Our Mission
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a network of friends, inspired by Gospel values, growing in holiness and building a more just world through personal relationships with and service to people in need. 
Our People
This new section will help you get to know our staff, board, volunteers, and partners. This month we are featuring...
Barb Semerad, Ignatian, Volunteer Coordinator
Barbara Semerad is the new Volunteer Coordinator for SVdP and the Holy Family Community Center. Barbara is an Ignatian Volunteer, which is a corp of volunteers over age 50, many who have retired, who commit to serving the underserved. The volunteer work of IVC is guided by the spiritual teachings of St Ignatius of Loyola.
Barb has a background as a Clinical Scientist where she managed search and transplant teams overseeing bone marrow transplants in the US and internationally for the National Marrow Donor Program in Minneapolis. Barb has a graduate degree in leadership and management, and has served on many boards, worked in volunteer administration, and in countless volunteer roles. She has also developed several volunteer programs for nonprofit organizations.
Barb says she feels honored to be a part of the SVdP and Holy Family community, and hopes to expand the volunteer roles, outreach, and connections to a Society with an already rich history of volunteerism. Barb can be reached at [email protected].
Barb has been a huge blessing in helping us develop a stronger volunteer program. Her expertise will allow us to find, support, and thank all of our wonderful volunteers in better ways than ever.
Our Work
We are proud to now be a Nonprofit Association of the Midlands Guidelines & Principles Best Practices Partner! Participation in this program includes:
  • Commitment to Guidelines & Principles
  • Recognizes effort on the path to nonprofit excellence
  • Declaration by your organization of legal compliance
  • Self-monitored
CARES ACT FUNDING
In July we were awarded $1 million through the State of Nebraska Coronavirus Relief Fund. This money is intended to help people affected by Covid-19 with things like rent, utilities, and other emergencies. We have already given over $300,000 of that fund, but have not actually received the money from the government yet. KETV covered this story this week.
Your support would help us cover more costs until the grant is distributed in full. Thank you!
B2SB Program
This year our Back 2 School Basics program went virtual with online applications and mailed vouchers for everyone's health and safety. This program offers vouchers for families in need to purchase new socks and underwear for their school aged children. This year we had 1079 applications, serving a total of 2542 children. We were overwhelmed by the response and had to turn off the application within two days because we already had more than double the usual number of applicants but only half of the normal funding. Thanks to several very generous donors, we able to honor all of the requests that did come in that time frame, although clearly the need is still present and more than anyone realizes.
HOME VISITS (AND SO MUCH MORE!)
UP Grant Cleaning Supplies Delivery
The cleaning supplies we purchased through a Union Pacific grant were delivered to Evans Tower. Some extra supplies will go to the Empowerment Network to be distributed as needed.
Thanks again to everyone who helped make this happen, especially Conference member Sue Lamczyk!
Parish Community Garden Project
Communities that have robust, sustainable, local sources of food are much more able to withstand unpredictable disruptions in food supplies caused by weather, health, or economic crises. To promote a more reliable source of local food supplies, especially fresh produce across diverse cultural requirements, we are working with The Big Garden, Catholic Charities, Together, and Whispering Roots to establish a partnership to increase the number of community gardens throughout the Omaha metro. 

We are asking Catholic parishes across the city, especially those with SVdP conferences, to locate, build, plant, manage and harvest community gardens within their parish boundaries. These gardens will provide fresh vegetables and fruit, principally to food-insecure people in their neighborhoods and then to local food pantries or larger regional pantries. Individual gardeners will be able to harvest some of what they plant for themselves, but the primary goal for each garden is to provide access to local, robust, sustainable, culturally appropriate fresh produce for people in need in Omaha. The garden(s) could be a project for a parish, organizations within a parish, Confirmation groups or on a smaller scale for an individual to grow small gardens at home with the intention of donating the produce as it's harvested.

Would any of our permanent deacons be interested in volunteering to help with either project: starting and working in a local garden and/or helping deliver food from pantries to homebound individuals? Planning for the gardens would begin this fall; the delivery project has already started in a small way and will grow as more people join in. Please contact us if you are interested in participating!
Annual Winter Coat Giveaway Nov. 7th We will need people to host coat drives or otherwise collect winter coats. You can also drop coats at any of our stores or donate money for us to purchase new coats at a discount through the Knights of Columbus. We will also need volunteers for coat sorting, set up and the giveaway, so please contact us if you can help with a drive or volunteering.
FOOD PANTRY
Special thanks to Boy Scout Troop 380!!
This garden was planted in Bennington at one of the scout's grandparents. The troop planted, watered and weeded all summer and has been able to make some nice sized donations of peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, and beans to SVdP! All of the produce is being delivered weekly to the St.Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. 
You could start your own pantry garden! Give us a call if you need help getting started! 402-779-8499
Current Food Pantry Needs:
Produce welcome!
Rice, beans, and staples always needed!
Drop off at 2101 Leavenworth Monday or Wednesday
between 8:00 - 11:00 am
PANTRY DRIVE-THROUGH OPEN
2101 Leavenworth Street
TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS 9:00 - 12:30
THRIFT STORES
SVdP Thrift Stores
Store Donation Pickup: Call Monday - Friday 9am-5pm to schedule
402-341-1688

Northwest Store
5505 N. 90th St | Mon-Sat 9a-8p, Sun 12-5p | 402-502-7837

Downtown Store
2101 Leavenworth S+t | Mon-Sat: 9a-6p | 402-341-4942

Papillion Store
807 Tara Pl | Mon-Sat 9a-6p | 402-593-4055

South Omaha Store
5037 S. 24th St | Mon-Sat 9a-6p | 402-733-3500
HOLY FAMILY COMMUNITY CENTER
The Holy Family Ministries
Programs that support the homeless at 1715 Izard St

The Closet Door
(formerly The Door Ministry)
Open Monday – Thursday 9:00am – 10:00am
A place to receive clothing and personal care items when there are no other options. Some limits apply.

Volunteers needed to safely and compassionately track and hand out items, sort clothing at the warehouse, and shop at the thrift stores.
 
Sack Lunch Program
Open Monday – Friday 10:30am – 11:30am
A place to receive a healthy sack lunch when it is needed, no questions asked.

Volunteers needed to set up, make lunches, hand them out safely, and clean up.
 
James Parsons Street Outreach Program
(formerly Blessed Family Street Ministry)
Our vans deliver sack lunches and sometimes other basic household needs to East Omaha.
Drivers needed. 
We are reaching out to neighbors such as the Siena Francis House and other community partners such as the Heart Ministry Center to find ways that we can offer what is needed without stretching ourselves too thin.
We are also excited to be partnering with the Creighton Catholic Social Teaching class to provide service learning opportunities. While working remotely, they are helping research options for us.

Consider hosting a drive to gather socks, underwear, gloves, hats, coats, shirts, pants, and other needed goods or making toiletry bags as a way for your group to support us.
Contact [email protected] for more ideas and help getting started!
Churchyard Community Garden
What can we say that nature can't say better?
Garden photos by Elsa Combs, age 11
Please consider the Society and Holy Family in your
estate and other planned giving.
Contact our Executive Director Marty Smith here.
Your support is greatly appreciated!
If you or someone you know is in need of assistance:
 Helpline: 402-346-5445