Dennis Kelsch to retire from CCS after 16 years

IC photo/Marie Mischel

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Dennis Kelsch displays the watch he received at the farewell reception in honor of his retirement after 16 years at Catholic Community Services. The watch was presented by Brad Drake, CCS executive director, and Msgr. Colin F. Bircumshaw, vicar general.

SALT LAKE CITY — The tributes to Dennis Kelsch, given at a farewell celebration on May 19 at Catholic Community Services of Utah’s St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall in Salt Lake City, all spoke of the man who for the past six years has been the organization’s director of Homeless Services as a person who treats everyone, regardless of social standing, with respect and kindness.

The accolades were fitting for Kelsch, who has seen the number of those served by CCS’s evening meal quadruple since 2011. He also has watched the demographics of the homeless population change: Now there are more women, more people in their 70s and 80s, and more single men in their 20s and 30s, he said.

To help the Homeless Services clients, Kelsch began a job fair program, improved the nutritional quality of the food served at the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall, and implemented an ID card system “which ensured that those who needed our services were being helped, and it weeded out those who were preying on our homeless population,” said Brad Drake, CCS executive director, at the farewell. Also, “in the spirit of helping our clients achieve self-reliance, he gave them strong consideration for job opportunities at Homeless Services,” Drake said. “His compassion and Gospel values guided his decision-making process during his time as program director, putting our clients and staff and volunteers at the forefront of all of his decisions.”

On a personal note, William Pinky, Homeless Services property supervisor, said Kelsch has been like a brother to him, and helped him get off the streets.

“Dennis has helped me through a whole lot of things,” Pinky said. “I have seen him help a whole lot of people with things. One thing I do know about Dennis real well is, no matter where you came from, if you needed help, Dennis helped you. In all the meetings we always have, Dennis always preaches to us that you know the people here come first, and even though they’re down and sometimes they get mad and nasty and rude with us, that you know God wants us to help them people.”

Kelsch began at CCS 16 years, when he was hired to help run the Ministry for Older Adults, a program that later was cut because of budgetary constraints. He then oversaw the CCS heat program, food pantry and Gift of the Drummer and Backpack Bonanza programs.  In 2011, when Jose Lazaro moved from the position of Homeless Services director to that of CCS development director, Kelsch took over the position.

“I love the job, I love CCS and I love the mission here for the homeless,” Kelsch said, adding that wanting to work for the poor has always been one of his desires. He has had many opportunities in life, he said, and “I look at so many people who don’t have anywhere near that. I just am so thankful, and I feel I need to do something.”

By helping others, “You’re fulfilling what the Gospel calls you to do,” he said. “I know that not everyone can … earn a living by doing that, but I’ve been lucky and blessed to be able to do it.”

Kelsch treats everyone with respect and dignity, said Pamela Atkinson, a homeless advocate who has worked with him since he began at CCS.

Speaking to Kelsch at the farewell, she said, “You’ve made people feel good about themselves, and I think your legacy is the difference that you’ve made, the kindness that you’ve showed to people. You’re a man of integrity. You do not compromise your values. You live up to them, and in so many ways you epitomize the teachings of Jesus Christ. … It has been a pleasure and honor to be a part of your team.”

In his comments, Msgr. Colin F. Bircumshaw, vicar general of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, thanked and congratulated Kelsch on behalf of Bishop Oscar A. Solis.

In honoring Kelsch, everyone who works at CCS is honored because they, like him, have “decided that qualities like empathy – not just sympathy but empathy – are important in your life,” Msgr. Bircumshaw said. “You’re willing to look at life standing in another person’s shoes without judgement.”

Kelsch, whose last day will be June 9, said his staff deserve the credit for all that has been accomplished in his six years as director.

“The thing I’m going to miss most is working with all these wonderful people,” he said. “I have so many things to be thankful for, and feel so privileged that God has let me be part of this organization.”