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Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha
January 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
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FOOD PANTRY | PARISH CONFERENCE OUTREACH | FOOD/CLOTHING FOR THE HOMELESS
DISASTER RECOVERY | HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION | THRIFT STORES
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IN THIS ISSUE:
A message from our Executive Director
Memorial Vincentian Spotlight - Diane Mead
Annual Vincentian Mass & Meeting
SSVP Omaha Top Hat Award
Freezers in Winter
Sweets Angels Are Heavenly
Women of Grace Donations to Closet Door
St. Cecilia Students Bring Christmas Cheer
SSVP Thrift Stores - 50% Off Sale - Saturday, January 25th
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A Message from our Executive Director, Jill Lynch-Sosa
"How much our hearts should be on fire with love for this ministry of assisting poor people and for devoting ourselves earnestly to it because the need is so great -
and God expects this of us."
- St. Vincent de Paul
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New Year's Greetings to our St. Vincent de Paul Omaha Friends, | |
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I hope you had a blessed Christmas and that the New Year has begun well for you.
I would like to take a moment and share with you my heartfelt gratitude for your support of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha this past year. Whether you are a volunteer, a monetary or material/in-kind donor, or you’re among the many who graciously keep the Society in your prayers, please know how much your compassionate support means to me – and, in turn – to the many thousands of families and individuals we serve each year.
As we begin the two thousand and twenty-fifth year since the birth of our Lord, I’ve been contemplating how incredibly busy the Society’s volunteers and staff have been, recently…primarily because the need is so great. This is true on many levels, including providing Omaha’s homeless men and women with food, clothing, and personal care items, helping other struggling Omahans with rental and utility assistance, lending a hand to area households recovering from natural disasters, as well as opening the doors of our SSVP pantry, ensuring local families are able to put food on their tables. On this last note, you may be interested to know that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha’s very large Food Pantry recently served 169 poor and struggling families and individuals in a 3+ hour timeframe – a one-day record, and a truly incredible amount. This 169-number surpassed the previous one-day record which had been set only one week, prior. What this tells me is that things are getting harder and that more and more families on the lower end of the socio-economic ladder simply have nowhere else to turn to try and balance their household budgets.
I invite you to take some time and read through the articles found in this, the first SSVP Omaha Newsletter of 2025. In doing so, I would ask you to think about Jesus’ invitation to actively care for our “least among us” neighbors in need, found so prominently in the Gospels.
To this point, in his encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti," Pope Francis discusses the example of the Good Samaritan who, most importantly, is the one who stops, who takes time to bend down to help. Pope Francis encourages us to “not remain mired in theoretical discussions but to touch the wounded flesh of the victims.” The Samaritan is clearly a person of action.
One of the most important underpinnings of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is to similarly be a person of active service. Yet, in my own life, I sometimes wonder if I allow myself to spend too much time discussing and identifying problems; time that often could be better spent by actually doing something about them.
Emmanuel Bailly, the President of the first St. Vincent de Paul Conference, and the first President-General of the Society, warned of this very pitfall in an 1842 Circular Letter, calling it a “great danger” if we were to carry on long discussions “upon charity instead of being satisfied with doing its deeds… our Society is one of action, it should do much and talk little.” To be sure, Bailly acknowledged that there is a place for discussion, but it is in acting that we maintain the true spirit of the Society to which our founder, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, so urgently calls us. Ozanam punctuates this idea, stating that, instead of getting mired in debates and bureaucracy, we are called to “do all the good we can, and trust to God for the rest."
As we begin 2025, I invite us all to consider how we answer this invitation to be a person who is a “doer” of service for those in need. How am I – or how might I be – an active participant in assisting those from right here in our Omaha community who are truly struggling and who find themselves in need of a “hand up"?
I wish you the very best for a fulfilling New Year and may God bless you for your sustained generosity to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the crucial services we provide to neighbors in need. And, as always, please know that you are in my daily prayers of gratitude and in the prayers of the Society.
