Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha

October 2023 Newsletter

Supporting our neighbors in need through spirituality, friendship and service;

providing emergency food, clothing, material and financial / homeless prevention assistance, since 1868

IN THIS ISSUE:

• A message from our Executive Director
• Conference Spotlight – St. Columbkille
• The Many Ways to Support SSVP Omaha
• Follow Us on Social Media
• Pantry & Sack Lunch Programs in Real Need of Food Donations!
• Our Thrift Stores are Award Winning!
• Feast Day of St. Vincent de Paul Wrap-Up
• AOH & Irish Charities Golf Tourney Rewind
• Winter Coat Drive & Giveaway Update

Message from our Executive Director, Jill Lynch-Sosa

"To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us,

we must recognize Christ in the poorest, his brethren.”

-Cathechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America

Dear SSVP Friends,

One of the most basic tenets of Catholic teaching is recognizing that each and every human has been made in the image and likeness of God. If we honestly believe this to be true, what does that mean in our daily lives... in my daily life? I think about this question in this way: Do I treat each and every person (or groups of people) with whom I come into contact with the respect and dignity they inherently have – being made by God, and in His image? In my mind, that bar is set pretty high – for myself or for anyone!

One of the most humbling – and gratifying – parts of my position is that I have the privilege of interacting with Vincentians, volunteers, and staff who do their very best to answer this question with a YES, as they serve their neighbors in need. In fact, since it was founded in 1833, one of the central charisms of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been to aspire to holiness by truly seeing the face of Christ in the poor families and individuals served by the Society and its members….and responding accordingly. A concrete example of this can be found in the “Conference Spotlight” newsletter article, highlighting St. Columbkille’s St. Vincent de Paul Conference. You can’t help but note how truly committed St. C’s Vincentians are to serving the poorest of the community with such dignity, while concurrently growing in holiness and closer to God.

In closing, I want to share with you an email and photo I received last week from a former neighbor at Holy Family named Ashley. Originally from a small town in Missouri, Ashley had moved to Omaha early this year, looking for new opportunities and a new life. Unfortunately, though, due to a myriad of mishaps, youthful naivety, and other challenges, Ashley had not been able to secure steady employment and ended up homeless.

I had met Ashley earlier this summer, as she was living between shelters and on the streets around the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s District Office. Ashley spent much of her day on our Holy Family grounds and relied on our ministries for her basic life needs, such as food, water, clothing, and personal hygiene items – as well as companionship and a sense of safety.

Over the ensuing months, I got to know Ashley pretty well. She is a beautiful young woman with a huge heart. We had quite a few conversations about her life, homelessness, and the incredible challenges and dangers that brings. I also spoke with Ashley about having a plan for what was next for her. Mostly, I encouraged her to consider rehab for addiction, working for SSVP once she completed rehab, or moving back to Missouri to be with family. And, one day I realized that I hadn’t seen Ashley for a while. I asked around, although no one seemed to know what had happened to her – until I received this email from her, below. Ashley very happily wished for me to share this message with you:

“Hi Jill. I just wanted to email you to let you know I am safe back home in Missouri. If I had not had you and your team of Rockstar's at SSVPOMAHA I just know I would not have made it the long 4 months of the roughest most hardest n challenging times of my life. Without ur team I would have went hungry. I would have been lost without yall. You guys became my Omaha family for sure. I miss you, bella, and mr Jeff and my bestie POP'S!! You guys kept me safe. I owe u my life. Your community outreach program didn't just feed me it clothed me as well. DAILY! I miss the music mr Jeff n his guys would play for us. I miss my friends I made while coming there. (Annett, Obama, mrs Anna, Mama j , chrissy, bishop, Vinny, junebug, miah, MADDIE, and dj, Cece, mannie, ♡my luther♡!!) Although I'm back home it doesn't feel like home anymore. I have been through so much and it changed me. People don't understand the seriousness of being alone and homeless. The everyday dangers, the struggle to be safe. But I adapted. I worry bout my family there. If they are safe. I wonder if they even remember me. Either way, I love them. All of them! You especially. You kept hope alive in me. For that I thank you. Ashley”

This email reminded me of a very poignant truth. Every interaction I have has the potential to make a significant impact on another, good or bad. Here’s a question I ask myself… Am I being present in my interactions with others? Do I always treat others with the respect and dignity they deserve? And do I remember this person in front of me is made in the likeness of God? I’d like to think that the answer is always yes, although – being human – I know that I often fail. As I’d mentioned earlier, that bar has been set quite high, although it’s one that everyone associated with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul truly does strive to clear.

Thank you, and may God bless you for all you do to help your neighbors in need.

