) 444-8213
Mid-Michigan ReSource Warehouse: (810) 391-2509
Memberships for Non-Profits, Churches and Public Schools, Teachers, and qualifying First Responders Only
Monday-Thursday | 10AM-5PM
Friday | 10AM-4PM
Adoption and Foster Care: (810) 232-9950
Foster Parent Orientation | Foster Parent Orientation | 2nd Wednesdays | Mornings: 10:00AM-12:00PM, Evenings: 5:00PM -7:00PM | Call to Register
Adoption Informational Meetings | 2nd Tuesday | Mornings: 10:00AM-12:00PM, Evenings: 5:00PM -7:00PM | Call to Register
Shiawassee County Location - Owosso: (989) 723-8239
Shiawassee County Counseling
Appointment Only | (989) 723-8239
Shiawassee County Community Closet & Food Pantry
Monday | 12PM-3PM
Wednesday and Friday | 9AM-12PM