In His Name,
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Jill Lynch-Sosa
Executive Director
P.S. One of our long-time, most committed Vincentian volunteers – Diane Mead – passed away on December 15th, following a lengthy illness. Diane was very much an “action-oriented” type of person, as well as had an especially warm heart for the struggling families that the Society serves. We want to honor Diane’s memory and impact on the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in this 2025 January Newsletter in the “Memorial Vincentian Spotlight”.
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To say that Diane Mead had a heart for the poor and struggling of our community – while true, only scratches the surface of her unwavering, passionate commitment to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and those she served. Diane Mead passed away peacefully in her home here in Omaha on December 15, 2024, surrounded by her husband of 43 years, Rick, and their four children.
Diane Mead was preceded in death by her parents, Douglas and Natalie Erickson, her older sister, Nancy, younger brother, Douglas Jr; parents-in-law, Janet and Ed Mead; and brother-in-law, Rolly Church. Diane is survived by her husband, Rick Mead, and their children: Katie Southard (with son-in-law, John Southard), Michaela Aldredge, Ryan Mead, and Turner Mead; and by five grandchildren: Sadie Southard, Enzo Southard, Nico Aldredge, Camden Aldredge, and Kane Mead (and his mother, Allyssa Rademacher).
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Diane was born on January 11, 1953, in Uehling, Nebraska, and grew up on a farm, where she learned the value of hard work while raising cattle and hogs, walking beans, and cleaning stalls. After graduating from high school, Diane received her Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Nebraska Lincoln. Diane and Rick both enjoyed careers at IBM that spanned over 30 years, but Diane’s true passion was her family and helping others,
After retiring in 2008, Diane devoted much of her time and talents to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, combining her deep compassion for others with her business acumen. Diane helped start the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conference at St. Wenceslaus Parish in 2001, along with her friend and colleague, Rose Berkey. Shares Rose: “We needed officers and so Diane was President and I took the responsibility of Treasurer. Diane has been the most caring, compassionate, so full of passion for helping the less fortunate people that I have ever met.”
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In addition to serving with St. Wenceslaus’ Conference, over the years, Diane accepted many leadership positions within the larger SSVP Omaha organization. The Society’s Executive Director, Jill Lynch-Sosa elaborates: “As a Vincentian, Diane served in every way imaginable, including giving her time to special projects, and administrative tasks – roles that many overlook but are critical to our mission. Perhaps most notably, Diane served as Council President from 2016 to 2019 during a pivotal time for the District Council. Her leadership helped transform our organization. She was a driving force in establishing a Board of Directors to oversee the Council’s operations, including 31 conferences, four stores, a choice food pantry, and district office support staff. This was a much-needed change, and her vision set the foundation for a stronger, more sustainable Society.”
SSVP Omaha’s Board and Council President, Kevin Grode, shares his own reflection on Diane’s contributions to the Society: “Diane was Incredibly thoughtful in her role on the Board. She was always asking, `How do our decisions help steer the organization in the best direction, and how do our decisions affect the Society, long-term?’ I appreciated that very much. As SSVP President, I reached out to and leaned on Diane and her wisdom and experience many times, and she was always so helpful. To me, Diane wasn’t just a board member; she was my mentor in all things St. Vincent de Paul.”
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As Council President, Diane also chaired numerous organizational fundraisers and other events, such as the annual Strawberry Brunch, Winter Coat Drive & Giveaway, Chili Cook-Off, and Fun Run. Diane last chaired the Society’s Winter Coat Drive and Giveaway in November of 2023. And, even while she was becoming more ill earlier in 2024, Diane still co-chaired last year’s June 1st Strawberry Brunch, a fundraiser for the Society’s downtown Food Pantry. In anticipation of the 2025 Strawberry Brunch, co-chair, Margie Crowe, recently shared the following with the organizing committee: “Our hearts are full of sorrow over the passing of Diane. She was a soft-spoken woman who led by example, showing heartfelt compassion for people in need. Diane truly followed God's greatest commandment of loving her neighbor.”
When called upon, Diane was always quick to accept whatever leadership position was needed within the Society. However, Diane’s true SSVP passion was in serving the poor and struggling individuals and families in her work, both as a Vincentian and personally. Cindy Engelkamp, a St. Peter's Vincentian, shares: “Diane was a tireless volunteer for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Her biggest, quietest accomplishment was the heart she had for the poor. She was constantly bringing food or taking someone to a doctor’s appointment.” In addition, Diane – along with her husband, Rick – were also quick to offer their own assistance to people in need, helping with rent, vehicles, groceries, guidance, and companionship.
