Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha

April 2026 Newsletter

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, Jill Lynch-Sosa

Register to Attend the 2026 Strawberry Brunch!

Record Numbers in Our Sack Lunch Program

SSVP Midwest Regional Meeting in Omaha – April 24 & 25

Jill & National Board Heading to Rome, Audience with Pope Leo

SSVP Thrift Stores – April Sale, Closed on Easter, Fort Street Store Update

Estate Planning/Planned Giving

Become a Pantry Garden Angel

A Message from Executive Director, Jill Lynch-Sosa

"The cross of Christ teaches us to look upon others with mercy and tenderness."

– Pope Francis

Greetings!

On this Good Friday, I greet you with hope, deep appreciation, and a spirit of renewal. Today reminds us that resurrection is not only a moment in history, but a living reality unfolding in our world – in acts of love, unexpected grace, and the quiet ways God meets us each day. On behalf of all of us at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha, thank you for walking this journey with us through your prayers, generosity, and care for our neighbors in need.

Last month, I shared a reflection on listening – on the importance of slowing down enough to truly hear one another, and to hear the voice of God in our daily lives. This month, I return to that theme from another angle: recognizing that God is often already speaking to us, though not with words and not always in ways we expect.

Many of us long to hear God clearly and directly, as though from a burning bush or a voice from the heavens. Yet most often, God speaks quietly – not in booming declarations or direct commands of “do this,” but in gentle awareness, in stillness, and in the beauty of creation that stops us in our tracks.

We’ve all experienced these moments – standing in a peaceful church, walking alone on a wooded path, or watching the sunrise break the sky. Sometimes it is as simple as sitting in a parked car after a long day, suddenly aware that we are not alone. In these quiet spaces, a presence is felt more than heard, a truth gently settling in without words.

I believe these are times when God is not speaking at us, but with us – drawing us into awareness and inviting us into love. And just as often, God speaks in the hardships and challenges we witness in our neighbors in need, and in the quiet call to respond that it stirs within us.

A powerful example of this gentle call – and compassionate response – happened very recently here at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha’s Holy Family Center. Early one morning, as volunteers arrived for our Closet Door clothing room for the homeless, one of them noticed a woman lying outside, trying to sleep on bare ground in what was extremely cold weather. She had no shoes or socks and was covered only by a thin blanket. Our volunteer quickly brought her inside, helped her find clothing suitable for the freezing temperatures, and connected with staff, who offered her a safe place to rest on the couch in our newly opened community room. For a few hours, this unhoused woman was able to warm herself and sleep safely – a brief, yet profound, moment of care in a world that had given her little. Though she left quietly without sharing her story, we were grateful to provide her the clothing, rest, and respite she clearly needed – a small but meaningful moment that reflects how God invites us to notice, listen, and respond with love.

When we truly see another person’s need, something shifts within us. It is rarely loud or dramatic, but a quiet recognition – a prompting that says, “This matters.” Not as an audible command, but as a deep awareness that love calls us to move – and to act.

Here at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha, we strive to embody this in meaningful ways. “In food pantries, in the homes of neighbors in crisis, and in meeting the basic needs of those experiencing homelessness, this sacred listening takes place.” We seek to meet people not as problems to be solved, but as neighbors to be known – each encounter inviting dignity, compassion, and care. Through a gift, a volunteer hour, or a prayer, YOU are an integral part of this response, joining in God’s quiet work in the world and answering that persistent call to love.

As I reflect on this season, I feel challenged not only to listen, as I wrote last month, but to recognize more quickly when I am being invited into love – to notice where God is already present and speaking: in beauty, in silence, and especially in the faces of those in need.

May we continue to grow in that awareness together. May we recognize God not only in the extraordinary, but in the ordinary – not only in spoken words, but in the unspoken call to compassion.

And may this Easter season open our eyes a little wider, our hearts a little softer, and our hands a little quicker to respond.

With appreciation and prayer,

Jill Lynch-Sosa 

Executive Director

P.S. Please mark your calendar for Wednesday, May 6, 2026 – the 3rd Annual Nebraska Catholic Day of Giving – an especially meaningful day for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha. Thanks to generous matching support, gifts that day will be doubled, dollar-for-dollar, which means your generosity goes twice as far! With your support, we hope this will become the single largest day of giving in our organization’s history. We invite you to prayerfully consider supporting this effort on May 6 and making a meaningful difference for families in our community. Thank you for sharing your compassion and care with neighbors in need.

