Last fall, more than 60 people gathered to celebrate the BHHS Legacy Foundation Christine Stamper Center for Help & Hope, a shelter operated by Catholic Charities, for those experiencing homelessness in Mohave County.
Though the shelter opened its doors three years ago, the ongoing pandemic meant a celebration of the shelter wasn’t possible until this year. However, the shelter has been serving individuals and families throughout the pandemic, continually updating its protocols and safety procedures to ensure the health and safety of all.
Foundational funding of the shelter was provided by BHHS Legacy Foundation, The Stamper Family and Catholic Charities. The shelter continues to operate on local and state grants, but individual and corporate donations are critical to ensuring it’s equipped with meals, supplies, and more.
The shelter offers beds for up to 57 individuals, including a separate wing especially for Veterans experiencing homelessness, as well as three separate units where families experiencing homelessness can stay together. The shelter serves three meals a day (hot lunch and dinner are open to anyone), offers showers, computers for job searches, hygiene supplies, a cooling station, laundry facilities and more.
Most critical to helping the unsheltered is the ongoing case management services provided by Catholic Charities staff members who walk alongside the clients to overcome the numerous barriers to affordable housing. Shelter outreach workers also conduct outreach in surrounding areas, including the desert, parks, under bridges and anywhere the unsheltered congregate. Their goal is to build relationships, provide supplies and offer assistance getting them into the shelter for needed resources and case management.
Special thank you to event speakers:
Bullhead City Mayor Tom Brady; Dan Oehler and Jerry Wissink from the BHHS Legacy Foundation; Dr. Blake Stamper on behalf of the Stamper Family; Cindy Stotler, Arizona Department of Housing; Olivia McCormick, Catholic Charities Board Member; and Fr. Dan Vollmer, St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, who led a prayer before breakfast and offered a blessing for the shelter.
Southwest Gas’s FUEL for LIFE Program has been
partnering with Catholic Charities since 2016. Its
employee-led giving program, managed and presented
by employees, educates staff and encourages them to get
involved with nonprofits.
In the past 11 years, Southwest Gas has served over 1,800
nonprofits in their service area, investing $17 million in the
communities where they live and work. The employee giving
program touches all populations, including agencies that
serve veterans, foster families, food banks, animals, and
women in crisis.
Funds go where they’re needed most. By the end of 2022,
FUEL for LIFE has invested over half a million dollars in
Catholic Charities’ programs.
Wendy Owens, Catholic Charities Resource Development
Manager, is grateful to Southwest Gas for all of their
support. “Southwest Gas FUEL for LIFE program has been
a tremendous partner. We are so pleased to be able to
work with them to strengthen our community through not
only financial funding, but also increasing awareness of
programs,” she said. “A lot of their employees are out and
about in the community and often see people who need help.
These employees are educated on services and community
partners and can provide referrals to organizations like
Catholic Charities. The support of corporate leadership is
vital and allows the FUEL for LIFE program to grow and
change to meet the needs of their staff and the community.
We are so proud to partner with them,” said Owens.
Because of the generous employees at Southwest Gas and
their continued support of Catholic Charities, programs, we
are pleased to congratulate the Southwest Gas FUEL for LIFE
program on the prestigious 2022 AFP National Philanthropy
Day Organization of the Year award. This award is given to
only one Phoenix area corporation each year.
Giving is just as impactful for Southwest Gas employees as
it is for the nonprofits receiving their gifts. The employee
groups that visit nonprofit locations bring home inspiring
stories about what they saw.
Although those in employee giving programs may not
fall under the category of “people in need,” that doesn’t
mean they aren’t touched by the nonprofits they give to.
Some Southwest Gas employees have fostered, adopted or
received counseling services through Catholic Charities.
Catholic Charities is grateful to Southwest Gas and its
employees for joining us as we walk alongside the most
vulnerable on their path to stability.