Inaugural “day of giving” planned to mark anniversary

Belleville, Ill. – Caritas Family Solutions, a premier social service agency based in Belleville, Ill., is celebrating its 70^th anniversary of providing services throughout 42 counties in Southern Illinois. On July 31, 2017, exactly 70 years since incorporating as a non-profit in the State of Illinois, Caritas Family Solutions is launching the inaugural “Caritas Day,” a day of giving to mark the anniversary date and celebrate the successes of numerous individuals, children and families who have been strengthened by the agency’s mission since 1947.

Originally incorporated as Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Belleville, the agency name changed to Catholic Social Services in 1968.  In 2012, the agency became non-denominational and in 2014 changed its name to Caritas Family Solutions.

Caritas Day will consist of 24 hours of support for the mission of Caritas Family Solutions including online giving opportunities and volunteer projects at each Caritas service location.  There also will be a Grand Opening of the Caritas Resource Center located at 900 Royal Heights Road in Belleville, Ill.  The Resource Center will be a place to stock and store essential items donated by generous supporters and provided as needed to clients. The Grand Opening will be at 9:00 a.m. and will also include a Ribbon Cutting for the newly remodeled Komlos Rumpus Room at St. John Bosco Children’s Center.  Belleville Mayor Mark Eckert will be present to mark the occasion and refreshments will be available.

A wish list of items needed to stock the Resource Center is available at caritasfamilysolutions.org. Donations to the Resource Center will be collected on Caritas Day from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Royal Heights location.

The Komlos Rumpus Room is named after Ron Komlos, owner of Flooring Systems, Inc., who donated the materials and installation for new flooring in the room. Volunteers from Scott 5/6, a group of non-commissioned officers from Scott Air Force Base, have been integral in planning the renovations in the rumpus room, including painting and more. The room is used as recreation space by the 27 children who live at St. John Bosco Children’s Center where they receive therapeutic treatment for trauma due to abuse or neglect.

There are several volunteer projects planned for Caritas Day 2017. Donation collections for the Resource Center will be staffed by volunteers from SAFB and Archford Angels.  Volunteers from Ameren Illinois will assist with landscaping at the Regional Office in Belleville and projects at the Regional Office in Carterville.  Americorps volunteers will be working on landscaping and painting at several community homes for developmentally disabled adults in the Metro East area that are managed by Caritas Family Solutions.  If you are interested in volunteering on Caritas Day, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Carly Jones at 618-213-8716 or carly.jones@caritasfamily.org.

To make a gift in honor of Caritas Day, please go to caritasfamilysolutions.org or call 618-213-8700.

Grant to fund renovations to Carterville office

Belleville, Ill., (May  2017) – Caritas Family Solutions received a $12,500 grant from Ameren Illinois to renovate their Regional Office located at 10286 Fleming Road in Carterville, Ill. The 11,565 square foot building was once the Cancer Center of Southern Illinois and was purchased by the agency in 2013 when it moved its regional operations from Carbondale. Caritas, formerly Catholic Social Services, is a nonprofit social services agency headquartered in Belleville, Ill. The regional office provides services to residents in the 15 southernmost counties in Illinois. [Read more…]

Belleville, Ill. (September 23, 2016) – Caritas Family Solutions will begin providing social services at a new location in Belleville starting Monday, September 26, 2016. The agency purchased a former nursing home near Memorial Hospital, and after extensive renovations, has moved more than 40 employees in their foster care, adoption and counseling programs to the building at 900 Royal Heights Road. [Read more…]

Chicago, May 4, 2016- Pay Now Illinois a coalition of 64 Illinois-based human and social service agencies and companies, today sued Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and the directors of six statewide agencies seeking immediate payment in full of more than $100 million owed for work performed under contracts that date back to July 1, 2015, the beginning of the state’s current fiscal year. A link to the lawsuit can be found at www.paynowillinois.org.legalaction.html. [Read more…]

Caritas Family Solutions received a $10,000 grant from Ameren Illinois to support the Focus on Kids Campaign, a fundraising effort that aims to renovate one wing of St. John Bosco Children’s Center, the agency’s residential treatment center for abused and neglected children. It is located in Belleville. [Read more…]

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (March 3, 2016)-Jay Taddei and the Associated Physician’s Group have been recognized by Caritas Family Solutions with the second annual Heart & Soul Award for exemplifying the mission of the organization and putting their heart and soul into caring for those served by the agency.

The award was presented at the Caritas Family Solutions Annual Heart & Soul Gala Saturday, February 20, at the Regency Conference Center in O’Fallon. The award annually honors an individuals or organization who, through their service and contributions, has exemplified the agency’s values of Sacredness of Human Life; Dignity and Diversity; Community; Family Life; Stewardship; Justice; Collaboration; and Hope.