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St. Frances Cabrini Vincentian, Chris Beeler, shares his reflections on Diane’s impact on the Society, the people she served, and the example she was to others: “Diane was truly a Vincentian in every sense of the word, and was simply a beautiful soul, inside and out. Diane was so genuine in everything she did and was a shining example for all of us who believe in this mission of doing our best to be the hands and feet of our Sweet Jesus. Diane was always someone I could go to for ideas, help, and simply, support. Her contributions and insights to the St. Vincent de Paul Society will live on forever. She will be remembered and missed by me forever.”
St. James Vincentian and District Council Board Member, Celita Morrison, echoes and amplifies the extent to which Diane was a quiet mentor for other Vincentians: “I was able to know Diane in short interactions but can say each one was sincere and genuine. As a new Conference President, seeing Diane speak and share her passion for helping the poor only helped solidify my reasons for being a part of the Society and Ministry for me. She always had the true heart of a Vincentian and set a wonderful example to us all.”
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Fellow St. Wenceslaus Vincentian, Sherri Schmit, shares similar thoughts regarding Diane: “The sincere love Diane had for our neighbors in need when she shared at our meetings will stay with me forever. We will miss her.”
The Society’s Executive Director, Jill Lynch-Sosa shares some final remarks on Diane, her family, and the legacy she leaves to the organization, and how her faith in God directed her life: “From practically day one, it was clear to me that Diane was a woman of strong faith. Her faith was the foundation of her life, guiding everything she did and shaping the way she loved and served others.
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Diane loved her family deeply. Rick, her children, and her grandchildren were the light of her life and often the center of her stories. She spoke about them with immense pride, her joy evident with every word. For Diane, faith and family were her cornerstones, and both were foundations for her love for and commitment to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Diane didn’t just support the mission, vision, and values of St. Vincent de Paul; she lived them. Diane embodied one of the Society’s most cherished sayings: `See the face of Christ, be the face of Christ.’ It’s a simple phrase but one that’s profoundly challenging in practice. It asks us to suspend judgment, to love the flawed, broken, and suffering, and to offer God’s unconditional love in a real, tangible way. Diane had a rare gift for doing just that, and she shared it freely with everyone she met.
Diane’s legacy is one of faith, love, and service. She touched countless lives through her kindness and generosity, leaving an unforgettable mark on the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and our community. While her absence leaves a profound void, her spirit lives on in the work we do and in the lives of those in need that we serve.”
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On Saturday evening, December 7th, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha held our annual Vincentian mass and dinner meeting at Holy Name Catholic Church. The parish graciously opened its doors to the 140+ Vincentians and District staff in attendance at the mass. After mass, the group filled the lower level’s cafeteria for the subsequent dinner and business meeting. | |
The Society’s Board and Council President, Kevin Grode (in photo), served as emcee, with SSVP Spiritual Advisor, Monsignor Gilg and Holy Name’s Pastor, Father Damien Cook offering prayers, prior to and following dinner. Society of St. Vincent de Paul Executive Director, Jill Lynch-Sosa, provided a welcome and message of gratitude to the gathering of Vincentians, followed by SSVP Board Secretary, Nora Hillyer, conducting the Conference Roll Call. Kevin Grode led the commissioning ceremony, officially recognizing new Vincentians and Conference Presidents from 2024, with Conference Support Coordinator, Lily Reyes, translating into Spanish.
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The following people were commissioned as Vincentians in 2024 (photo at top): Noemi Bonilla, Barb Collins, Levin Collins, Deacon Ramon Contreras, Katie Essay, Mary Fischer, Mary Pat Foltz, Ron Foltz, Ana Gonzales, Deb Gentleman, Bob Goliber, Trudy Gollobit, Leticia Gomez, Kathy Henely, Stella Huerter, Meg Jones, Maggie Kalkowski, Kathy Karnik, Anne Kotlik, Laurie Krings, Susan Kuhlman, Lucy Lopez, Maria Lopez, Teresa Lorenzo, Rick March, Sarah Marck, Isabel Menjivar, Loretta Mills, Jean Nauss, Michael Otto, Jose Salvador, Shirley Schaefer, Maria Socorro, Jane Southard, Gene Tiongson, Kate Tiongson, Isydra Vidal, and Carrie Zoucha.
