Ernie* is a quiet, thoughtful man who came to the Christian Aid Center after his relationship with his family fell apart.  He didn't have anywhere to go until a helpful stranger told him about our mission.  Ernie describes himself as "broke down."  When you talk with him, it's clear he is hurting deeply.  His leg shakes uncontrollably and he is tormented by nightmares--symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from serving in the Vietnam War.   Of the estimated 630,000 homeless people in America, about 67,500 are veterans--that's more than one out of 10.  Seventy-six percent are experiencing issues with…

Finding the Strength to Start Over “The Center changes lives…it gave me peace and a purpose.” Everything changed when Elizabeth looked up from her hospital bed to see the tear-stained faces of her two young children.  The look in their eyes as they saw how badly their mother had been beaten gave her the courage to leave an abusive relationship and stop drinking. Her alcohol abuse began years before, when her first relationship ended and her ex took custody of her kids. “I was pretty torn up because I had two older children and he took them — wouldn’t let…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 20, 2018 CAC Celebrates the Completion of its $4.85 Million Gift of Grace Campaign Walla Walla, Wash.—The Christian Aid Center (CAC) has reached its $4.85 million goal for the Gift of Grace campaign to build a center for homeless women and children. The new facility is currently under construction and slated to open its doors this June. Taking less than two years, this campaign owes its success to the investments of many individuals, foundations—including the highly regarded M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust—, businesses, local service clubs and organizations, and CAC’s seed money saved toward this new building. “We are so grateful to…

Please join us in the excitement of Demo Day—a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Center for Women and Children. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, September 26 at 5 pm, on Fourth and Birch streets. It will feature live music, free cake and root beer floats, Pineapple Pete’s shaved ice, fun activities for kids, and live demolition. There will be food trucks available for those who wish to purchase dinner. The new $4.85 million center is expected to open its doors in the Spring of 2018, and it is funded by the Gift of Grace campaign for homeless women and children.