Chronicle SUMMER 2022
C O M M O N W E A LT H C AT H O L I C C H A R I T I E S
Starting Anew At seven months pregnant, Amanda escaped from an abusive relationship and moved to Roanoke, hoping to find a home with her dad. “Amanda is a resourceful young woman,” said Julie Vance, CCC case worker. “When it didn’t work to live with her dad, she secured subsidized housing on her own, but she only had her clothes and a few household items. She was sleeping on a blow-up mattress and had no other furniture.” Amanda reached out to CCC’s pregnancy counseling team and, through CCC’s Seton Housing program, the team helped Amanda continue to build on the progress she was making. Through the program her case worker set-up payment for her electricity and other utilities and connected her with CCC’s St. Francis House food pantry to access healthy food. CCC staff also reached out to the St. Andrews Moms (SAMs) at Saint Andrews Catholic Church in Roanoke for additional assistance. The group immediately jumped into action, donating gift cards, a crib, pack and play, clothing, a swing, furniture, and various household items. “Any time that we have the opportunity to help each other we really do... I am always blown away by the generosity of this group,” said Maria-Theresa MacBain, co-chair of SAMs. Amanda is working with her case worker to obtain a Virginia driver’s license and find a steady job. She has also been participating in CCC’s Financial Fitness Bootcamp where she is learning important money management skills. “Amanda has worked hard to make a home for herself and her new son,” said Vance. “Her future is looking very bright.” To learn more about Seton Housing visit www.cccofva.org/pregnancy-counseling.
www.cccofva.org • CCC provides quality, compassionate human services to all people, especially the most vulnerable, regardless of faith.