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Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha
February 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
- Vincentian Spotlight
- So, What Exactly IS a "Home Visit"?
- SSVP Partnership - Spirit Catholic Radio's “Share the Warmth”
- 2024 Strawberry Brunch - Save the Date
- Turning Plastic Bags into Mats for the Homeless
- Salties & Sweeties Needed for our Sack Lunch Program
- Hotel Toiletries – If You Got Them, We Can Use Them!
- Valentine’s Day Sale at our Thrift Stores - Daniel
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Message from our Executive Director, Jill Lynch-Sosa
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown, it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
– Matthew 13; 31-32
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Dear SSVP Friends,
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is the largest lay Catholic organization in the world, with about a million members and volunteers in 155 countries. In the United States, alone, there are 4,428 parish-based Conferences, with over 90,000 Vincentian volunteers serving the poorest families of their communities.
What I find most astonishing about the amazingly vast breadth, scope and reach of the current Society of St. Vincent de Paul, is that it started out very, very small, with only ONE person – Frederic Ozanam. And, quite similar to the parable of the mustard seed from the Gospel of Matthew …. the organization grew!
In 1833, Ozanam, a college student studying at the Sorbonne, was appalled by the overwhelming poverty of the poorest of his community who were living in the slums of Paris, amidst the tumultuous times of early 19th century France. Wanting to live out his Catholic faith in a meaningful way in the service of the poor – on April 23, 1833, his 20th birthday – Ozanam invited five other students to a meeting, where they founded the first “Conference of Charity”. This fledgling organization was intended to help its members increase in holiness by providing loving service to those in need. With the guidance of a Catholic nun with the Sisters of Charity, Rosalie Rendu, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was born.
This group – which by then boasted SEVEN members – began visiting families in some of the poorest districts of Paris. They listened to, and answered, the needs of many people living in poverty at the time. Within a few years, the Society’s membership had blossomed to 600 people. And before long, the organization had branched into 15 other cities and towns across France and grew to more than 2,000 members.
Within just a few years, there were SSVP conferences in countries across Europe, as well as in New Zealand, Australia, India and Monaco. And, just 12 years after its founding in France, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul had taken root in the United States – in St. Louis, Missouri.
Despite its small, humble beginnings, the Society is now recognized as one of the world’s leading providers of service to impoverished families and individuals in need – person to person. And, while growing from the one founding individual back in 1833 to approximately 1,000,000 Vincentian volunteers in 2024, the Society has truly become a living example of the mature “tree” that Jesus was talking about in the mustard seed parable.
As you read through this February 2024 edition of the SSVP Omaha newsletter, I would point out that the mustard seed metaphor is rooted in so many aspects of our organization. Whether it’s volunteering with one of our ministries or donating financial or material goods, so many of those who support our SSVP mission began “in small ways” …. and which blossomed and grew. This was certainly the case with Karen Langan, found in the next, “Vincentian Spotlight” article. Karen was (and continues to be) a humble, committed volunteer who has just said “yes” whenever she was asked to serve her neighbors in need in an expanded way.
I would also ask you to reflect on how the mustard seed parable has been relevant in your own life. Was there a time when you when you were challenged to do more, be more, give more? Is this a time in your life when you might be able to volunteer at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s food pantry, thrift stores or with our homeless ministries at Holy Family? If volunteering isn’t possible right now, would you consider making an in-kind or financial donation to support our mission of serving the poor from right here in Omaha – or making your donation a recurring/monthly one? I invite you to explore any of these possibilities on our website at ssvpomaha.org.
Please know that I’m grateful for however you can lend a hand in our collective effort to serve our neighbors in need from right here in Omaha. Such collaboration, involving volunteers, donors and others who support the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is exactly how our organization works. And, frankly, it’s the only way it CAN work.
Thank you and God bless you for all you’re able to do to help us provide a “hand up” to struggling families and individuals from right here in our own community. And please know that you are always in my prayers, and in the prayers of the Society.
