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Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha
June 2025 Newsletter
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Supporting our neighbors in need through spirituality, friendship and service
Providing emergency food, clothing, material and financial / homeless prevention assistance, since 1868
| | | FOOD PANTRY | PARISH CONFERENCE OUTREACH | HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION FOOD/CLOTHING FOR THE HOMELESS | DISASTER RECOVERY | THRIFT STORES | | |
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Message From Our Executive Director
- SSVP Staff Spotlight – Rebecca Darga
- Message from A Neighbor You’ve Helped
- Why Your Donations Are So Important
- Items Needed For Our Homeless Ministries
- Pantry Garden Update/Photos
- WOWT/FIRST ALERT 6 “Stuff the Truck”
- Thank You to Nebraska Humane Society
- Winter Coats at Our Thrift Stores (and one Volunteer Opportunity)
- Thrift Stores’ June Sales
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A Message from our Executive Director, Jill Lynch-Sosa
"Let us do without hesitation whatever good lies at our hands.”
– Blessed Frederic Ozanam, Founder of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
| | Dear Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha Friends, | | |
The above quote from Blessed Frederic Ozanam – founder of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul – is a reminder that the Society is, at its core, very much a volunteer-driven organization. Most assuredly, the hands of amazing, compassionate volunteers are what provide meals and clothing to the homeless, food to struggling local households and financial and material assistance to local families in crisis.
In my position, I feel lucky to be able to know and work with fellow Omahans who volunteer in our homeless ministries here at Holy Family, in our downtown Food Pantry and Pantry Garden, in our four thrift stores around the city, on-site with victims of natural disasters, and at any of our 31 SSVP parish conferences. Each of our volunteers has a compassionate heart for those here in Omaha who are poor, struggling, and facing a crisis – and who need a “hand up” during their time of need.
Remarkably, in the space of one year, the Society’s programs have been the beneficiary of 64,650 hours of service, provided by many hundreds of volunteers. This is an incredible number, and even more so, considering that the value of just one volunteer hour in the U.S. is currently estimated at $34.79. This calculates to a $2,249,174, which is the positive economic impact that volunteers have on the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha. It goes without saying that it would simply be impossible for the Society to care for the nearly 130,000 people we serve each year without the time and talent provided by our selfless SSVP volunteers.
So, if you are or have been a volunteer with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha – thank you! We definitely need and are grateful for our terrific SSVP volunteers!
However, if you have not yet had the opportunity to volunteer with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul – but you’ve been thinking of getting involved – now is the perfect time! So, if you’re looking for a way to give back, meet amazing people, and make a real impact on your community, please consider joining our team of passionate volunteers! Whether you can give an hour or a day, your time can change lives – and enrich your own. No experience? No problem. We provide a welcoming community, and every helping hand matters. We’d love to have you on board.
The person at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha who coordinates volunteer activities is Executive Assistant, Rebecca Darga. Rebecca is relatively new to the Society, and she would be happy to chat with you about volunteer possibilities and put you – and your helping hands – to doing good work in the service of others. I invite you to check out the next newsletter article, introducing Rebecca, which includes her contact information.
In closing, I want you to know how grateful I am for any and all ways you are able to support the Society of St. Vincent de Paul – whether they’re seen or more veiled. As is the case regarding volunteers, the Society truly is unable to fulfill ANY aspect of our mission of serving neighbors in need without the gracious financial and material donations we receive from caring friends in the community, like you. As always, please know that you continue to be in my prayers and in the prayers of the Society.
In His Name,
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Jill Lynch-Sosa
Executive Director
| | Rebecca Darga has been working at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha since mid-January. And, among the responsibilities she has in her role as Executive Assistant, Rebecca coordinates our Volunteer Program and works with our program staff to help schedule volunteers. This aspect of her position is quite familiar to Rebecca, as she brings to the Society 14+ years of experience and involvement with volunteer coordination. | | |
As background …. Rebecca Darga has been married to her husband, Ryan, for ten years. They relocated to the Omaha area from Boise, Idaho, this past November, for her husband's work. As she was looking at her own employment opportunities, Rebecca, who previously had worked in office and volunteer administration for a church back in Boise, was excited about the prospect of being able to live out her faith, serving people in need – the cornerstone of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. As such, during these past five months, Rebecca has made her transition to the Society, and her becoming an indispensable team member, look unbelievably easy.
