Tyler wanted his old life back — but for the past few years, he’d felt trapped by mental illness. It all started shortly after he graduated from college back in 2002. He was coaching basketball and looking into a career in the mortgage industry. When he was invited to go on a mission trip to Haiti, he gladly volunteered, but sadly, that was the beginning of his journey with mental health issues. “I had a bad reaction to a drug I received to prevent malaria,” he says. “After I got back from Haiti, I started experiencing some bipolar symptoms. It…

Do you ever wonder what to say when a pandhandler asks you for money? Instead of giving your spare change, put them in touch with the CAC where they have a chance at experiencing real change. We have meal cards that you can hand out to pandhandlers--maybe along with a bottle of water or a granola bar. We're happy to send these cards to you; just email Caitlin with your address and the number of cards you would like. 

When she was young, difficulties at home led Destiny to turn to food for comfort. Binge eating became an addiction that plagued her for years.  As she entered adulthood, finding a job proved challenging, if not impossible. Employers tended to overlook Destiny due to her disabilities, which were yet undiagnosed and left her confined to a wheelchair. “I had no confidence, and just felt worthless,” she says. She tried to stay afloat on her own but wound up evicted from her apartment. Just as she was trying to deal with the dire situation of homelessness, several family members and friends…

“When I got divorced a few years ago, I didn’t know what to do next. My friends were giving me bad advice and inviting me to go to bars with them. But I have two kids and wanted to make the best decisions for them. At that time, I was “couch surfing.” Even though I had my own business as a barber, I didn’t have a place to call home. One day, while cutting the hair of a regular client, I shared a bit about the struggles I was going through. He happens to be a pastor and he invited…

Nearly 100 people ate at our Thanksgiving tables this year thanks to your generous donations of funds and homemade pies. Thank you so much for your generous support of our mission--we couldn't do what we do without YOU!

Did you know we honor the guests who complete our life-recovery program with a graduation ceremony? Since it takes about 18 months to finish the program, we think they deserve a collective celebration! For many of these men and women, this could be their first graduation from anywhere, so we work hard to make it an unforgettable occasion. For example, our graduates wear traditional caps and gowns. And, according to the feedback we receive, the most meaningful part of the event is the powerful sharing of personal transformation stories. 

Since birth, Kurt has struggled with degenerative vision problems. Determined to support himself, he was able to overcome his disability for quite some time – into his mid-30s. But when his eyesight got so bad he was unable to hold down a job or read his favorite books, he found himself depressed and unable to afford groceries or rent. His mental health was further challenged when an astonishing number of close family members passed away during a short span of time. He endured so much loss. “My relationship with God was up and down. But at that point, I was…

Life as we knew it has drastically changed for all of us. It seems each new day brings more uncertainty. But despite the challenges posed by the Coronavirus pandemic, the Christian Aid Center is still here serving some of the most vulnerable members of our community—people experiencing homelessness, hunger and need.  Because of this crisis, we’ve had to make a lot of changes to protect the health and safety of our guests; such as keeping them on campus 24 hours-a-day and screening them daily for COVID-19 symptom. These efforts, in turn, also protect the health of our community and have…