Gratefully,

Jill Lynch-Sosa

Executive Director

P.S. Please check out our newsletter article regarding SSVP’s social media pages. I would invite you to consider following us on any or all of our digital platforms, which give you even more insight into the Society and the families and individuals we serve.

P.P.S. As the weather is turning colder and more individuals and families are turning to the Society for food, clothing and safe, stable housing, I would ask you to please consider making a generous gift to the Society. Please review the newsletter article that spells out the many ways you can make your contribution, in support of our ministries that serve the poorest of our community. And please consider making your gift right now HERE.

Home Visits and Relationships are at the Heart of

St. Columbkille's SSVP Conference

Located in the heart of Papillion, there’s definitely a lot going on at St. Columbkille Catholic Church. This is true not only in terms of landscaping and repair of exterior areas of the parish grounds (see photo), but also – and especially – with St. Columbkille’s St. Vincent de Paul Conference. Established in 1985, St. Columbkille’s SSVP Conference is one of the more active ones in the Archdiocese, with right around 30 Vincentians, all committed to serving their neighbors in need with quiet humility and a compassionate heart.

At the heart of St. Columbkille’s outreach to neighbors is the home visit – an opportunity for Vincentians to enter into the lives of those they serve. These visits allow Vincentians to hear – first-hand – the struggles their neighbors face, as well as to offer a sympathetic ear and whatever assistance the neighbor might need.

And, to make their home visits as effective as they can be, St. Columbkille’s SSVP Conference organizes their outreach into four teams of Vincentian volunteers – 4-6 members per team – with each team scheduled to take calls and do neighbor visits one week per month. Each Vincentian is given a binder, which includes a prayer card, roster, team rotation, eligibility criteria, community resources, visit note templates, budget worksheets, neighbor “homework assignment” sheets, application forms for programs of key community partners, and instructions on utilizing SSVP software, “Servware."

• St. Columbkille’s SSVP conference hosts an annual fall retreat for their members, along with a spiritual pilgrimage for Vincentians each spring.
• The Conference hosts quarterly guest speakers to educate Vincentians about community resources, in order to help them better serve their neighbors in need.

St. Columbkille SSVP Conference is also very good at involving the larger parish community into their service and outreach. To this end, St. Columbkille Parish staff regularly publish SSVP impact stories in their church bulletin. In addition, twice a year, Vincentian volunteers speak at weekend masses, spreading awareness of the importance of the parish’s SSVP conference, as well as seeking volunteers and donors. St. Columbkille provides SSVP envelopes to parishioners each month, and at the Thanksgiving Day mass, requesting donations for their SSVP Conference.

At a recent conference monthly meeting, St. Columbkille Vincentians shared stories and reflections from their recent home visits. Listening in on their discussion, it’s easy to sense the dedication and compassion that each Vincentian brings to these interactions with their neighbors in need. In describing a recent home visit, a St. Columbkille Vincentian related how extremely hard a neighbor (and single mom) works to take care of her 15-month-old and 5-year-old children, as well as her 15-year-old sister. The Vincentian shares: “She (the neighbor) is employed and is a really nice person. She just needed assistance to ‘get over the hump. She was SO grateful for the Society’s help.”

Another St. Columbkille Vincentian reflected on what she (and other Vincentians) receive through their interactions with, and service to their neighbors: “Hearing their stories and struggles, and witnessing their unwavering faith is a real gift. Frankly, this work is so humbling. After a home visit, I always feel like I come out so much richer for having had this opportunity.”

Janelle Schweikert shares her own motivation for being part of St. Columbkille’s SSVP Conference, as well as reinforces how both neighbors and Vincentians, alike, benefit from these home visits: “As a social worker by training, I felt called to serve as a Vincentian. I love how we are constantly learning from each other, both Vincentians and neighbors. I believe wholeheartedly in meeting neighbors where they are, through home visits, and I am continually amazed by our neighbors’ perseverance and resilience.”

In closing, Janelle artfully sums up the collective call to holiness which is at the heart of the mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul – and exemplified by St. Columbkille’s SSVP Conference members: “As Vincentians, we are called to be Christ to each other. We show our neighbors in need His mercy and compassion, and they teach us to be vulnerable and humble. I feel so very blessed to be part of this amazing ministry.”

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha cannot serve our neighbors in need without the caring and compassionate support that we receive from those in our community who share our mission, like you. Please know how grateful everyone at SSVP is for the many ways that this community provides assistance to our organization, whether it’s by making financial and/or in-kind donations, volunteering with any of our programs, praying for the Society, or sharing our mission and needs with your friends and family. ALL of your support makes a real and meaningful difference in helping our neighbors facing a financial crisis. Frankly, your support is what makes all of our services possible.