“I’ve volunteered most of my life, including being a leader for 8 years in the youth group at my home church in the Detroit area,” shares Rebecca. “I have volunteered for mission trips here in the U.S., as well as to Lithuania, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Uganda. I also have many years of experience overseeing volunteers, both within churches I’ve worked at and with an after-school outreach program in downtown Detroit. I know what it means to volunteer and how important volunteers are to an organization.”
“I’ve always felt called to be the hands and feet of Jesus – and to share Jesus’ love with those I serve,” continues Rebecca. “So, when I started looking at employment possibilities here in Omaha, this position with St. Vincent de Paul really stood out. Being in my role with the Society allows me to combine my professional experiences with my personal interests. That’s important to me, and I love being here.”
In addition to volunteer coordination, Rebecca provides direct support to the Operations Director and Executive Director, as well as administrative support in a variety of areas within the Society, including Finance, Operations, Development, and our Programs. Rebecca also manages our front office. In that role, Rebecca is often the first person to greet anyone who stops by or calls St. Vincent de Paul. “I enjoy meeting people, as well as the varied responsibilities I have here at the Society,” continues Rebecca. “I love organizing, and I want to make sure everything is in order so that all of our programs’ needs are met."
While Rebecca has worked with volunteers the majority of her professional life, she has been especially impressed with and touched by the dedication of the volunteers with whom she’s interacted here at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha. “The volunteers I’ve met and worked with are absolutely wonderful,” shares Rebecca. “They’re faithful, essential, and invaluable to the functionality of our outreach programs, and so hard-working. In my nearly half a year with the Society, I can tell you that our volunteers are SO committed to this mission of serving our neighbors who are struggling financially, or who are homeless. They know how critically important their service is to the people we help. They TRULY care.”
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To illustrate this point, Rebecca reflects on a story involving a St. Vincent de Paul volunteer who went `above and beyond’ – one that really stood out for her – as she shares: “One morning, a homeless man came to the Closet Door, asking if we had a formal men’s suit that he might be able to have. We mostly stock casual, everyday kinds of clothing, like jeans, t-shirts, sweatshirts…those kinds of things. We definitely didn’t have any suits.”
“In the course of conversation,” continues Rebecca, “one of our Closet Door volunteers, Kathy, asked this man why he needed a suit. He told her that he’d been diagnosed with a fast-developing, ultimately fatal cancer, and was very sick and nearing the end of his life. He told Kathy that he was hoping to obtain a suit that he could be buried in, as he didn’t own one. Knowing that there were no formal wear items on hand at the Closet Door, Kathy took it upon herself to make sure this homeless man was able to obtain a suit, eventually finding one in his size at one of our thrift stores. After hearing the background about why Kathy needed the suit, our thrift store manager made it available at no cost, and Kathy brought it to the Closet Door for this man to have. Now THAT is a volunteer who is truly committed to caring for someone in need!”
As Rebecca concludes her reflections on her role with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, she focuses on the helpful, ever-positive nature of our volunteers: “They’re so cheerful, upbeat, and always willing to jump in and do ANYTHING they’re asked. For instance, after a homeless neighbor, Krissy, passed away in her tent on a frigid morning this past March, we held a memorial service and luncheon for her family and friends, here at our Holy Family Center. Prior to the event, I put the word out to our regular volunteers that we would be needing assistance with putting on this service and meal. Not surprisingly, I was absolutely bombarded with folks willing to volunteer and lend a hand. That’s just how they are, always willing to pitch in to help these neighbors in whatever way they can. Our volunteers really do have a heart for the people they serve. And so do I.”
If you have questions about volunteering or to explore possible volunteer options, Rebecca can be reached at volunteers@ssvpomaha.org or at 402-770-8499, extension 109. Rebecca would be very happy to chat with you! More information about the Society's volunteer opportunities can be found on our newly updated Volunteer page, found HERE.
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Editor’s Note: As mentioned at the beginning of this article, Rebecca and her husband, Ryan, have been married for ten years. In fact, this couple is actually celebrating their 10-year anniversary on the very day this newsletter is being sent out/published – June 6, 2025!
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How big of an impact do your donations have on individuals and families facing a financial crisis and who seek assistance from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul? Well, a pretty significant one, according to such a neighbor, Nikki, who recently shared her reflections on the crisis she found herself in, and the assistance she was provided. While Nikki shares her heartfelt gratitude with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, her appreciation truly goes out to the caring and compassionate friends of the Society, whose donations make all of our services possible. You can check out Nikki’s video reflection HERE.