Gratefully,
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Jill Lynch-Sosa
Executive Director
P.S. Winter is the slowest time of year for gifts, while the need for our service is year-round. I would like to ask you to please consider making a gift today to support our programs which serve so many of the poorest families in our community. You can make your gift right now on our secure website, here.
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Currently, Vincentian, Karen Langan, is one of the busiest and most involved SSVP volunteers with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha. Serving the Society since the early `90s, Karen has worn a myriad of volunteer “hats”, representing St. Bernadette’s SSVP conference in providing outreach and assistance to some of the poorest families and individuals in Omaha. | |
But being so involved wasn’t always the case, though. In fact, when Karen first began volunteering with the Society, she started just “in small ways”, as Karen puts it, “and it grew from there.”
As background….
Karen and her husband, Terry moved to the Omaha area in 1989, related to Terry’s job transfer with the National Park Service. Karen, a registered nurse, took a position as a medical surgical nurse with CHI. At that same time, they joined St. Bernadette Catholic Church, as parishioners.
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Shares Karen: “Terry had a cousin who was a Vincentian at St. Margaret Mary, and who volunteered at the Society’s downtown food pantry. He invited us to go with him. The pantry was so much smaller back then, and all we initially did was help fill grocery bags with food, once a week. Then we’d hand them out to neighbors who were requesting food. It wasn’t much, but it really made me feel good to be doing something that helped others.”
After volunteering at the food pantry for a few years, Karen decided to look into St. Bernadette’s SSVP conference, and began attending meetings and helping out however she could. Not long after that, Karen was commissioned as a Vincentian for her conference, and started accompanying another Vincentian on home visits to neighbors experiencing a financial crisis. “Being able to help a family who needs financial assistance in order to avoid eviction, or getting someone’s water, heat or electricity turned back on”, reflects Karen, “is amazing and completely fulfilling.”
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A few years later, an SSVP council leader invited Karen to expand her volunteer efforts even more …. doing home visits to families in need who lived in areas of the city which were not covered by an SSVP conference. Karen said “yes” and thus began years of outreach to neighbors in need who primarily lived in north Omaha. At the time, I was getting more involved with the Society, and I absolutely loved going on home visits,” shares Karen. “And I still do.”
Around this same time, the Society’s Helpline was in its infancy, being staffed by volunteer Vincentians, taking calls from neighbors facing a financial crisis. Once again, Karen was asked to expand her involvement with the Society. And, once again, Karen simply said “yes” – committing to assisting with the Helpline – one more volunteer endeavor with which she continues to currently help.
Fast forward to today, it’s easy to see that Karen’s commitments to SSVP have blossomed over the years – especially with our organization’s Food Pantry at 21st and Leavenworth. On Tuesday and Thursday mornings, when the pantry is open to the public, Karen’s volunteer role is to distribute frozen and refrigerated meat items to visitors. She also periodically doubles as a “Pantry Companion”, accompanying neighbors through the pantry, ensuring they find the food items they need. And, throughout each week, Karen also keeps track of the inventory/supply of all food items in stock in the pantry, and is the designee who places the Society’s weekly Food Bank order – food items for our SSVP pantry, which our driver picks up every Wednesday.
While she officially retired from nursing in 2019, Karen’s early volunteering “in small ways” has grown into what is now a nearly full-time “job”:
Sunday – Volunteering with the SSVP Helpline
Monday – Volunteering with the SSVP Helpline
Tuesday – Volunteering at the SSVP Pantry
Wednesday – Volunteering at another local non-profit organization
Thursday – Volunteering at the SSVP Pantry
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While Karen has no additional scheduled volunteer responsibilities on Fridays and Saturdays, it’s not uncommon for her to be following up on Helpline requests on those days or doing home visits to families in need in her St. Bernadette neighborhood. Karen also volunteers at her parish by helping out with various projects, events and committees, including SSVP fundraisers, Christmas gift-giving to needy families, church-cleaning, membership in the Altar Society, funeral dinner committee, and St. Bernadette’s funeral “Honor Guard”.