Make a Financial Donation

Donors provide charitable contributions to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha because they value our mission of offering a “hand up” to those most in need from our community. Monetary donations from households, individuals, churches, and businesses are the primary source of support for SSVP Omaha and are greatly appreciated. And, as the year-end approaches, you may be interested to know that there are a number of options to consider – and to choose from, when making a monetary gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha, including:

• Sending a check, cash or money order to: Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha, 1715 Izard Street – Omaha, NE 68102.
• Making an online gift, using a credit or debit card – at ssvpomaha.org.
• Setting up a recurring/monthly donation – also at ssvpomaha.org.
• Facilitating a matching gift from a business you’re affiliated with.
• Making a gift of a used vehicle. Information can be found here.
• Making a gift of securities (stocks or mutual funds).
• Making a qualified charitable distribution from an IRA (for those 70 ½ and older).
• Making an estate planning/legacy gift in your will, one that will help serve those in need well into the future.

Will you please consider making a monetary gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha? Your gift will be used to assist those most in need in our community who turn to us during their hour of need. As a non-profit charitable organization, all financial gifts made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law, and are greatly appreciated.

For more information regarding providing financial support to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha – including any of the giving options, above – please contact our Development Director, Tim Sully at (402) 779-8499, extension 103, or at development@svdpomaha.com.

Make an In-Kind Donation

Thrift Stores - 5505 North 90th Street |

2101 Leavenworth Street |

807 Tara Plaza | 12301 West Center Road

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha operates four “thrift” stores in the Omaha metro area. Because of their extremely discounted pricing, our thrift stores allow households with lower incomes to be able to afford quality items that may be unable to purchase at other retail stores. These items include gently used clothing, household goods, furniture, appliances, toys, books, home décor, and more. To support those in need who utilize our thrift stores, please consider making your in-kind donations to any of our four thrift stores:

Complete information regarding thrift store donations, donation pickups, hours of operation, as well as the in-kind items we accept and those which we do not accept can be found on our website, here.

Food Pantry – 2101 Leavenworth Street

The Society’s large food pantry is located at the west end of our 2101 Leavenworth Street thrift store and is open to any individual or family that requests assistance. The Society appreciates receiving donations of any and all perishable and non-perishable food items, including fresh produce. While the SSVP Food Pantry is open from 9:00 am – 12:30 pm, Tuesdays & Thursdays, you are welcome to drop off food donations to the pantry from 9:00 am until 12:30 pm, Mondays through Thursdays.

Sack Lunches – 1715 Izard Street

During the morning hours – Mondays through Fridays – the Society hosts volunteers who prepare approximately 200 sack lunches each day. These lunches are distributed, free of charge, to our hungry and homeless neighbors and to others who live in low-income and/or “senior” housing, located on the eastern edge of Omaha. We appreciate receiving in-kind donations to support the Sack Lunch Program, especially “salities” (like potato chips, pretzels, or similar items) and sweets (like cookies, granola bars, etc.).

“Closet Door” Clothing – 1715 Izard Street

Also, during the morning hours, Mondays through Fridays, the Society hosts volunteers who organize our “Closet Door” clothing room, distributing a wide variety of clothing items, free of charge, to our homeless neighbors in need. We are grateful for donations of in-kind items, to support the Closet Door, ranging from socks and underwear to jeans, shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies. Other clothing items are distributed “seasonally," such as shorts and sandals in the summer months and coats, hats, gloves, and other “cold weather” items during the winter months. In addition, the Closet Door Program provides personal care items to the same population, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, lip balm, and feminine hygiene products.

In-kind donations in support of our Sack Lunch and Closet Door Ministries can be made between 9 - 11 am, Mondays-Fridays to the west end of our Holy Family Center, 1715 Izard Street. Just ring the doorbell of our YELLOW door and ask for Jeff.

Volunteer

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha is grateful for the countless volunteer hours that are provided to our organization in all of our programs. We simply do not have the capacity to serve our neighbors in need without the volunteer services from compassionate members of our community.

Please consider volunteering today! Volunteering can be a one-time event, or a longer-lasting commitment. Both individuals and groups are welcome. Complete information regarding volunteering can be found here.

Again, thank you very much for the many ways you support

the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha!

Do you want to stay current on the latest SSVP updates, hear heartwarming volunteer and neighbor stories, and get details about upcoming events? Then follow our SSVP and SSVP Thrift Stores social media pages for all of this and more!

On our SSVP Facebook and Instagram, you'll find inspiring stories about our dedicated volunteers, important updates about the Society, and details about exciting events like the SSVP's Coat Drive! These are great ways to stay in the know about what’s happening at the Society, beyond the newsletter.

