Not long ago, while walking through the lobby of one of our offices, I spied a young man who, after entering the front door, made a beeline to the receptionist. He looked like someone who was about to ask for assistance of some sort.
By Father Christopher Kubat
Instead of asking for help, he had another mission. Since I was in earshot, I overheard their conversation.
“Where can I go or who can I visit with in order to make a donation?” he asked. Seeing me nearby, the receptionist pointed at me and said, “You can talk to Father.”
The young man then took a few steps toward me and, after pulling his wallet out, slipped me a 20-dollar bill while saying, “I just want to give back!”
He then related how we had helped him out of homelessness.
I recently wrote about another man who was living in a car we donated to him and who developed an aggressive head and neck cancer on his lower lip. I am grateful to his surgeon and St. Elizabeth’s for helping him with the needed surgery. Post-operatively, we were able to help him with his post-operative meds, maintenance meds (which he was out of), a small machine to check his blood glucose levels, and a one-week stay in a long-term hotel with a kitchen so he would not have to live and sleep in a sweltering hot car during the critical immediate post-operative period. He was also given some ready-to-eat food and gift cards to a local store so he could eat three squares.
I was able to visit him multiple times after his surgery and his incision has healed wonderfully. We agreed on a plan where he will be staying with his son, who lives outside the diocese, while he looks for work and an apartment. 
I am sorry I missed him when he visited our office before leaving town because he had a gift for me - a metal “God Bless” sign which was on sale for $1.99 and a DVD on the conversion of Saul. It was my impression that through it all, he has grown closer to God.
You might remember the story of Jesus and the 10 lepers in Lk 17:11-19 in which only one returned to Jesus to give Him thanks. It is true that a minority of those we help physically return to our office to give thanks, but know that most give thanks at the time they receive help.
In addition, people we have helped have written letters sending donations and others who have received cars have even donated them back so others may receive them rather than trading them in.
I would like to thank God for his graces and our donors who make what we do possible. May God bless you all!
