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Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha
March 2024 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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IN THIS ISSUE:
- A message from our Executive Director
- SSVP Staff Spotlight – Kristina Janousek
- Special Lenten Offering
- Student Volunteers Are the Best
- Hope of the Poor Resource & Employment Fair
- Vincentian Spirituality with Archdiocese’s Deacon Tim McNeil
- Conference Information
- 2024 Strawberry Brunch
- Nebraska Catholic Day of Giving
- Thrift Stores' March Sales
- Pantry Garden
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A Message from our Executive Director, Jill Lynch-Sosa
“As they sailed, Jesus fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake and they were filling with water and were in danger. And, the disciples went and woke him, saying `Master, Master, we are perishing! And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm.”
– Gospel of Luke 8: 23-24
“Happy are they who abandon themselves to God's guidance, confide in His goodness, and remain at peace in the midst of storms.”
– St. Vincent de Paul
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Dear SSVP Friends,
I trust this season of Lent has been one of reflection and personal growth for you. And, in just a couple of weeks, it will officially be spring – a time for warmer temperatures, as well as a time for renewal and rebirth.
However, here in Nebraska, springtime also means that inclement, sometimes violent weather is often just around the corner. Rainstorms, strong winds, hail, and tornados can crop up and sweep in with little advance notice, causing havoc and upending the lives of affected families. The same is true for the people we serve here at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha.
Allow me to explain.
The people who seek assistance from the Society are very likely facing the most difficult, challenging, and tumultuous time in their lives. As a result of a job loss or reduction of work hours, medical calamity, divorce, spousal abuse, or similar major life setback, these individuals and families end up experiencing a major household financial crisis that is unique to them, with most teetering on the brink of homelessness. For some, they’ve already fallen into homelessness,
Of the thousands of families and individuals we serve annually, the vast majority live paycheck to paycheck. Encountering just one of the above life-changing events can cause a “storm” in their lives, from which they simply cannot recover. The aftermath of such hardships forces them to choose which bills they can pay, and which they cannot. These neighbors in need get so far behind, financially, that utility shut-off and eviction notices are the ultimate result. In essence, the cloudburst of challenges that these struggling people attempt to stave off often turns into a thunderstorm, which inevitably squalls up into a tempest. And, as is so often the case here, in their frantic search to find assistance and relief, someone they know suggests they contact our organization.
It is at this exact moment – when a storm is truly raging in the lives of these neighbors in need – the Society of St. Vincent de Paul steps in. Our compassionate Vincentian volunteers meet with these neighbors – one-on-one – taking time to get to know them, personally, in order to fully understand the myriad of challenges they are facing. Providing them with a caring ear and a steady hand, our Vincentians help calm the turbulent waters in which these neighbors find themselves.
In addition to providing financial resources to cover back rent or delinquent utility or other bills, the Society very often provides these families and individuals with food, clothing, and other household goods, all free of charge. Additionally, through personal visits, our hope is that these neighbors no longer feel forgotten or alone in their time of need. Instead, we hope they feel loved and cared for – by our volunteer Vincentians and by the God who sent them. That, in a nutshell, is the mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and what we are all about.
Before I close, I would like to share a note of gratitude that arrived a few days ago – sent by a neighbor in need, “Joanie," who was in financial straits and ended up visiting our SSVP food pantry. Joanie is clearly a proud woman who never thought she could (or should?) ask for help. But, I’m very glad she did. The services we provide are exactly for people just like Joanie, who needed a bit of a “hand up” to get through this difficult, stormy time in her life:
Dear St. Vincent de Paul –
I have been put in a situation where my budget is extremely tight. However, not by (my) choice. I wish to extend my special thanks for not only the food, but also the kindness of the staff and volunteers.
I was not raised to ask for “handouts." I was raised to stand on my own two feet. I can assure you, it was difficult to accept the fact that I had to go to a food pantry. I sincerely wish things were different but, for now, it’s helpful to get groceries.
Warm regards,
Joanie S.
Of course, I am fully aware that we cannot provide ANY of our services to neighbors in need - like Joanie - without the caring support from you, our committed and faithful donors. I know that you make genuine sacrifices, in order to provide such assistance to people like Joanie and the thousands of people who seek assistance from the Society each year. For these sacrifices that you make, and for your support, please know that I am truly grateful.
