Volunteer Spotlight: Karen Martodam

When Karen Martodam retired from her career as an accountant in 2015, she knew she wanted to give back—she just wasn’t sure how. In 2016, her brother-in-law, former Catholic Charities CEO Paul Martodam, encouraged her to volunteer at Higher Ground Minneapolis. She began as a front desk volunteer, answering phones, but her role quickly evolved into something much more personal.

A lifelong sewing enthusiast and avid quilter, Karen noticed a need among the residents and guests—clothing repairs. Zippers, buttons, and other basic fixes were frequently requested, but few had the tools or skills to make the repairs. “I knew that a lot of people can’t fix their own clothing,” she said, “so it was important to me to fill a niche.”

Finding Hope at Catholic Charities

Emily is a dedicated mother and a fierce advocate for her three sons. She is a survivor of domestic violence who has worked tirelessly to build a bright future for her children. But during the last few years, Emily faced a crisis — her son Lucas began struggling with severe behavioral and emotional challenges. Lucas had experienced emotional difficulties before, but things worsened in 4th grade when he learned that his elementary school was closing. Leaving friends behind and transitioning to a new environment triggered an emotional spiral.

As Lucas’s behavior worsened, Emily had to resort to calling the police on her son. When these calls became more frequent, Emily knew he needed more help than traditional schools and outpatient therapy could provide. That’s when they found Catholic Charities Children’s Day Treatment, a program in Minneapolis that offers mental health services and academics on-site.

Nicole Finds Catholic Charities Twin Cities

Born in Australia, Nicole moved to the United States to pursue her college education. She earned a psychology degree with honors from St. Cloud State University and had dreams of becoming a marriage and family therapist.

But in 2019, a difficult breakup with a long-term partner triggered a downward spiral. “I suffer from depression, and it just spiraled out of control,” Nicole shared. She lost her job after missing too many days of work and lost her housing after falling behind on rent. Nicole had nowhere else to go and began living out of her car. She stayed with friends when possible but experienced homelessness for almost two years.

While staying in her car, Nicole’s life changed forever. She was the victim of a violent assault that left her partially paralyzed. She spent months in the hospital and barely survived. At the hospital, Nicole was referred to a Catholic Charities medical respite program, which provides a place to stay for people who would otherwise be discharged to the street. It was there she began her journey toward stability.

An Opportunity to Meet Catholic Charities’ Leadership

Zoomin’ with Catholic Charities is a special one-hour webinar with agency leadership, and an opportunity to discuss how we are solving issues and improving the lives of our neighbors.

Clyde’s Experience with Homelessness

Clyde’s life is a testament to his perseverance and the power of community support. Clyde grew up in Gary, Indiana, as one of 12 children. His parents’ strength and guidance were something he appreciated. Reflecting on his journey, Clyde shared, “I hit three years clean last November 10th, and I know [my parents] would have been so happy that I changed my life around.”

But Clyde’s path to sobriety was far from easy. Growing up in Gary during a time of economic decline left a mark. “After U.S. Steel shut down, people had to find other ways to survive,” he said. For Clyde, the struggles of his environment led to years of battling addiction.

Addiction made it difficult for Clyde to maintain jobs and it held him back from the life he wanted. Clyde has experienced cycles of homelessness, estrangement from his loved ones, and legal troubles. “Everywhere I went, my addiction came with me,” he said.

A Meaningful Way to Volunteer

During the pandemic, Betty Swords was searching for a meaningful way to help. With more free time for baking, she quickly realized that the cookies and cakes were piling up at home. Wanting to put her skills to good use, she reached out to Catholic Charities to see if there was a way she could volunteer. The team helped set up an opportunity for Betty to bake for guests at Catholic Charities’ Family Service Center (FSC) in Maplewood.

Since then, Betty has volunteered more than 250 times, creating desserts for families experiencing homelessness in Ramsey County. Betty meticulously plans her recipes, adapting to available ingredients, food allergies, and preferences of shelter guests.

Her desserts are a small but meaningful source of joy for the families in shelter.

Volunteers Needed

Volunteering with Catholic Charities Twin Cities can take many forms, and our teams can accommodate anyone who wants to put their talents to use!

Getting started as a volunteer is easy, with daily shifts available at various program sites across the Twin Cities. We also offer opportunities for groups, families, youth, and student internships. To learn more, visit: cctwincities.org/volunteer

Catholic Charities Twin Cities is currently seeking licensed volunteer hairstylists and barbers—especially those with experience with curly & coily hair. Scheduling is flexible with daytime shifts available Monday through Friday.

Are you a hairstylist or barber interested in making a difference? Email us at volunteer@cctwincities.org to get started!

Providing a Haircut to Someone in Need

Catholic Charities Twin Cities volunteers do a wide range of things to help the agency serve people in need every day. And of the long list of daily services offered at the St. Paul and Minneapolis Opportunity Centers, haircuts are in high demand. For many people, a haircut can help you feel like yourself—and can make a difference in how the world treats you.

Meeting a Community Need

Alice Shea, a Roseville resident and former salon owner, brings over four decades of experience to her Monday morning volunteer shifts. While clipping hair in the Opportunity Center’s sun-filled personal care room, Alice shared her story, why she chooses to volunteer regularly, and emphasized the importance of a haircut.

“I retired from salon ownership and working a little over three years ago,” said Alice. Shortly after retiring, Alice heard about the St. Paul Opportunity Center’s new salon space through a friend. “She told me that this was just opening and that they needed volunteers” Alice explained.

