Published 1/9/25

Hearts for Hope

Catholic Charities Counseling Services, located near Lake Huron Medical Center in Port Huron, provides services for all ages and stages of life. The office is expanding a very special part of their services for children and adolescents: play therapy. Money raised from this year’s Hearts for Hope event will go toward continuing the expansion of the program.

February 12, 2026

This year’s Hearts for Hope event will be held on February 12th from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Port Huron Golf Club. Last year’s Hearts for Hope event was sold out. Those who attended enjoyed the fantastic food and beverages that you can only get at the Port Huron Golf Club. Brief presentations were made highlighting the work that Catholic Charities does in St. Clair County, and guests enjoyed a pre-Valentine’s Day “date night” in a cozy, fun setting. Registrations can be made online at ccsem.org/events/hearts-for-hope/.

Online Auction

There will be an exciting auction of vacation rentals, experiences, and gift baskets. Bidding is online so that anyone can bid, even if they can not attend the event. The link will be available a few days before the event. The Catholic Charities Facebook page is a great place to find the link.

What is Play Therapy?

Eric Norat, Associate Director of Behavioral Health at the Port Huron and Lapeer offices of Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan, said, “It is a blessing to offer children a safe place and a voice where they can express themselves through the natural language of play. Our Child Play Therapy program provides a blank canvas, allowing children to share their stories, emotions, and experiences in ways words often cannot.”

Norat said, “While children are resilient, resilience alone does not bring healing. Children need the opportunity to gently process their experiences in environments that feel safe, welcoming, and familiar. These are spaces where their perspectives are respected, and their voices are heard.”

A Place for Healing

Norat said, “My hope is for this program to grow into a place that offers a variety of supportive services for children and their families—a place rooted in compassion, care, and connection, where healing can happen together.”

If you have a child in need of mental health services, please call Catholic Charities Counseling Services at 810.987.9100.

Story by Jennie McClelland for BlueWaterParent.com