From the moment a donation is received to the moment it lands in the home of one of our neighbors in need, there is an intricate web of logistics that unfolds at CARITAS. Every day, trucks are fueled with gas, dishes are sorted, partner agencies refer clients, and the showroom is restocked. Behind the scenes […]
CARITAS began through the generosity and vision of volunteers who wanted to make a difference. As we’ve grown and evolved, we still work closely with community members. One volunteer has dedicated hundreds of hours toward this vision: Richard “Dick” Upton. “As I was winding down my business career, I began looking for a civic-focused initiative […]
Every year on Valentine’s Day, Tommy Evans celebrates something special: his sobriety, which started in 2007. That was the day he began the residential recovery program at The Healing Place Tommy speaks highly of his family and his upbringing. Drinking in high school led to drug experimentation in college, which led to regular heroin and […]
If you’ve dropped off a Furniture Bank donation or scheduled a pick up, then you may have met Samuel. He’s a member of our warehouse team and an AmeriCorps service member for CARITAS. “He’s high energy and such a hard worker,” says Warehouse Manager Lori Schmiege. At 65, Samuel’s enthusiasm is infectious, she says. “I […]
Sur has been in and out of active addiction for more than 30 years. He was 10 years old when he first tried marijuana. He grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. His uncle and father were drug dealers. Naturally, he admired and idolized them. “I really loved school and always excelled,” he said. As he […]
David remembers taking his first drink. He was 10 or 11. He reached into his father’s liquor cabinet and gave it try. After that, he didn’t touch alcohol again until he was 14. He didn’t know then, but his father was an alcoholic. After his family moved to Pennsylvania, David earned a spot on the […]
