When the Pieces Fall into Place
Catholic Charities North Dakota • December 9, 2024
Finding Peace in Life's Puzzle
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
Starting November 1st, the ongoing government shutdown may disrupt the distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This critical program provides low-income families with access to the nutrition they need to stay healthy and thrive. Without it, many North Dakotans will face increased difficulty putting food on the table. In response, our Community Resource Coordinator at Catholic Charities North Dakota has compiled a list of local food banks and pantries ready to assist families during this challenging time. These organizations are stepping up to fill the gap, offering groceries, meals, and support to anyone in need. We encourage families affected by the SNAP disruption to reach out, explore available resources, and lean on the strength of our community. Together, we can ensure no one goes hungry. Statewide Food Pantry Great Plains Food Bank Get Updates on Mobile Food Pantries: Partner food pantries – GREAT PLAINS FOOD BANK Adams County Adams County Food Pantry Phone: 701-567-4519 Barnes County Barnes County Senior Citizen Phone: 701-845-4300 Salvation Army Phone: 701-840-0098 Benson County Bdecan Presbyterian Church Phone: 701-294-2283 Billings County Belfield Lutheran Church Phone: 701-575-4703 Bottineau County Bottineau Food Pantry Burleigh County Dream Center Phone: 701-955-2150 Heaven's Helpers Soup Café Phone: 701-751-7687 Trinity Lutheran Phone: 701-223-3560 Community Action Phone: 701-258-2240 Ministry on the Margins Phone: 701-223-6315 Salvation Army Phone: 701-223-1889 New Song Phone: 701-258-5683 Corpus Christi Phone: 701-255-3104 Bismarck Emergency Food Pantry Phone: 701-258-9188 Cass County Faith United Methodist Church Food Pantry Phone: 701-232-6844 K.I.D.S. Pantry Phone: 701-793-7600 NDSU Care Team (for NDSU Students) Phone: 701-231-7701 West Fargo Eats Phone: 701-532-0394 Goods for the Herd (for NDSU Students) Churches United Phone: 218-656-7628 St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Phone: 701-566-0638 Emergency Food Pantry Phone: 701-237-9337 Salem Church Phone: 218-331-1075 Seeds of Hope Bridgepointe Area Food Pantry Phone: 701-540-1383 Open Doors 65 Phone: 701-799-4550 YWCA Phone: 701-232-3449 St. Paul's Free Lutheran Phone: 701-237-5555 Prairie Heights Community Church Phone: 701-291-8793 Dickey County Ellendale Community Food Pantry Phone: 701-349-3406 Divide County Divide County Food Pantry Phone: 701-965-6521 Dunn County Dunn County Food Pantry Phone: 701-260-1967 Eddy County First Lutheran Church Phone: 701-947-2478 Emmons County Emmons County Food Pantry Phone: 701-851-0037 Golden Valley County Beach Food Pantry Phone: 701-872-3708 Grand Forks County St. Vincent de Paul Society Phone: 218-280-2692 United Way Phone: 701-775-8661 ext 101 Salvation Army Phone: 701-775-2597 St. Joseph's Social Care Phone: 701-795-8614 Love in Action Northlands Rescue Mission Phone: 701-772-6600 Hope Church Phone: 701-757-3480 Freedom Church Phone: 701-772-3117 Grant County Carson Food Pantry Phone: 701-622-3827 Griggs County Bread of Life Phone: 701-730-6221 Griggs County Central School District Phone: 701-797-3114 McKenzie County McKenzie County Food Pantry Phone: 701-444-4040 McLean County McLean Family Resource Center Phone: 701-462-8643 Community Cupboard of Underwood Phone: 701-595-0320 Garrison Area Resource Center Phone: 701-463-2020 Mercer County Women's Action and Resource Center Phone: 701-873-2274 Morton County Engage Church Phone: 701-595-0417 Spirit of Life Phone: 701-415-0402 First Baptist Phone: 701-202-4885 AID, Inc Phone: 701-663-1274 ext. 18 Glen Ullin Community Food Pantry Phone: 256-483-9960 Flasher Area Food Pantry Phone: 701-597-3407 Pembina County Pembina County Emergency Food Pantry Ramsey County Hope Center Phone: 701-665-4673 Renville County Trinity United Parish Phone: 701-362-7922 Rollette County Turtle Mountain Food Pantry Phone: 701-477-0036 Dunseith Food Pantry Phone: 701-278-0154 Slope County Bowman/Slope Community Cupboard Phone: 602-790-1555 Stark County St. Vincent de Paul Phone: 701-690-3401 DPS Pantry & Closet Phone: 701-456-0002 AMEN Food Pantry Phone: 701-483-4344 The River Food Pantry Phone: 701-483-1083 Belfield Lutheran Church Phone: 701-575-4703 Stutsman County Salvation Army Phone: 701-252-0290 Towner County Cando Area Food Pantry Phone: 701-968-3105 Ward County Minot Area Homeless Coalition Phone: 701-852-6300 Community Food Pantry Phone: 701-578-5876 Our Lady of Grace Phone: 701-839-5520 Williams County Tioga Community Food Pantry Phone: 701-641-3349 Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Phone: 701-572-2667 Ample Harvest Phone: 701-572-2921 Regional Standing Rock Sioux Reservation Phone: 701-854-7238 Community Action- Southwest Region Phone: 701-227-0131 MHA Nation Food Distribution Program Phone: 701-627-4292 Sisseton Wahpeton Tribe Food Distribution Phone: 605-698-3762 Spirit Lake Tribe Phone: 701-294-3012 Region 1 (McKenzie, Williams, and Divide counties) Salvation Army Phone: 701-572-2921 Community Action- Northwest Region Phone: 701-572-8191 Region 2 (Burke, Bottineau, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville, and Ward counties) Salvation Army Phone: 701-838-8925 Community Action Minot Region Phone: 701-839-7221 The Lord's Cupboard Phone: 701-839-1990 Region 5 (Cass, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele, and Traill counties) The Olivet Food Pantry Phone: 701-235-6603 The Neighborhood Church A Place for Hope Phone: 218-284-6069 Peace Lutheran Church Phone: 701-232-7166 Tri-City Haitian Ministries Church of God's Word Phone: 701-639-6240 St. Andrew Lutheran Church Phone: 701-282-4195 Valley Senior Services Meals on Wheels SENDCAA (Southeastern ND Community Action Agency) Phone: 701-232-2452 Region 6 (Barnes, Dickey, Foster, Griggs, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh, Stutsman, and Wells counties) CAP (Community Action Partnership) Phone: 701-252-1821 If you are an organization that would like to be listed, please reach out to Sara, our Community Resource Coordinator at spachl@catholiccharitiesnd.org.
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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
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