God bless you, and please know that you are in my prayers and in the prayers of the Society during this season of Lent, and beyond.
Gratefully,
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Jill Lynch-Sosa
Executive Director
P.S. Please see a separate note from me, below, regarding a special Lenten Appeal - which provides an opportunity to make a real and meaningful sacrificial Lenten offering to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Please consider making your 2024 Lenten donation HERE.
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A volunteer with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul once asked, “So, how exactly do the 31 SSVP conferences and the District Office work together?”
The long answer….? Each of the Conference Presidents and their executive teams keeps in contact with the President of our SSVP Board of Directors, as well as with our Executive Director, Operations Director, and other staff members, as needed, on issues related to governance, training, food pantry, financial and material assistance to neighbors in need, thrift store vouchers, fundraising & media relation, to name just a few.
The short answer….? Kristina Janousek!
We have two Conference Support Coordinators, Kristina Janousek and Lily Reyes, who just started in October of last year. Kristina has been in her role since 2020 and is the “go-to” person, whenever there’s a conference-related question from any of our 450+ volunteer Vincentians. Why, you may ask? Well, just as our neighbors who are in the midst of a financial crisis appreciate a calm, soothing presence from our Vincentians, these same volunteers also know that Kristina will respond to them in a serene and peaceful manner, sprinkled with an optimistic, helpful, and cheery countenance. That’s just how Kristina is because that’s just how she was raised.
As background: Born and raised in Schuyler, Nebraska and attending St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Kristina credits much of who she is today to being from a nurturing, hardworking family with parents who were small business owners in Schuyler. Shares Kristina: “My folks worked 17-hour days, and they always kept a smile on their face, offering a cheerful `hello’ to all who walked into their store.”
Kristina continues: “Our town had less than 5,000 people in it, so it seemed like everyone knew everyone, and they all cared about each other. If a family in town was experiencing a crisis situation, the whole town would rally together to offer support. Or, frequently, people would stop and offer a ride to someone who was just going for a leisurely walk. It's just what you do for each other in small towns.” This sense of making connections with, and helping others definitely rubbed off on Kristina.
Kristina graduated from Wayne State College with a Bachelor of Science degree, before returning to school at UNMC, where she received her Masters in Public Health. Kristina's educational background, coupled with her small-town upbringing, sparked her interest to help those less fortunate. “I believe I was put on this earth to lift people up.” shares Kristina. “My goal is to empower others with knowledge and the tools necessary to create a healthy, meaningful life for themselves. At the core of this goal lies a huge spirituality component that offers faith, trust, and comfort during difficult times.”
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As part of her responsibilities with the Society, Kristina often accompanies Executive Director, Jill Lynch-Sosa, and Council President, Kevin Grode, in meetings at any of the 31 parishes in the Archdiocese with St. Vincent de Paul Conferences. At these SSVP meetings, Kristina always makes it a point to let the Vincentian volunteers know that she can be a helpful resource, as they assist their neighbors in obtaining whatever it is they need, as well as how to properly document their services in the Society’s ServWare database.
In all she does, Kristina is motivated by the spirituality and compassion shown to neighbors from fellow staff members and Vincentians. States Kristina: “To see volunteers offer the gifts that God gave them, no matter how small, encourages me to be the best version of myself, by offering friendship and prayer to everyone I meet. As I learned from my parents, sometimes even a simple `hello’ can be enough to make another person’s day.”
St. Bernard’s SSVP Conference Treasurer, Linda Speers, shares her perspective on Kristina: “Working with Kristina is such a joy! When I was new to the position, Kristina patiently explained whatever process it was that I was having difficulty with. She is always there for the parish conferences, and her priority is squarely focused on helping the neighbor in need.”
Outside of her work with SSVP, Kristina volunteers her time as a Catechist at St. Mary’s and enjoys spending quality time with her family. And, because of Kristina’s deep-seated faith, it should come as no surprise that her favorite quote from St. Vincent de Paul is: “What are we doing if we are not doing God’s will?”
Linda Speers sums up her thoughts on Kristina and her faithful devotion to the people she helps in this final reflection: “Kristina’s commitment to our mission of service to those in need knows no bounds. I think she has a halo over her head. You can't see it. But it's there!”
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Dear Friends of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, | |
Again, I hope you are having a blessed Lenten season.