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As with all non-profit organizations, there are tangible costs associated with providing the programs and services that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha offers to families and individuals from our community who are struggling and in need. What you may NOT know, though, is that the vast majority of the non-grant revenues that support our ability to operate these programs comes from you – our caring and compassionate donors! On this topic, it’s helpful to note that, historically, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha receives little to no government-originated funding. The reason that this is important is because it underscores the fact that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul isn’t dependent on the volatile, sometimes unpredictable nature of government grants. It’s also the case that such sources of funding may come with expectations and restrictions, some of which may not be fully aligned with the mission of the Society.
You may be interested to know that there are many options to consider and choose from, when making a financial gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha, including:
- Send a check, cash or money order to: Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha, 1715 Izard Street, Omaha, NE 68102.
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Make an online gift, using a credit or debit card – at ssvpomaha.org.
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Set up a recurring/monthly donation – also at ssvpomaha.org.
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Make a gift of securities (stocks or mutual funds). SSVP partners with the Omaha Community Foundation to accept gifts of securities. Please contact Nathan Morgan at the OCF, who will facilitate the securities transfer at nathan@omahafoundation.org or at 402-933-4229.
- Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from an IRA. In 2025, a QCD allows individuals aged 70½ or older to donate up to $108,000 per individual or $216,000 for married couples filing jointly – from your traditional IRA to qualified charities, like the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha. This donation counts towards your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year. The donation is tax-free, and the funds are transferred directly from the IRA to the Society. The deadline to make a QCD is December 31st of any tax year.
- Honor your legacy of compassion by directing memorial donations to go to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha – your charity of choice in your final wishes.
- Make an estate planning gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha in your will or trust, one that will provide help and hope for those in need for years to come.
| Please know how incredibly grateful the Society is for your support of our mission of caring for our poor and vulnerable Omaha neighbors in need. If you have any questions about making a gift or about any of the giving options above, please contact our Development Director, Tim Sully at tim.sully@ssvpomaha.org or at 402-779-8499, extension 103. Tim will be very happy to chat with you and answer any questions you may have. | | |
As you know, our Holy Family Homeless Ministries - our Sack Lunch and Closet Door Programs - directly provide our homeless neighbors with the food, clothing, toiletries and other personal care items they need to navigate and survive each day. In an average week, Sack Lunch volunteers make and distribute 1,125 meals and Closet Door volunteers can serve well over 100 unhoused neighbors. And, as you may expect, these ministries require a great deal of materials and donations, with which we could really use your help right now.
Will you please consider supporting these programs by donating any of the following items, of which we are in particular need? For the Sack Lunch program, we are running very low on “salties” - snacks like pretzels, popcorn, and chips that go into the lunches. As for the Closet Door, we are extremely low on men’s hoodies and men’s jeans in waist sizes 30-36 (although jeans of any size are always appreciated).
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By supporting our Sack Lunch and Closet Door Homeless Ministries, your donations go directly to the hungry and homeless of our community. Please take this opportunity to help keep our "least among us" neighbors in need fed, warm and dry.
You can drop off your donations at our Holy Family Center - located at 1715 Izard Street - anytime between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Donations can also be dropped off at any of our thrift stores; just label the donation "For the "Closet Door/Homeless Ministries."
THANK YOU!
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The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha’s Pantry Garden is “up and running”, according to volunteer and garden organizer, Pat Slaven: “We've got almost everything planted – tomatoes, peppers, salad greens, radishes, carrots, beets, beans, cucumbers and peas. We planted the cool season seeds in mid-April and have already harvested all of the greens and radishes. Other crops will be seeded or transplanted into those beds."
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The garden has a new structural addition this year, with a very cool archway over one of the walkways between the beds. Continues Pat: “We've planted peas, beans and cucumbers next to these archways, so they can grow up over the walk. This should make harvesting much easier."
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"One of our Pantry Garden volunteers has been doing a great job of taking care of the grounds outside of the garden fence. He's been mowing, weeding, and whatever else is needed. Both inside and outside the garden looks great."
Pat concludes: "In all, it's been a terrific spring, and we look forward to another great year of growing produce to provide to our neighbors in need."