In all of her volunteer commitments with the Society, Karen Langan’s focus remains on those she serves, as she continues: “These people and families are all really struggling, financially. Whether it’s doing home visits or my work in the pantry or with the Helpline, these neighbors are always SO grateful. We see them when they’re really down and don’t know where to turn, with little hope. And, through the Society, we can do something that lifts them up.
In many ways, Karen Langan’s growth in involvement with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is not all that uncommon. So many SSVP volunteers – Vincentians and non-Vincentians alike – begin with assisting at one of our ministries, perhaps for a day, or two. And, like Karen, they start to realize how important their services are to neighbors in need, and how good their service makes them feel. Doing so motivates our volunteers to increase their involvement with our ministries, which has certainly been the case with Karen Langen.
Karen concludes her thoughts on her service to the Society: “I’ve said this before, but I am so incredibly grateful to be able to help out. I get so much more from my volunteer experiences than I’ll ever be able to provide. And I mean that, sincerely.”
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You may hear or read about "home visits", related to the services provided through St. Vincent de Paul, and ask yourself: So, what exactly IS a home visit?
The Society’s founding activity, still practiced today, is the face-to-face, person-to-person “Home Visit”, in which Vincentians visit families and individuals who are facing a financial crisis – as the name suggests …. at their home!
At these visits, Vincentians have the opportunity to spend time with their neighbors, identifying both immediate and longer-term needs. While often forming friendships with those they’re serving, Vincentians determine how the Society can best help these struggling neighbors get back on their feet, often providing food, clothing or emergency financial assistance, including help with lapsed rent or utility bills. Frankly, it is often the case that a one-time coverage of a neighbor’s outstanding financial obligation is the intervention needed, in order to prevent the members of that household from being evicted from their home and falling into homelessness.
The home visits were the very first outreach activities conducted by the founding members of the Society, back in 1833 Paris, France. And, they continue to be the primary way that current Vincentians build relationships with, and serve their neighbors in need, all across the world.
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During the month of December, Spirit Catholic Radio conducted their 2023 “Warm Up Winter” program, designed to collect warm winter wear items for their “brothers and sisters in need". To this end, Spirit Catholic Radio requested listeners to bring donations of new winter coats, hats, mittens, gloves, socks, boots – for men, women and children – to any of their four donation sites.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha’s Executive Director, Jill Lynch-Sosa, recently stopped by KVSS’ station and picked up what turned out to be a very large donation of winter apparel. Pictured are Jill Lynch-Sosa, KVSS' General Manager, Jim Carroll, and KVSS' "Spirit Mornings Live" show duo of Jen Brown and Bruce McGregor.
These items were brought to our Holy Family Ministries and we are continuing to give them out to our homeless neighbors. As this year’s winter weather is definitely not over, these cold weather apparel items are an essential part of our Holy Family services.
KVSS' General Manager, Jim Carroll, shares his reflections on this drive and donation: "For seven years now, Warm Up Winter has allowed the Spirit Catholic Radio listening family to come together in our communities to provide warmth for those in need. Through the work of partners in the vineyard like the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha, God’s message to `love your neighbor' will continue to be witnessed."
Shares Jill: "We are so grateful to everyone at Spirit Catholic Radio and their loyal listeners for this thoughtful - and very helpful - donation. I've personally given out some of these winter wear items to our neighbors, who have been equally thankful to receive them."
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Please join us for our 15th Annual Strawberry Brunch at St. Wenceslaus Church on Saturday, June 1st from 11 AM to 1 PM!
For $45 per person, this Strawberry Brunch will include refreshments (including mimosas!), a filling meal, and the chance to participate in our raffle and silent auction!
All of the proceeds from this event will benefit our food pantry at 2101 Leavenworth St. Please keep an eye out for additional information regarding reserving a seat!
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Where many people would just see plastic bags, Nancy Towey, a volunteer at the Food Pantry, Closet Door, and Hope of the Poor's coffee garage, saw an opportunity to reduce waste while helping serve the poorest in our community.
