1941-1959

Father Earl V. Sheridan, a young priest with a new Master’s Degree in Social Work forms Catholic Social Service Bureau in 1941.

Miss Bess Rosenzweig was Fr. Sheridan’s hardworking secretary from 1941-1958.

The Bureau also ran a sandwich program, and any hungry person who knocked on the back door of the Holy Angels Convent was fed.

A Caseworker from Catholic Social Services helping a child in the Child Welfare Program in 1956.

  • Father Earl V. Sheridan, newly equipped with a master's degree in social work from The Catholic University of America, established the Catholic Social Service Bureau under the direction of Bishop Joseph Albers. Working alongside three Franciscan Sisters of the Poor recruited from the Cincinnati area, Father Sheridan began serving the community from a small house on the corner of Fifth Avenue in Flint. The Bureau provided family counseling and operated a sandwich program, ensuring that anyone who came to the back door of Holy Angels Convent hungry would receive a meal.

  • As the agency grew alongside the community, it identified an urgent need to assist unmarried expectant mothers with hospital arrangements for childbirth. This marked an important expansion of its commitment to supporting vulnerable women and children.

  • In 1953, the Bureau founded the Don Bosco Club, a program similar to Big Brothers, and had hired eighteen men who had been working as volunteer counselors.

  • The agency became a state-licensed child placement organization and established its Child Welfare Program. Services expanded to support unmarried mothers and prospective adoptive parents, strengthening its role in protecting children and helping families build stable futures.

  • Father Francis Murray founded Catholic Social Service of Kalamazoo and became its first director, reflecting the continued development of Catholic social service ministries in Michigan.

1960-1979

Longtime volunteer, William O’Brien wins Fr. Earl V. Sheridan Award in 1974.

Bill Haley became the first lay executive director of the Bureau in 1966.

Sr. Claudia Burke established Catholic Outreach to help meet the everyday needs in the community in 1971.

The Bureau began new initiatives to help pregnant mothers with finances and housing in 1971.

  • Father Earl V. Sheridan was appointed monsignor and stepped down as executive director to oversee the construction of St. Michael Catholic Church. Father Francis Murray succeeded him for approximately one year, continuing the agency's leadership transition.

  • Bill Haley, a St. Michael High School graduate who earned his master's degree in social work from Michigan State University, became the agency's first lay executive director. Having joined the organization as a caseworker in 1951, he brought 15 years of experience to the position and served until his retirement in 1986. Around this period, the agency also adopted the name Catholic Social Services.

  • Sister Claudia Burke established Catholic Outreach to meet practical, everyday needs throughout the community. Through donated goods, personal necessities, and funds raised through her bingo events, the program helped individuals and families experiencing hardship access essential resources.

    The Bureau also started new initiatives to help pregnant women navigate potential financial, social, and housing challenges.

1980-1999

Universal Electric presenting a check to Catholic Social Services in Shiawassee in 1981.

Thanksgiving at the North End Soup Kitchen in 1998.

Summer fun through the North End Soup Kitchen’s Summer Program 1998.

  • Sister Claudia Burke and a dedicated group of volunteers established the North End Soup Kitchen (NESK). On a chilly October morning, the kitchen served its first 10 meals, beginning a lasting tradition of providing food and fellowship to neighbors facing hunger.

  • The North End Soup Kitchen became a program of Catholic Social Services, which also took responsibility for the Holy Angels Sandwich Program. Bringing these efforts together strengthened the agency's ongoing response to food insecurity.

  • New Horizons, a foster care program serving teenage mothers and their babies, was established and grew to a maximum capacity of 15 girls. The innovative program was named Foster Care Program of the Year by the Michigan Federation of Private Child and Family Agencies.

  • Grants from the Genesee County Commission on Substance Abuse Services and the Community Foundation of Greater Flint helped launch drug and alcohol prevention, education, and treatment-related initiatives for adults, youth, and families. Children In Focus provided prevention education in elementary schools, while Parents with Feeling and Communication helped parents better understand their children's needs in families affected by substance use.

  • Deborah McCormick became executive director, bringing extensive experience in social work and client services. Under her leadership, the agency expanded from a small office in the United Way building into an organization with a $4 million budget and 22 programs.

  • The agency relocated to the Sheridan Center on Chippewa Street, creating additional space for programs and offices. Renovations included accessibility improvements and the conversion of the former convent into usable office space. That same year, Catholic Social Services of Shiawassee County merged with the Genesee County agency, expanding its reach and enabling additional mental health services, case management, medication-related services, and outpatient programming in partnership with Genesee County Community Mental Health.

Ribbon-cutting at the newly opened Sheridan Building in 1997.