Three Vincentians were commissioned as new Presidents of their respective conferences: Dave Beat with St. Margaret Mary, Isidra Vidal with Assumption-Guadalupe (in photo), and Carol Kindig with St. John the Evangelist.
Each year at this meeting, the Society recognizes a Vincentian volunteer for their outstanding work with the poor, following the example of the organization’s founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, his mentor, Sr. Rosalie Rendu, and St. Vincent de Paul. As early 19th century Frenchmen often did, Frederic Ozanam wore a top hat. As such, the top hat has become an iconic symbol to the local Societies of St. Vincent de Paul. Now, the “Top Hat Award” is presented annually to a Vincentian volunteer whose life and service exemplifies a person with a compassionate heart for those in need. This year’s “Top Hat” was awarded to Gary Henningsen, who is with St. Mary Magdalene’s SSVP Conference.
We would like to congratulate all those who were newly commissioned this day, as well as laud Gary Henningsen for being recognized as the 2024 Top Hat Award winner!
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Gary Henningsen is the St. Vincent de Paul Omaha’s “Top Hat” award winner for 2024. Five Vincentians from four different SSVP conferences collaborated to nominate Gary for the Top Hat award.
Gary Henningsen has volunteered at the Society’s Food Pantry since 2008, becoming a Vincentian for St. Mary Magdalene’s SSVP Conference two years later. Serving at the Pantry 2-3 days a week – and often coming in, as needed – Gary helps neighbors pick out grocery items as a “Pantry Companion," as well as helps re-stock shelves with food on the off-pantry days. Every Sunday, Gary also collects food items donated from St. Mary Magdalene Church, personally delivering these to the SSVP Food Pantry.
Gary became a Vincentian in 2010. He continued helping neighbors in his own conference but also in “no conference areas." They met in the neighbor’s home or in the Holy Family facility or even in a convenient restaurant. He helped in the process of revamping the Helpline and worked on the implementation of the changes. He has held officer positions with the St Mary Magdalene conference as well as serving as a member of the SSVP Board of Directors. He is currently assigned to the Board’s Governance Committee.
When asked about his volunteer experience with the Society, in general, including with the Food Pantry, Gary defers to praising his fellow volunteers: “Personally, the people that I work with are wonderful. They work hard to make everything better than it was when they started. They help where needed and are willing to stay as long as it takes to finish the job. I look forward to seeing them every time that I go.”
“I also enjoy interacting with the neighbors who come to the pantry for assistance. I try to see Jesus in all of the people that I meet. I have a greater appreciation for the gifts that God has given me and I try to be thankful for the time that I spend with those whom I work and those that I serve. Helping others is an integral part of my Catholic faith, especially serving the poor and those in need. My time spent in SSVP work fits nicely into the Catholic teaching of putting faith into action.”
Gary and his wife Ann enjoy traveling and spending time with their family. As a Creighton University alumnus, he is an avid Creighton basketball fan. He and Ann have a daughter and two sons. They also have two grandsons and one granddaughter.
Congratulations to Gary Henningsen - 2024 Top Hat Award Winner!
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Recently, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha was able to upgrade our freezer capacity (and quality) at both our SSVP Food Pantry and our Holy Family Center. With multiple limited-functioning freezers at these two locations, we knew it was important to get new ones that could match the requirements of our programs that provide food for those in need. Special thanks to the donors who made these upgrades possible, including this new 3-door freezer at our Holy Family Center (next to our Coordinator of Holy Family Ministries, Jeff Spangrud).
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For more than four years, our Holy Family Ministries have been blessed to be the recipient of home-baked items, courtesy of the “Sweets Angels," a group of very committed and caring volunteers from St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church. These baked items – which include treats like cookies, banana bread, gingerbread, brownies, Chex Mix, and Rice Krispie treats – are used as part of the Society’s Sack Lunch Program.
