Every act of kindness has a ripple effect—one that stretches far beyond a single moment. This Giving Hearts Day, Catholic Charities North Dakota invites you to celebrate with us as we step back through the decades and honor the timeless power of generosity. Our theme, “Giving Back Through Time – Kindness Never Goes Out of Style,” reminds us that compassion has always been at the heart of our work and always will be. A Tradition of Serving North Dakotans for Over 100 Years For more than a century, CCND has been walking alongside individuals and families during their most vulnerable moments—supporting older adults, individuals with intellectual disabilities, pregnant women, children in foster care, and so many others. Your generosity each year ensures these services not only continue but grow. Why Giving Hearts Day Matters Giving Hearts Day is CCND’s second largest fundraising opportunity of the year and a moment when our entire community comes together to lift up neighbors across North Dakota. Gifts made on this day help fund critical programs—especially those with little outside funding—allowing us to reach people who may be hearing about our mission for the first time. This year, Dental Flossophy in Bismarck has pledged match dollars, meaning every Giving Hearts Day contribution goes even further to support vulnerable North Dakotans.
A Heartfelt Conversation on Prairie Public’s Main Street
Spotlight on Relationships Built Through Service
Pregnancy, Parenting, and Adoption Services
Guardianship Division for Adults With Intellectual Disabilities
Adults Adopting Special Kids and ND Post Adopt Network
There are a few important things you should understand about adoption centers. Keep reading or contact us today to learn more.
When I hear the word “Christmas” my first thoughts are of family, togetherness, laughter, peace and joy. Sadly, for a number of the people that we serve in our Guardianship Division/Intellectual Disabilities, their first thoughts may be fear, chaos, loneliness, grief or anxiety. A year ago, over the holidays, the police were called to a homeless shelter because a young woman with intellectual disabilities, Kalani, was dropped off by a couple from out of state. They left her in front of the building and drove off. Kalani only knew their first names, saying that they were new friends she made in a different state. Eventually, it was determined that Kalani had no place to return to so she was connected with a Developmental Disabilities (DD) Program Manager at the Human Service Center. The DD Program Manager made an emergency referral to our guardianship program as Kalani was not able to give informed consent for services or medical treatment and no family members could be located. We immediately accepted the referral, pending the emergency guardianship court hearing. The court ruled that a guardianship was necessary because Kalani lacked the capacity to fully understand her situation which caused her to be vulnerable and at risk of harm. Once appointed by the court, our guardianship worker immediately met with Kalani at the homeless shelter. Kalani was very distressed. She was afraid because she did not know what was going to happen to her. She had no money, no clothes, no winter coat and she knew no one in North Dakota. Our guardianship worker worked closely with the DD Program Manager to access a safe residential setting and, within days, she moved into a small group home which specializes in serving people with intellectual disabilities. Kalani was penniless – between the guardianship worker, group home staff and the DD Program Manager, they were able to obtain new clothes, a winter jacket, basic needs like shampoo, toothpaste, etc. When Kalani moved in, she was very withdrawn, quiet and anxious. She cried often. Day by day, she started to settle in. Everyone also made sure that she received gifts for Christmas! Kalani began receiving counseling to help address the trauma that she experienced. Fast forward one year – Kalani is thriving! She loves where she lives and she has several close friends. She has a part-time job that she enjoys going to three times a week. With her team’s assistance, she was able to begin receiving social security benefits and North Dakota Medicaid to help pay for her services and medical needs. Life for Kalani went from being fear-based to one of predictability, safety, happiness and peace. Our guardianship workers have the same goal for all individuals they serve – to help each person live a fulfilling life full of joy and peace. Written By: Donna Byzewski Director of GDID
Over the past few years, the Adults Adopting Special Kids (AASK) program has been a part of many changes and adjustments, allowing us to create a program full of high quality, efficient adoption procedures for our children and families! As we allow ourselves to practice all that we have implemented, we also appreciate the time when we can pause and reflect on all the moments that create peace in our world of adoption. One of the most fulfilling aspects of our role is supporting the children who join their adoptive family each year. While many emotions and feelings emerge with adoption, peace is certainly one that is cherished and valued. This past year, AASK helped 245 children finalize their adoption with their forever family! November is extra special because we get to celebrate National Adoption Month! One initiative we work on year-round but focus heavily on in November, is raising awareness for children who are not yet in their adoptive home. In North Dakota, there are approximately 25-30 children who are waiting for an adoptive family at any given time. This fueled our desire to establish the Red Shoe Campaign! The Red Shoe Campaign was started as a collaborative effort between AASK the local Recruitment and Retention Coalitions in eastern North Dakota to raise awareness to the number of North Dakota children waiting in foster care to be adopted. The campaign is a reference to the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy clicks the heels on her red shoes three times exclaiming ‘there’s no place like home’. It is the campaign’s overarching goal to spread the message that there’s, truly, no place like home and that all children deserve a family to call their own. Take a peek at some of our efforts below! While it is difficult to fully experience peace knowing children are still waiting for their forever home, we can find comfort in our continuous efforts to bring awareness to the community to learn about all of the brave, kind, and resilient children who need an adoptive home. We are grateful to have such an important role in a child’s life and are honored to be a small part of their life. We look forward building peaceful moments for children and families in the upcoming year! Written By: Kara Eastlund Director of Adults Adopting Special Kids
Life often feels like a complex, scattered puzzle. Each day, we juggle various pieces: relationships, careers, personal goals, health, and self-growth. Sometimes, these pieces feel mismatched, and we can’t envision how they could ever come together into something whole. But there are moments in life—sometimes hard-won, sometimes unexpected—when things begin to align. In these moments, we experience a sense of peace as if we’ve glimpsed the whole picture. Peace is something many of us crave, but it often feels out of reach. We may think it’s a feeling that arrives when circumstances are perfect—when life is free of conflicts, responsibilities are manageable, and everything is under control. However, true peace is more about inner alignment than external perfection. The real peace that endures comes when we start to see and understand how the pieces of our lives contribute to a meaningful whole. Every aspect of our life is part of the journey to personal peace. Yet, some pieces are harder to accept, especially if they don’t fit our initial expectations. Maybe it’s an unexpected pregnancy, maybe it’s a struggle with infertility, or maybe it’s a relationship that is struggling. When we try to control or force pieces into a certain place, we experience stress, and peace feels farther away. True peace, however, often arises when we accept each piece for what it is and trust that it has a purpose, even if we can’t yet see where it fits. Life’s turning points can feel like magical moments, when suddenly, things begin to make sense. These moments often arrive unexpectedly. Sometimes, we realize that a seemingly insurmountable barrier led us to a new path, or a difficult time taught us resilience. Recognizing these connections between different “pieces” brings a sense of relief and gratitude, and, as a result, peace starts to replace tension. Being Pregnancy, Parenting, and Adoption Services Social workers gives us a front row seat to watch families put the pieces together, to watch things fall into place and for real peace to settle in during a period in their lives when peace seemed unattainable. It’s the reassurance that everything—even the imperfect pieces—contributes to a meaningful whole. Written By: Kris Haycraft Director of Pregnancy, Parenting, and Adoption Services