2000-2009

Workers at the Women’s Expo helping raise awareness and offering support and services in 2007.

Posing with a recent donation of Love Luggage in 2003 which provided personal item to those in need.

Catholic Charities staff posing for a picture in 2009.

  • Celebrating its 60th anniversary, the agency adopted the name Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties (CCSGC), strengthening its connection to the national Catholic Charities USA network. Services continued to grow through contracts supporting family reunification, parenting, and drug court programs.

  • The agency had launched a capital campaign that raised $1.7 million to renovate and expand its main offices at the Sheridan Center, including the installation of an elevator. The campaign was completed in 2004 under Deborah McCormick's leadership, helping accommodate growing programs and improve accessibility.

  • The National Council on Alcoholism and Addictions merged with CCSGC, bringing additional staff and programming into the agency and broadening its substance use services.

  • Vicky Schultz returned to the agency as president and CEO after previously serving as director of development from 1999 to 2001. Her leadership supported continued growth, stronger partnerships, and the expansion of the agency's mission.

  • The Personal Needs Program moved across the street into the former Sacred Heart Catholic Church and became known as the Community Closet. Its offerings expanded beyond personal necessities to include clothing, furniture, appliances, and household goods. The agency also added specialized counseling and intensive outpatient services, along with substance use and sex offender treatment contracts through the Michigan Department of Corrections.

  • The Spanish Speaking Information Center merged with CCSGC, expanding access to services for Spanish-speaking residents. The agency also strengthened housing support through federal homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing initiatives, providing case management for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their housing. Domestic violence services expanded, including staff training in the Duluth Model approach. The agency also became the first provider of domestic violence programming in Shiawassee and Genesee counties, according to its historical account.

2010-2014

The North End Soup kitchen celebrated its 18th Kids Summer Camp in 2014.

Another successful 25 days of giving in 2014, where thousands of pounds of food were donated to the Soup Kitchens.

Sr. Claudia Burke passed away in 2010, and was remembered for her lifelong commitment to helping the community.

  • Sister Claudia Burke passed away, leaving behind a legacy of compassionate service through Catholic Outreach and the North End Soup Kitchen. Her work supporting food access, personal needs, and people experiencing hardship continued to shape the agency's mission.

  • As the agency marked its 70th anniversary, growing demand for food assistance in south Flint led Community Services Director John Manse to partner with Lincoln Park United Methodist Church to establish the South Flint Soup Kitchen. The former St. Michael's School building was rededicated and renamed the Sister Claudia Burke Center for Hope, honoring Sister Claudia's enduring contributions to the community.

  • The agency expanded its housing-related services through programs supporting people experiencing homelessness, including specialized case management for individuals affected by substance use and co-occurring disorders. Funding also supported a Transitional Boarding House program for people needing additional stability and support.

  • Catholic Outreach merged with the agency, bringing additional assistance programs under its umbrella. Services included help with utility bills and rent, food distribution, and medical transportation for children through the St. Christopher's Program, which helps children travel to medical appointments across Michigan.

  • Following a strategic planning process involving board members and staff, the agency adopted eight core values: compassion, education, family preservation, hope, human dignity, integrity, love, and respect. The Work Ready Room was established at the Center for Hope to help community members prepare for employment through professional clothing, resume assistance, and interview preparation.

    The Center for Hope also underwent improvements, including showers and laundry facilities, while the Community Closet expanded its essential-goods offerings. Partnerships with Re-Connections helped strengthen training and support for individuals returning to the community after incarceration.

2015-2017

Catholic Charities has their first boxing fundraiser - “Fight for Flint” in 2016.

Catholic Charities became a leader in assisting the community with access to drinking water in 2016.

The Center for Hope, after major renovations, reopened its doors in 2017.

  • CCSGC partnered with United Way and the Salvation Army on the Keep the Water Flowing initiative and participated in collaborative efforts to improve access to energy assistance. As the Flint water crisis became public, the agency worked with community organizations, local partners, and the Diocese of Lansing's Faith in Flint Campaign to address residents' urgent basic needs. The agency also maintained accreditation through the Council on Accreditation for designated substance use, mental health, and prevention education services.

  • CCSGC became one of the early agencies assisting with water relief, receiving monetary donations and water-related supplies from across all 50 states and internationally. The agency celebrated its 75th anniversary with clients, community partners, board members, and staff. It also launched the Fight for Flint boxing fundraiser to support ongoing water assistance efforts. By this time, the agency was serving more than 30,000 people annually with the support of over 100 employees.

