Leaders from Catholic Charities USA visited their colleagues in Wilmington Sept. 12, touring the headquarters in the city and several sites where services are performed by the Catholic social services agency.
CCUSA administrators Jane Stenson, food and nutrition, Curtis Johnson, housing strategy, and Ben Wortham, intergrated health, joined local leaders Ruth White, executive director of the Diocese of Wilmington Catholic Charities, and her colleagues Lisa Schieffert and Stephanie Kelton in meetings at the main office in Wilmington.
The national group was in Delaware for a “healthy housing” conference hosted by Delaware State University. They also visited Bayard House and Marydale Retirement Village, facilities operated by Catholic Charities in Wilmington.
Bayard House in Wilmington is the only fully licensed residential program serving expectant or newly parenting minors and young women in Delaware, according to Charities. The women receive access to prenatal care, meals and case-management services to develop self-sufficiency through employment, financial coaching and stable housing.
Marydale Retirement Village in Newark is a Section 8 Housing program operated by Catholic Ministry to the Elderly and serving senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Wortham said affordable housing is a pressing issue everywhere and the group was impressed by the Marydale facility that serves 112 residents in 108 units.
“We’re here, sharing information, seeing where we might be able to connect with resources,” said Wortham. “We can root for each other, there’s no competition.”
The group stayed for lunch at Marydale, eating outdoors under a pavilion on the beautiful late summer Thursday. They joined groups of residents in the community center, including “Just show up, we’ll teach you,” a group that knits and crochets hats and scarves for Salvation Army and Friendship House. They’ve produced over 1,000 pieces for charity, according Esther Lovlie, administrator at Marydale.
