Catholic Charities Twin Cities’ 31st annual Giving Tree in Macy’s Court at Mall of America in Bloomington will have a special addition this year: therapy animals people can meet as they learn about the social services agency’s work and shop for someone in need this Christmas.
Dogs, cats — even a llama and an alpaca — will be on site at various times Dec. 16 and Dec. 17, said Mike Rios-Keating, director of culture and belonging at the nonprofit. The specially trained animals can visit schools, hospitals, trauma centers, nursing homes, homeless shelters and other places where people are cared for, he said.
At Catholic Charities, the animals can help calm clients who might be agitated as they deal with personal crises such as losing a home, living with housing instability or experiencing homelessness, he said. That kind of assistance is part of trauma-informed care, which takes into account the fact that poverty and other struggles can be traumatic.
Based on that understanding, behavior once thought of as merely disruptive might better be understood as someone communicating distress, Rios-Keating said. The response, then, becomes more gentle, empathetic and helpful, he said.
De-stressing activities at Catholic Charities’ Opportunity Center in St. Paul include opportunities to have feet washed, get a haircut or have nails done, he said. “Petting a dog or a kind animal certainly falls into that,” he said.
Dan Smieja, a member of St. Peter in Mendota, said he will be on site from 10 to 11 a.m. Dec. 17 with his therapy basset hound, Barney. “He has a personality to beat the band,” Smieja said. “He really disarms people, lowers blood pressure. He’s so good at letting people know they are loved.”
People are encouraged to visit Giving Tree, pick up an ornament and shop for needed items. They can stop for a moment and assemble “sock and rolls” of cold weather care items including lip balm, facial tissues, handwarmers and lotion for Catholic Charities’ residents and shelter guests. “Notes for Neighbors” colored by participants also will be given to those in need.
Parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis have started their own Giving Tree or Angel Tree events and deliver the collected items to the Catholic Charities Distribution Center at 341 Chester Street in St. Paul. People can set up their own satellite Giving Tree in businesses, churches, homes and schools and drop off items at the distribution center.
More information is available at cctwincities.org/givingtree.