Twice a month (and sometimes more often than that) members of the “Sweets Angels” – so named by our SSVP staff – bake and bring 1,000+ serving-sized goodies to Holy Family. Our SSVP Sack Lunch volunteers then include these treats in the hundreds of sack lunches that they make each day and provide to the homeless and to other financially struggling Omahans who live in nearby low-income, “senior” housing.
The “Sweets Angels” membership has grown over time. Enclosed is a photo of a number of the women who currently comprise the “Sweets Angels” (left to right): Brenda Kreber, Sue Huton, Colleen Eusterwiemann (Pastoral Care Minister for St. Stephen the Martyr), Rosemary Naparela, Loni Burger, Sally Serp, Teresa Ziska, Carrie Kanne, Linda Hendricks, Cheri Perdue, and Denise Kolkman. Missing from the photo are other current “Sweets Angels” volunteers: Helen Gnuse, Bernie Taylor, Eva Cockson, Deb Jenkins, and Lisa Goldsmith.
When asked about their motivation for undertaking this generous, and very time-intensive volunteer endeavor, a “Sweets Angels” member shares: “We started bringing these sweets down to Holy Family in 2020, right when everything was getting shut down because of the pandemic. Because we weren’t able to volunteer in person at that time, this project seemed like a great way to stay connected. And, while these cookies and other treats kind of seem like a small thing …. we bake to share our love, care, and compassion for people in a difficult situation.”
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha would like to thank St. Stephen the Martyr’s “Sweets Angels” for their donation of time and talent to the poor and homeless people who benefit from this wonderfully “sweet” volunteer commitment!
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The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha would like to thank Marge Harman and her “Women of Grace” group from St. Gerald Catholic Church for their recent, VERY thoughtful donation of personal care items for homeless women who seek assistance through our Closet Door Ministry. These donations include deodorant, soap, face wash, lotion, razors, chapstick, shampoo, conditioner, as well as cosmetic and tote bags. We often run short of women-specific personal care items, so this donation is especially appreciated.
Marge Harman (shown in the accompanying photo), brought these donations to Holy Family a few days before Christmas, after volunteering as “Mrs. Claus” at another local non-profit organization. Shares Marge: “Our Women of Grace group had heard about the need for these kinds of items at the Closet Door and we were very happy to help out. Part of the Women of Grace’s mission is to come into a closer relationship with Jesus and his Blessed Mother, and we thought that collecting and making this donation for homeless women fits quite nicely with this mission.”
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Right before Christmas, students at St. Cecilia Cathedral School conducted a food drive, to benefit the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha's Food Pantry.
Many thanks to St. Cecilia parishioner and SSVP Omaha volunteer, Ron Rubin and St. Cecilia's Principal, Jessie Stoffel, for organizing this amazing food drive and donation. And, a special thanks goes out to St. Cecilia students for their hard work and commitment to neighbors in need!!
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The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha's Thrift Stores would like to thank everyone for their support this past year! We also very much are looking forward to serving you in 2025.
Our first sale of the year will be a 50% off EVERYTHING in the stores on Saturday, January 25th, 2025 (excluding mattresses).
As a reminder ... When you shop at our St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores, not only will you be getting great items at reasonable prices, your support also helps fund our other programs that provide a "hand up" to Omaha neighbors in need.
Stop in to any of our four SSVP Omaha thrift stores today. Now is the perfect time to shop and save at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul!
| SSVP OMAHA THRIFT StORE LOCATIONS: | |
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12301 West Center Road
Mon-Sat, 10 AM-8 PM
Sun, 12 PM-5 PM
(402) 933-8242
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2101 Leavenworth Street
Tues-Sat, 9:30 AM-5:30 PM
(402) 341-1689
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5505 N. 90th Street
Mon-Fri, 10 AM-6 PM
Sat, 10 AM-4 PM
(402) 502-7837
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807 Tara Plaza
Mon-Sat, 9 AM-6 PM
(402) 593-4055
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Want more information on the Society's Thrift Stores? Just click HERE! | |
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