Please mark your calendar and register today for the 17th Annual Strawberry Brunch – our only fundraiser of the year – at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 13, 2026. Your participation truly matters and directly supports families in our community who are struggling to put food on the table.

This year, we’ll gather at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in the Sam Osborn Parish Center (18602 West Maple Road, Elkhorn) for a morning of delicious food, mimosas and Bloody Marys, and warm fellowship – all while making a real difference for local families relying on the SSVP Food Pantry.

We hope you’ll join us. Tickets are $75 per person or $150 per couple, and reserved tables for eight or ten include one complimentary seat. Bring your family, friends, or colleagues – every guest helps strengthen our mission and reach even more families in need.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available, giving your business or organization a meaningful way to connect with over 300 attendees while supporting our vital work.

Please, don’t wait – register now on the SSVP Omaha website. Registration is online only, but Rebecca at the District Office (402-779-8499, ext. 109) is happy to help anyone who needs assistance.

Every dollar raised goes directly to the SSVP Omaha Food Pantry, which serves more than 26,000 local families each year. Your support helps provide groceries, fresh foods, and hope to neighbors who need it most.

We are also still accepting silent auction donations. If you can help, please contact 2026 Brunch Chair Stacie Osborn at 402-707-4210 or stacieosborn@outlook.com.

Also, be sure to follow the Society’s Facebook Page to stay connected – we’ll be sharing the latest Strawberry Brunch updates, highlights, and new event details there throughout the coming months.

We sincerely hope you’ll join us – not just for a morning of good food and community – but to stand with us and make a meaningful impact on the lives of struggling families right here in Omaha.

On Thursday, March 26, 2026, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha served 204 homeless individuals through our Sack Lunch Meal Program – breaking the previous one-day record of 196 set just two days earlier. In addition, we prepare and distribute an average of 160 sack lunches each weekday that we provide to residents in low-income senior housing across eastern Omaha. Combined, these numbers make this program busier than ever.

Clearly, the need for food for our unhoused neighbors continues to grow.

Operating out of the Society’s District Office and Holy Family Center at 1715 Izard Street, this critical program provides nutritious lunches – often the only full meal that our homeless neighbors may receive on any given day. And, behind every lunch are volunteers and staff committed to ensuring no one goes hungry.

As demand rises, so do costs. Donations and volunteers are essential to keeping this vital program running for our neighbors in need. Please visit www.ssvpomaha.org to learn more about our SSVP Omaha’s Sack Lunch Meal Program and how you can help.

Reminder for All Vincentians!

Registration is now open for the SSVP Midwest Regional Meeting on Friday and Saturday, April 24th and 25th, hosted by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha. This special gathering offers a meaningful opportunity for spiritual renewal, fellowship, and reflection on our Vincentian mission.

Regional meetings are a true blessing – providing time to grow in faith, connect with fellow Vincentians, and return to our Conferences refreshed and inspired to serve.



We encourage each Omaha Conference to have at least one representative attend and share the experience with others.

Click HERE for registration and full details. We look forward to coming together in faith and service!

Here is some truly wonderful – and inspiring – news to share with our Vincentian family!

Earlier this year, John Berry, President of the National Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (based in St. Louis), reached out to the Vatican to request a private audience with Pope Leo on behalf of the National Board of Directors.

In late February, that request was joyfully granted! The audience is now scheduled for Friday, August 28 of this year – a moment of profound significance for our Society.

We are especially grateful to share that Omaha’s own Executive Director, Jill Lynch-Sosa, who joined the National Board in 2025, will be among those present. Reflecting on this blessing, Jill shared, “This is an incredible honor for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the United States, and deeply meaningful for me personally. I carry the prayers and spirit of our Omaha community with me.” She added, “I am humbled and filled with gratitude for this opportunity to represent our mission at such a sacred level.”

We look forward to welcoming Jill home with stories, reflections, and perhaps even a few special photos from this once-in-a-lifetime experience – moments we will be delighted to share with you in a future SSVP Omaha newsletter.

Happy Easter from the SSVP Omaha Thrift Stores!

Our SSVP Omaha thrift stores will be closed in observance of this sacred day on Sunday, April 5th. We will re-open Monday, the 6th, with regular hours.