Taddei and his associates have fulfilled the Christmas wishes of more than 75 children in Caritas Family Solutions foster care program each year for the past 14 years. The Christmas Toy Drive held by the physicians results in more than $10,000 in toys, clothing, games and books for foster children who might not otherwise have a gift under the tree at Christmas. “Despite a difficult economy, I am very thankful the owners of APG still fully support the Secret Santa Program,” Taddei said. “APG’s goal is that no local child wakes up on Christmas morning without presents to open and food to eat.”

Caritas Family Solutions annual Heart & Soul Gala is the largest and most successful fundraising event for the organization. John Pertzborn, co-anchor for Fox 2 News in the Morning, served as the Master of Ceremonies for the event. In addition to dinner, verbal and silent auctions, the program included a Fund-A-Need, which raised money to go toward the “Focus on Kids Campaign“. The goal of the campaign is to raise $200,000 to renovate the south wing of St. John Bosco Children’s Center, a residential treatment center for abused and neglected children, ages 6-13. The renovations will help to alleviate the sterile, institutional look of the center which was previously a nursing home.

Major sponsors for the Heart & Soul Gala included Edward Jones; Thompson Coburn, LLP; Jim’s Formal Wear; Gori Julian & Associates, P.C.; and Gateway Development. Proceeds from the event will benefit more than 4,400 individuals and families the agency serves annually.

Caritas Family Solutions, founded in 1947, is a nonprofit social services agency providing adoption, pregnancy care, foster care, counseling, senior assisted living, senior employment, Community Integrated Living Arrangements (CILAs) for people with developmental disabilities, juvenile offender therapy programs, and the St. John Bosco Children’s Center for abused and neglected children. Caritas serves more than 4,400 individuals annually throughout its 42-county service area through a network of quality services with a spirited, dedicated, professional staff who serve others with respect and dignity at every stage of life. Offices are located in Belleville, Carterville, Mount Vernon, Olney, East Alton, and Effingham. For additional information, visit the Caritas Family Solutions website at www.caritasfamilysolutions.org.

 

 

 

MOUNT VERNON, Ill. (February 22, 2016)-Aaron and Jennifer Dice, owners of Security Alarm in Salem, have been recognized by Caritas Family Solutions with the second annual Heart & Soul Award for exemplifying the mission of the organization and putting their heart and soul into caring for those served by the agency.
The award was presented at the Caritas Family Solutions Annual Heart & Soul Gala Saturday, February 20, at the Regency Conference Center in O’Fallon. The award annually honors an individuals or organization who, through their service and contributions, has exemplified the agency’s values of Sacredness of Human Life; Dignity and Diversity; Community; Family Life; Stewardship; Justice; Collaboration; and Hope.
Over the years, the Dices have welcomed more than 15 foster children into their home and adopted four children through the agency. The Dices live in Salem, Ill., and are licensed foster parents for the Caritas Regional Office in Mount Vernon.
Caritas Family Solutions annual Heart & Soul Gala is the largest and most successful fundraising event for the organization. John Pertzborn, co-anchor for Fox 2 News in the Morning, served as the Master of Ceremonies for the event. In addition to dinner, verbal and silent auctions, the program included a Fund-A-Need, which raised money to go toward the “Focus on Kids Campaign”. The goal of the campaign is to raise $200,000 to renovate the south wing of St. John Bosco Children’s Center, a residential treatment center for abused and neglected children, ages 6-13. The renovations will help to alleviate the sterile, institutional look of the center which was previously a nursing home.
Major sponsors for the Heart & Soul Gala included Edward Jones; Thompson Coburn, LLP; Jim’s Formal Wear; Gori Julian & Associates, P.C.; and Gateway Development. Proceeds from the event will benefit more than 4,400 individuals and families the agency serves annually.
Caritas Family Solutions, founded in 1947, is a nonprofit social services agency providing adoption, pregnancy care, foster care, counseling, senior assisted living, senior employment, Community Integrated Living Arrangements (CILAs) for people with developmental disabilities, juvenile offender therapy programs, and the St. John Bosco Children’s Center for abused and neglected children. Caritas serves more than 4,400 individuals annually throughout its 42-county service area through a network of quality services with a spirited, dedicated, professional staff who serve others with respect and dignity at every stage of life. Offices are located in Belleville, Carterville, Mount Vernon, Olney, East Alton, and Effingham. For additional information, visit the Caritas Family Solutions website at www.caritasfamilysolutions.org.

BELLEVILLE, ILL. (February 19, 2015)- The children at St. John Bosco Children’s Center experienced fine dining first-hand at Marco’s on Main Wednesday evening. Mark Onstott, owner of the Belleville restaurant, made a special menu for the boys to choose from at no cost.

“My wife and I wanted to do something to give back to the community. My wife donates clothes to the drop box at the Children’s Center and we’ve been looking for the opportunity to do something special for the boys,” said Onstott. [Read more…]

BELLEVILLE,IL (December 2015) – Caritas Family Solutions and Hoyleton Ministries will collaborate to host a ribbon cutting and open house on Tuesday, December 15, 2015, to give the community an inside look at the newly renovated facility where St. John Bosco Children’s Center and Hoyleton Ministries Transitional Living Program will reside. [Read more…]