  • Following renovations that temporarily relocated programs to St. Michael's Catholic Church, the Sister Claudia Burke Center for Hope opened to the public in the fall. The center brought together the Community Closet, soup kitchen, Work Ready Room, life skills classroom, showers, laundry facilities, prevention education, and outreach assistance. A water filling station was added at the North End Soup Kitchen, and the agency continued its involvement in water crisis response. Additional growth included expanded drug court peer recovery support, new Michigan Department of Corrections contracts, and recognition from the Ruth Mott Foundation for the Mr. Gaines Garden PLUS Program. The agency also moved its Owosso office to a larger space and promoted its welcoming message: “Not Catholic, Not a Problem.”

2018-2021

“Dropping the Puck” Fundraiser for Catholic Charities with the Flint Firebirds in 2018.

The upper floor of the North End Soup Kitchen became a store in 2018.

Catholic Charities increased food distribution and started Telehealth Counseling in 2020.

  • To generate support for the North End Soup Kitchen, the agency established the Mid-Michigan ReSource Warehouse (MMRW) above the kitchen. The warehouse began by supplying selected nonprofit organizations and teachers with donated goods to support their facilities and the people they serve. Through its relationship with Good360, a national nonprofit that connects corporate product donations with charitable organizations, MMRW became an appointed community redistribution partner serving Mid-Michigan.

  • In 2019, the ReSource Warehouse opened membership to a broader range of nonprofit organizations. In August 2020, it relocated to its present location on North Genesee Road, providing additional opportunities to distribute donated products and support organizations throughout the region.

2022-2024

After it’s purchase in 2021, St. Michael’s Conference Center completed its renovation in 2023.

Looking at layouts for the future tiny homes of Sacred Heart Veteran Village in 2022.

Vicky Shultz retires as CEO after 15 years of Service, and Katie Baxter is appointed by Bishop Boyea in 2022.

  • After 15 years of service, Vicky Schultz retired as president and CEO. Her dedication to the agency and community was recognized as she passed the leadership forward. Bishop Earl Boyea officially appointed Katie Baxter, LMSW, as the agency's new chief executive officer on October 20, 2022, helping ensure continuity in the organization's mission.

  • CCSGC began developing a vision for small-footprint homes designed to meet the needs of individuals served by the agency. Working with Innovative Tiny Houses, Genesee Career Institute, Grand Blanc High School, and Sedgwick + Ferweda Architects, the agency explored practical housing layouts. Initial funding from the Clara Lionel Foundation, founded by Rihanna, and the Community Foundation of Greater Flint helped make it possible to purchase two property lots on Root Street near the Flint campus through the Genesee County Land Bank.

  • Local companies and private donors contributed more than $300,000 in sponsorships to support the agency's work. Key supporters included Wolverine Fire Protection Systems, ELGA Credit Union, Dort Financial Credit Union, GECS, and Innovative Tiny Houses. In February, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation announced a $500,000 grant toward the Sacred Heart Veteran Village Project, providing significant support for the agency's vision of housing for veterans.

2025-2026

Groundbreaking at the future site of Sacred heart Veteran Village in 2025.

17th annual Blessed to be a Blessing Thanksgiving feast at the Center for Hope in 2025.

Passing the key to our first Veteran resident at Sacred Heart Veteran Village in 2026.

  • Construction began at the site of the former Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the namesake of the project. Within a few months, the village's Resource Center was completed and opened to the public on October 20, 2025. The milestone represented an important step toward creating a supportive community for veterans.

    That same year, the agency transitioned its counseling program to operate fully in Shiawassee County while continuing to accept clients from Genesee County. Housing responsibilities in Shiawassee County were transferred to GCHC and EightCAP, Inc.

  • The first residents moved into Sacred Heart Veteran Village, marking a defining moment in the agency's ongoing commitment to housing stability, dignity, and hope. The project brought years of planning, partnerships, fundraising, and community investment into action, creating a new opportunity for veterans to find a place to call home.

  • MMRW expanded its membership eligibility to include first responders, including police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians. This development extended the warehouse's resource-sharing mission to additional community-serving organizations and professionals.

85 Years of Turning Compassion into Action

From the first meals served at Holy Angels Convent in 1941 to the opening of the Sacred Heart Veteran Village in 2025 and the arrival of its first residents in 2026, the history of Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties is a story of responding to people where they are and helping them move toward a more secure future.

Across generations, the agency has adapted to changing community needs while remaining grounded in its founding values of compassion, education, family preservation, hope, human dignity, integrity, love, and respect. Its soup kitchens, counseling programs, Community Closet, housing initiatives, employment resources, and regional partnerships represent more than a collection of services: they reflect a longstanding commitment to ensuring that people facing hardship are treated with dignity and have access to the support they need.

More than 85 years after its founding, the mission continues — meeting needs, strengthening families, building partnerships, and bringing hope to the communities of Shiawassee and Genesee counties.