Don't miss our 50% OFF SALE on Saturday, April 25th! Save 50% off your entire order (excluding mattresses)! Spring into spring with new-to-you furniture and clothes for the whole family!

We are sincerely grateful to everyone who supported our 90th & Fort Street SSVP thrift store over the past seven years. Your generosity and loyalty have meant so much to us. Although the Fort store closed at the end of March due to a combination of factors, we remain open and dedicated to our mission at our three other locations.

Before we began moving inventory out of our 90th and Fort location to our other stores, we were grateful to welcome several local charities who stopped by to select clothing for the individuals and families they serve.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Guiding Grace Family Support Network,

Lutheran Church of the Master, Trinity Ralston United Methodist Church, and Generation Diamond (all pictured, below) for the meaningful work they do in our community. It was truly a privilege to share these resources and support their efforts to care for those in need.

SSVP OMAHA THRIFT STORE LOCATIONS:

Want more information on the Society's Thrift Stores? Just click HERE!

Create a Lasting Legacy with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha

For decades, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha has been a source of hope and practical support for neighbors in need – helping struggling families remain safely in their homes with their utilities on, providing food, clothing, and essential resources for individuals experiencing homelessness, and assisting those impacted by natural disasters.

Through thoughtful estate planning, you can help ensure this vital mission continues well into the future. By including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha in your will or estate plans, you create a meaningful legacy that supports our work for generations to come.

Your gift, no matter the size, can make a tangible and lasting difference:

• Help families stay safely housed through rental and utility assistance
• Provide nourishing meals through pantry and sack lunch programs
• Offer clothing, coats, and essential items to neighbors experiencing homelessness
• Support disaster recovery efforts for families facing crisis

In just one year, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha helped more than 5,300 households avoid eviction, served over 36,000 individuals with food assistance, and distributed 5,000 winter coats to families in need.

By incorporating charitable giving into your estate planning, you help ensure that compassion, dignity, and service remain at the heart of our community. Your legacy becomes a powerful force for good – supporting neighbors today and for generations to come.

We encourage you to speak with your financial advisor or attorney about including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha in your estate plans. If you have already done so, we would be honored to express our gratitude and recognize your generosity.

Together, through intentional estate planning, we can sustain hope and support for our neighbors long into the future.

For more information or to discuss your plans, please contact our Development Director, Tim Sully, at Tim.Sully@ssvpomaha.org or 402-779-8499, ext. 103. Tim will be happy to help facilitate your philanthropic goals in support of the mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha.

Do angels spend their time in our Pantry Garden?

We like to think so – and around here, they even go by real names. We call them our “Garden Angels”: the dedicated volunteers who plant, care for, and harvest fresh produce from the Pantry Garden at 2101 Leavenworth Street. This year, we invite you to consider joining their ranks!

More than a decade ago, the Pantry Garden began with a simple goal: to provide fresh, healthy produce for neighbors visiting our Food Pantry. Since then, thanks to creativity, teamwork, and plenty of hard work, our volunteers have helped the garden thrive and expand year after year.

The growing season runs from mid-April through mid-October. During that time, Garden Angels help with everything from planting and watering to weeding and harvesting. All of the produce grown is shared directly with those who rely on our pantry services. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or trying it for the first time, you’re welcome – each shift pairs newer volunteers with those who have more experience, and all tools are provided.

We also encourage groups to get involved, especially at the start of the season in mid-April. Families are welcome, too – kids can jump in and lend a hand alongside you!

If you’d like to become a Garden Angel or simply learn more, please contact Pat Slaven at mpslaven035@gmail.com. Pat would be glad to connect and answer any questions.

Thank you for considering this meaningful – and yes, a little bit “angelic” – way to give back!

Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Omaha

1715 Izard St. Omaha, NE 68102

402-779-8499

Helpline: ssvpomaha.org/get-help or 402-779-8499 ext. 107

info@svdpomaha.com

www.ssvpomaha.org

www.holyfamilyomaha.org

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Follow us on social media to keep up-to-date with the latest SSVP Omaha stories, news, and events!

Please contact SSVP Development Director, Tim Sully, to discuss a variety of charitable donation options, including monthly giving, donating stocks or mutual funds, the IRA Charitable Rollover, as well as planned giving/estate planning possibilities at tim.sully@ssvpomaha.org.