Check out our SSVP Facebook and Instagram!

On our Thrift Store pages, you can stay informed about ongoing sales, discover the wide range of services and products our stores offer (including large donations like appliances and furniture), and catch up on thrift store news and updates.

Follow our SSVP Thrift Stores' Facebook and Instagram pages!

Don't miss out on the chance to stay connected with us and be a part of our SSVP community. Follow us today! 📱👍

As was mentioned above, our food pantry and sack lunch programs are integral to our services to the poorest of our Omaha community. However, both of these programs are in DESPERATE need of donated food, as donations to both programs have “dried up” over the last number of months.

In the Food Pantry, we would appreciate receiving more items, like Cereal, Pasta Sauce, Meal Kits, Hearty Soups, Cake Mixes and Condiments (e.g. Ketchup, Mustard & Mayonnaise). In our Sack Lunch Program, we are always very low on "Salties" (like potato chips, pretzels or similar items) and sweets (like cookies, granola bars, etc). We are nearly out of both.

The Society would be especially grateful if you would consider making food donations to either our pantry or sack lunch program today! Or, if you are aware of a commercial food supplier that could be helpful in providing these needed items, please be in touch with our Executive Director, Jill Lynch-Sosa at executivedirector@ssvpomaha.org.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Recently, people from around the Omaha community put their “stamp of approval” on what we’ve known for a very long time. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s thrift stores recently received The Readers’ Choice Best of the Big `O’ Award in the category of “Best Thrift Store”. We hope you’re as proud of the Society and our award-winning thrift stores as we are! Click here for complete information regarding our SSVP thrift stores.

With over 80 in attendance, the Society celebrated our annual St. Vincent de Paul Feast Day mass on Tuesday, September 26th - at the District Office & Holy Family Center.

Monsignor James Gilg was the mass celebrant, accompanied by a choir consisting of singers from a variety of Catholic Churches around Omaha.

SSVP Board President, Kevin Grode read the heartfelt prayers of petition - many of which were sent in by friends and donors of the Society.

A reception, featuring light appetizers and refreshments was held in the "sack lunch-making room", following the service.

On the first of October, the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) and the Irish Charities of Nebraska hosted a golf tournament, benefiting local non-profits, including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha. AOH, a dedicated supporter of our organization, has consistently provided our food pantry with frozen meat over the years. This year, we were honored to be one of the beneficiaries of their golf tournament, alongside the Veterans Transitional Housing Program, the Bethlehem House, and Heart Ministry Center.

The event, held at the beautiful Tregaron golf course, offered participants the opportunity to golf 18 holes, enjoy dinner, and win prizes—all for a noble cause. Despite the above-average heat, spirits were high as golfers played and engaged in mini-games at various holes.

As a sponsor of one of the holes, Jill Lynch-Sosa and Daniel Bartolomei represented SSVP and hosted a dice game that allowed participants to start ahead of their tee-offs, in exchange for a donation to the Society. The golfers were incredibly generous, going above and beyond to give donations to the hole sponsors.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to AOH and Irish Charities of Nebraska for hosting this event and selecting the Society as one of the beneficiaries. We look forward to participating in this fantastic event again next year!

As we prepare for the colder months, the Society is ramping up our Coat Drive! We still need LOTS of volunteers to help sort the coats throughout the rest of October and to help facilitate the giveaway on November 4^th. Please think about volunteering – click HERE to grab your spot! Bilingual volunteers are always in particular need, so if you can speak Spanish or another language, please consider putting your skills to use for a great cause! Even if you only can volunteer for one day, any amount of time and service given to others is always a blessing and we are wholeheartedly grateful to everyone who volunteers.

For the 2023 Coat Drive, we would love to reach our goal of providing 3,000 coats to children and adults around Omaha, but we need YOUR help to achieve this goal! You can donate any new or used coats, or new winter apparel at any of our thrift stores around town – please just mark these items as “Coat Drive,” to ensure they are taken to the correct location. You can also donate directly to the Society HERE. Any funds donated through this link will be used to buy coats for the drive. If you are a Knight of Columbus, click HERE to order coats through the Knights website!

As a reminder, the Giveaway will happen on Saturday, November 4^th from 8 AM-1 PM at Omaha Home for Boys, 4343 N 52^nd St., and we will be serving all areas of Omaha! We are profoundly thankful for everyone who is helping to make this Coat Drive as successful as possible. If you have any questions or would be interested in sponsoring this event, please contact Diane Mead at diane.mead@rdmead.com.

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

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 development@svdpomaha.com!