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Just yesterday, Thursday, June 5th, WOWT/FIRST ALERT 6 and Methodist Health Systems hosted their 2025 Spring "Stuff the Truck!" food drive.
With a truck from Two Men and a Truck, hosted at both the Methodist Women's Hospital and the Methodist Physicians Clinic, this event invited people from all over Omaha to donate non-perishable food.
All of the donations raised at these two locations were given to our SSVP Omaha downtown Food Pantry, to be distributed to those in need facing financial difficulty and food insecurity.
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In total, thanks to many incredibly generous donors, this spring's "Stuff the Truck" raised 21,912 pounds of food, along with $3,831 - making this day and event a tremendous success!
A big thank you goes out to everyone who volunteered their time and efforts yesterday, and to all of the kind donors who dropped off food to help those in need. And, of course, we would like to thank WOWT/FIRST ALERT 6, Methodist Health Systems, and Two Men and a Truck for their amazing generosity in making this food drive happen!
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In addition to their compassionate care for animals and the many valuable programs they offer the community, the Nebraska Humane Society also provides a deeply appreciated service to fellow nonprofits – including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha.
Through a special initiative, the Nebraska Humane Society donates pallets of dog and cat food, along with pet accessories such as collars and leashes, to local organizations that operate food pantries or similar outreach efforts.
Thanks to this generosity, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha is able to distribute pet food to neighbors in need through our Food Pantry. Volunteers and staff ensure that families with pets receive this extra support. Additionally, our Holy Family Homeless Ministries share these donations with unhoused neighbors who rely on our District Office and often have beloved pets of their own.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is grateful to the Nebraska Humane Society for their generosity to neighbors in need!
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As you may know, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha’s four thrift stores around the metro area receive donations of clothing and household goods – which we sell at deeply discounted pricing to help local families in need balance their budgets. One very helpful item we receive in donations is used winter coats. Winter coat donations are VERY much appreciated, as neighbors who are struggling, financially, often look for them in our thrift stores – when they’re not able to afford new ones at higher retail prices. Other winter coats we receive in donations are given away at our two SSVP Winter Coat Giveaways, held in October.
All of this, above, is great, right? Yes, but with one caveat...
It is often the case that the used winter coats we receive in donations at our thrift stores are in terrific condition. However, many of these coats may also be dirty and in need of a good washing, prior to making them available to the public. Unfortunately, our thrift stores have no way of washing such winter coats. This is where YOU come in!
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha is asking if you would please consider taking on the task of volunteering to wash and dry used winter coats that we receive in donations. What this volunteer opportunity would entail is calling or stopping by any of our four thrift stores (phone & address information, below) and asking our staff if they have any used winter coats that need to be cleaned. Volunteers would then need to pick up such coats, wash and dry them at their home, and then return them to the store. That’s it!
If you have any questions about any of this information, please feel free to be in touch with our Director of Stores, Corinne Ficken, at gm@ssvpomaha.org. And, thank you, in advance, for considering this unique, important volunteer opportunity!
| | 50% OFF AT ALL SSVP OMAHA THRIFT STORES! | | |
Join us on the last Saturday of the month, June 28th, where you can get 50% off your entire order by shopping at SSVP Omaha! *
We have lots of beautiful items waiting to find their new homes! Find your favorite at our SSVP Omaha thrift stores on Saturday, June 28th!
*Mattresses not included in sale*
| | SSVP OMAHA THRIFT STORE LOCATIONS: | | |
12301 West Center Road
Mon-Sat, 10 AM-8 PM
Sun, 12 PM-5 PM
(402) 933-8242
Donation Hours: Mon-Sat, 10 AM-4 PM, Sun 12 PM-4 PM
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2101 Leavenworth Street
Mon-Sat, 9:30 AM-5:30 PM
(402) 341-1689
Donation Hours: Mon-Fri, 9:30 AM-3 PM
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5505 N. 90th Street
Mon-Fri, 10 AM-6 PM
Sat, 10 AM-4 PM
(402) 502-7837
Donation Hours: Mon-Fri, 10 AM-5 PM, Sat 10 AM-3 PM
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807 Tara Plaza
Mon-Sat, 9 AM-6 PM
(402) 593-4055
Donation Hours: Mon-Sat, 10 AM-4:30 PM
| | Want more information on the Society's Thrift Stores? Just click HERE! | | Follow us on social media to keep up-to-date with the latest SSVP Omaha stories, news, and events! | | | | |