Since then, Alice has been a regular volunteer. During the pandemic, when services like hair care weren’t available, Alice picked up volunteer shifts at the Catholic Charities Distribution Center.

Originally from Minnesota, Alice remarked, “I went to Barber School right here on Seven Corners! The Cossetta’s building used to house the Barber School that I went to.” Cutting hair in the same neighborhood fifty years later, Alice said, “I feel like I’m making a full circle here.”

Almost before she had finished speaking, Erik, a guest at the St. Paul Opportunity Center, showed up for his appointment with Alice and asked, “Hey, are you cutting hair? It’s been two years since I’ve had my hair cut.” Erik told us he had “been kind of going in with scissors” himself since his last haircut and described his hair as “a real mess”.

Unfortunately, not everybody in need of hair care can receive service each week. According to Alice, “there’s always people who come up and stop by to see if they can get a haircut”, who weren’t able to make an appointment.

Help Wanted!

Catholic Charities Twin Cities is currently seeking licensed volunteer hairstylists and barbers—especially those with experience with curly & coily hair. Scheduling is flexible with daytime shifts available Monday through Friday.

Are you a hairstylist or barber interested in making a difference? Email us at volunteer@cctwincities.org to get started!

An Unexpected Experience with Homelessness

Bill has been a member of the St. Paul community for a long time and worked for years to support people experiencing homelessness in different ways. He served on the Board of Directors for Westside Community Health (now known as Minnesota Community Care), volunteered regularly, and became familiar with services available to people facing homelessness.

In the Spring of 2019, Bill’s apartment flooded after heavy rains and snowmelt, and homelessness was something he began to experience himself. Bill and other residents of his building were forced to evacuate, and he had nowhere to go and couldn’t afford a new apartment. Fortunately, Bill knew where to turn for resources. Even with that knowledge, he was unprepared for the challenges he now faced. “I didn’t think it would happen to me,” Bill admitted, “but I knew what to do.”

Bill turned to Catholic Charities for help. At Dorothy Day Place in St. Paul, Bill found shelter, dignity, and hope. The facility provided meals, laundry services, and compassionate care. Bill had the support needed to rebuild his life.

Personalized Support for Vulnerable Neighbors

Bill’s path to stability was not without further obstacles. As he began to find his footing, the COVID-19 pandemic upended his plans. Catholic Charities relocated vulnerable neighbors, including Bill, from shelters to hotels for safety.

Dani’s personalized approach made Bill feel valued and supported as he worked toward rebuilding his life. With her help, he transitioned into permanent housing, a milestone that surprised Bill with its efficiency. “Transition is difficult the older you get – change is not easy,” Bill said. “But Dorothy Day Place is fantastic for any individual . . . tell them what you need, and they’ll help you.”

Catholic Charities’ Homeless Elders program is a lifeline for individuals like Bill. This program addresses the unique challenges faced by older adults experiencing homelessness, who often struggle with physical health issues, limited financial resources, and the emotional toll of displacement.

Bridging Gaps in Service During Winter Storms

When winter storms bring frigid weather, these dangerous conditions pose a serious threat to people experiencing homelessness in the Twin Cities. This month, temperatures remained well below freezing – with subzero windchills – for days on end. In response to this cold snap, Catholic Charities Twin Cities took measures to ensure that people had access to shelter from the elements. For Catholic Charities, this meant extending service hours across the agency to host warm spaces for those in need, making sure that cold weather essentials were readily available to shelter guests, and collaborating with other service providers, and both Hennepin and Ramsey Counties.

This is extremely important because many daytime shelters close their doors hours before evening shelters open. This leaves people with nowhere warm to go in conditions that can be life-threatening.

Homelessness in Minnesota

There are not enough overnight shelter beds in the Twin Cities to serve every person experiencing homelessness. This year’s Minnesota Homeless Study conducted by Wilder Research showed that, “in 2023, nearly one-quarter (23%) of the homeless population spent at least half of the previous month outside, compared to 13% in 2012.”

Catholic Charities Twin Cities has seen a comparable uptick in its emergency services division this year, the branch of the agency responsible for serving people at its daytime and overnight shelters, medical respite, and targeted mental health care programs. Working with community partners to bridge gaps in service this winter will ensure that more people have access to warm spaces on frigid days and nights.

Tom’s Family Seeks Support

Tom is a hardworking man who built a good life in Florida. There, he was close to his parents and was able to establish himself as a tradesman. His success as an HVAC contractor allowed him to live comfortably, be there for his parents, and support his daughter while she lived with her mother in Minnesota. But in just over a year, Tom suffered a series of devastating losses. The mother of Tom’s daughter passed away unexpectedly, and in the following year, Tom lost both of his parents.

Suddenly Tom was navigating the experience of being a single father without the support of family. He picked up extra jobs and worked overtime to make sure his daughter had everything she needed. But living without the support of family wasn’t sustainable for Tom. They started struggling to get by and he knew their situation needed to change. So, Tom and his daughter packed everything they had and drove to Minnesota, where Tom grew up. They planned to stay with a relative in the Twin Cities, but a house fire destroyed the home before they arrived. Tom was devastated when he heard the news. “It’s hard to take so many hits and keep getting up,” he explained, “but I didn’t have a choice.”

With nowhere else to go, Tom and his daughter turned to Catholic Charities for help – they moved into shelter at Catholic Charities Family Service Center in February of 2024.