After passing by a local landfill, and seeing the MANY bags filling the landfill and floating around the area, Nancy knew she had to do something to minimize the waste and littering caused by plastic bags. It wasn't long after that a video like this one appeared on Nancy's video feed, showing how to make sleeping mats for the homeless out of extra plastic bags.
In a "God moment," Nancy knew that this would serve as a fantastic way to prevent local waste build-up and help the homeless neighbors she serves as an SSVP volunteer. In just over a year, Nancy has already created four of these mats - each of which can last a lifetime due to the plastic bag's durability.
Beyond just providing a soft spot to rest, these mats also help to keep our neighbors warm in the winter by keeping them off the cold ground. On top of this, they are easy to clean and do not attract bed bugs - a common issue for our homeless neighbors - mitigated by these mats since the plastic material is not hospitable to the bugs.
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On average, each of these mats saves over 800 plastic bags from going to the landfill. Nancy started this project with the bags she had on hand from her grocery store visits, but now she uses extra bags from family, friends, and even grocery stores, where she uses the bags that would be recycled, saving energy crushing and transferring the old bags to recycling plants.
All in all, these mats take about 30 hours to make, and can easily be completed in a month if you spend only an hour a day weaving the bags together. While this may seem like a long time, remember that each of these mats saves over 800 bags from being thrown away, and can provide years of warmth and comfort for the homeless neighbors we serve.
This video provides an easy step-by-step process on how to make a mat yourself. If you haven't already, please consider following Nancy's path, and ease a neighbor's life while minimizing the plastic waste in Omaha!
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One of the most visited ministries from our Holy Family Center is our Sack Lunch program. Here, we provide lunches for anyone who may need them, and offer companionship to those who stop by our door.
For those who may not know, our Sack Lunch program puts "salties" (chips, pretzels, etc.) and "sweets" (granola bars, cookies, etc.) into each of the lunches we hand out as sides to the sandwich along with any fresh veggies we may have. These items make a superb addition to our lunches, helping to provide a full and filling meal to our neighbors.
These salties and sweets are some of the best and easiest items to donate to our Sack Lunch program, and they can even become a fun project! Everyone deserves the love of some home-baked goods, so please consider taking the time to have some fun, bake some sweets, and donate them to our Sack Lunch program. This is especially a wonderful opportunity for any schools or parishes who may be interested in volunteering their time to the benefit of our homeless neighbors.
If you would like to donate to the Sack Lunch program, please stop by the Holy Family Center at 1715 Izard Street between the hours of 9 am and 3 pm, Mondays through Fridays.
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Our Holy Family’s “Closet Door Ministry” re-purposes used clothing, distributing it to our homeless neighbors in the downtown Omaha area. Of course, in order to make this program work, we rely on donations of cool/cold weather items in the fall winter and lighter clothing items in the spring and summer months.
What you may NOT know, though, is that – in addition to the seasonal clothing we hand out to the homeless – the Closet Door also provides a myriad of “hotel”-sized, personal hygiene, "toiletries" to these same neighbors in need. Such personal hygiene items include things like small bottles of shampoo and conditioner, as well as small-sized soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, lotion and shower gel, to name a few.
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So, if you are ever staying at a hotel and you have the opportunity, please consider snagging any of these individual-sized, personal care/hygiene toiletries and donate them to the Closet Door at our Holy Family Center. Or, if you belong to a church, school, business, civic or other organization, please also consider spreading this message by organizing a collection drive of any (or all) of these items. You can drop these off to Holy Family, 1715 Izard Street – anytime between 9 am and 3 pm, Mondays through Fridays.
Our homeless neighbors very much appreciate receiving these personal care items, which add a sense of dignity and enhance their self-esteem, brightening their otherwise challenging days.
Thank you very much for considering this
donation opportunity!
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This Valentine's Day - Wednesday, February 14th - stop by our SSVP Omaha thrift stores to enjoy 50% off ALL red-colored merchandise, and 50% off ALL jewelry.
We wish you all a very lovely Valentine's Day! ❤️
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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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