As you know, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul cannot serve our neighbors in need without the support and assistance that we receive from those who share our mission of serving the poorest of our Omaha community. Frankly, it’s only because of the generous financial support that we receive from caring and compassionate donors that any of our services are possible.
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What you may NOT know, though, is that – in this past year alone – the Society served over 110,000 families and individuals in all of our programs, including providing meals and groceries to more than 80,000 children and adults who arrived on our doorstep in search of food. During this sacrificial season of Lent, I would like to offer you a meaningful way to make a real difference in the lives of those we serve.
During these remaining days of Lent, I would like to ask you and your family to thoughtfully consider making a special sacrificial offering to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul – in honor of our SSVP food pantries and meal programs, as well as of the poor, hungry and homeless of our Omaha community who benefit from your generosity.
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Besides offering you our sincere appreciation, we will be holding a special prayer service during our SSVP Easter observance, in gratitude for all those responding to this 2024 Lenten Appeal. At that time, a special prayer of thanksgiving and intercession will be offered up for each and every person (and family) who supports this Lenten campaign, by name, which I will read aloud.
Besides helping feed the profound number of poor, hungry and homeless of our community, your gift will also provide them with hope this Lent. You can make your donation on the 2024 Lenten Donation Page found on our secure website, HERE.
Thank you, and God bless you for your gift. I wish you a peaceful Lenten season.
With gratitude,
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As students at Duchesne Academy and Creighton Prep are nearing the end of their senior years, some students have chosen to lend their hands to those in need through our Holy Family programs and services. | |
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The Duchesne students, who are volunteering for Holy Family and SSVP Omaha as they complete their Senior Service Immersion Experience, have brought an amazing and caring energy to every ministry and service they work in!
Starting in our sack lunch room, they work with our regular volunteers to make sandwiches and hand them out to our neighbors. Some of the students join the crowd at Hope of the Poor’s coffee hour, offering friendship and a kind face to our neighbors facing hard times. As the pantry opened on the last Tuesday of the month, Duchesne students were there too – offering their assistance wherever it was needed.
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Our Creighton Prep volunteers have become regulars at Holy Family, helping our Churchyard Garden and Building Coordinator, Chris Combs, with our grounds and garden. As the Duchesne students rounded out their days at Holy Family, they worked with our Creighton volunteers, prepping our garden for spring by making seeded nursery pots.
We are beyond grateful to have so many wonderful and talented young volunteers lending their time to our mission – serving the underprivileged in our community.
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Finding employment can be extremely difficult for our homeless neighbors, even those with great experience and talent. That’s why, this month, our amazing friends at Hope of the Poor, held a resource and employment fair in the Holy Family Chapel for our neighbors experiencing homelessness.
Hope of the Poor made sure to provide plenty of snacks for our neighbors to enjoy as they learned about a few of the different resources and employment opportunities available to them, namely, “Community Options,” and “It’s All About Employment” (IAAE).
Community Options acts as a career coaching service, providing resume assistance, job coaching, benefits counseling, and more for the homeless in our community. This service can play a crucial role in our neighbors’ lives as they may not have had the opportunity to update or even create a resume due to their living conditions.
It’s All About Employment aims to bridge the gap between experiencing homelessness and starting a full-time job, by offering short-term employment to our homeless neighbors. This can include day labor/tasks, like helping with yard cleanup, or part-time roles like working the Hope of the Poor's coffee hour on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings.
Resources like Community Options and IAAE are critical to helping our neighbors return to full-time employment, and we are so happy that our friends at Hope of the Poor took the opportunity to host an event like this for our neighbors!
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On February 27th at Christ the King Catholic Church, the Omaha Archdiocese’s Chancellor, Deacon Tim McNeil, graciously offered his time, talent, and expertise in giving a talk to the Society’s volunteer Vincentians. Focusing on spirituality, Deacon McNeil spoke about what it is to be a Vincentian volunteer and to fully embrace our mission.
Deacon McNeil shared his perspective that Vincentian spirituality is really God’s grace being “poured out," while finding the face of Christ in those that are served. An interesting distinction that Deacon McNeil made was that “the poor tend to see the face of the RISEN Christ in the Vincentian volunteers, while Vincentians often see the face of the SUFFERING Christ in those they accompany and serve.”
During his remarks, Deacon McNeil raised and provided insights into a number of thought-provoking questions, including:
- What are you getting out of volunteering?
- How do you know if you’re growing spiritually?
- How do you see the face of Christ in the people you serve?
- What are the obstacles in seeing Christ’s face in those you serve?
- How do you overcome being discouraged in your service?
One of the many interesting points that Deacon McNeil touched on in his talk was that “missionaries don’t need to go to other countries” – a notion that is especially relevant to our Vincentians, as their volunteer ministry takes place primarily in the homes of the people they serve, right here in the Archdiocese of Omaha.
In all, it was a great evening of personal growth and revitalization for our Vincentians.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha is grateful to Deacon Tim McNeil for once again so eloquently sharing his insights into spiritual growth with our Vincentian volunteers!
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ServWare Training Available for Conferences | |
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Are you a Vincentian serving those in need through your local parish’s SSVP conference? Would you like to know if a neighbor you're assisting has been helped by another conference in the past? Would you like to be able to request financial assistance on behalf of your neighbor from the district office?
If so, small-group trainings on our ServWare software are available! ServWare provides a space for collaboration between our SSVP conferences. Our conference support coordinators, Kristina (see her spotlight above!), and Lily are more than happy to accommodate your schedule and locations – whether it be your conference, your home, or elsewhere!
For the best training experience, Kristina and Lily recommend having a separate small-group (4-5 people) session apart, from your regularly scheduled conference meeting, so that each person can get the assistance they need. Contact Kristina at conferencesupport@svdpomaha.com or Lily at lily@ssvpomaha.org to schedule a training.
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Anne Nabors - Dedicated Vincentian and Secretary Retires | |
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This month, during St. Mary’s Bellevue holiday party (which had been rescheduled due to previous weather) Anne Nabors - long-time secretary for St. Mary’s and Vincentian - was recognized for her 20+ years of service with an award, presents, and lots of love from her parish friends.
Throughout her career as the St. Mary’s secretary, Anne also volunteered her time and effort to help the underprivileged of Omaha through the parish’s SSVP conference. Her work included taking calls and doing interviews with neighbors in need when they reached out to St. Mary's for assistance.
As she retires from her role, we would like to thank Anne for her dedication to our mission and for providing assistance and companionship to those in need in.
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Now is the time! Reserve a seat for our 15th Annual Strawberry Brunch at St. Wenceslaus Church on Saturday, June 1st from 11 AM to 1 PM! For those who may not know, the proceeds of the Strawberry Brunch will benefit our SSVP Omaha food pantry.
For $45 per person, this event will provide refreshments (coffee, lemonade, AND mimosas!) with a brunch of delicious chicken salad on a croissant, and the chance to participate in the raffle and silent auction. Beyond brunch, let your creativity blossom with fun decorations as you build your table’s theme, like “Hawaiian Vacation” or “Pretty in Pink.” With an estimated forty tables, we can’t wait to see all of the amazing themes at this year’s Strawberry Brunch!
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To reserve your seat or for more information about the Strawberry Brunch visit our webpage HERE. On our webpage, you can make your reservation through our online form or download and print your reservation to send to our District Office. We look forward to seeing you all on June 1st as we support those in need in our community!
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Don’t forget to save the date for the first-ever Nebraska Catholic Day of Giving on Wednesday, May 1st!
This day, created from the combined efforts of the Archdiocese of Omaha, the Diocese of Lincoln, and the Diocese of Grand Island is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the parishes, schools, and non-profit organizations that promote our Catholic teachings, like the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha.
For more information about the Nebraska Catholic Day of Giving, check out the official website HERE. Stay tuned for more information regarding this day of giving!
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As spring is nearly upon us, our pantry garden is gearing up for a new crop of produce - all to be given out to our neighbors in need who visit the food pantry.
As we prepare, we will need more Pantry “Garden Angel" volunteers to help plant, water, and tend to the garden for the spring and summer seasons. This is a wonderful opportunity to grow your green thumb and meet others who are passionate about serving others. If you are interested in such a volunteer opportunity, please contact Pat Slaven at mpslaven035@gmail.com.
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Check out the upcoming sales colors for our SSVP Thrift Stores! With four stores around Omaha, there is always an SSVP Thrift Store nearby. | |
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12301 W Center Road
Mon-Sat, 10 AM-8 PM
Sun, 12 PM-5 PM
(402) 933-8242
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2101 Leavenworth St
Mon-Sat, 9 AM-6 PM
(402) 341-1689
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5505 N. 90th St
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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