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Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha
October 2024 Newsletter
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Supporting our neighbors in need with 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 | HOMELESS MINISTRIES | THRIFT STORES | |
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IN THIS ISSUE:
A message from our Executive Director
Vincentian Spotlight – Mary Eileen Andreasen
SSVP Food Programs Seeing Huge Numbers Seeking Assistance
SSVP Winter Coat Drive & Giveaway in Full Swing!
St. Vincent de Paul Feast Day Follow-Up
SSVP Stores Hard at Work Preparing for Coat Giveaways
Many Options to Choose from When Making a Donation
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A Message from our Executive Director, Jill Lynch-Sosa
“The Lord hears the cry of the poor."
-Book of Psalms
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Dear Friends of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha, | |
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Taken from the Book of Psalms, I have always really liked this hope-filled message, often hearing it as a liturgical song or a responsorial psalm. More recently, I’ve been contemplating what these comforting words mean for the people we serve, as well as for volunteers, staff, and donors to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha. In thinking about this message, I’ve been wondering: What is God’s response to such a cry for help from someone in need? How does He go about answering it?
Below is a quick story that provides a glimpse into how I think about these kinds of questions.
Recently, a young woman who is homeless showed up at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s Closet Door Ministry, in need of – well, in need of a lot of things. “Hannah” looked to be in pretty rough shape …sleep-deprived, disheveled, and requesting shoes, a shirt, a jacket, underwear, deodorant, and a toothbrush. Hannah also mentioned that she’d been “beaten up," recently and that she was very hungry.
Our truly awesome Closet Door volunteers were able to provide Hannah with most of the items she requested, although we were temporarily out of deodorant. Our volunteers also contacted our District Office staff, as they were considerably worried about Hannah, and just wanted to make sure she was going to be okay.
A couple of our staff members chatted with Hannah, who, we learned, has been living in a secluded wooded area, somewhere northeast of our District Office/Holy Family Center, sleeping outdoors on the ground. Hannah was clear that she didn’t want to stay in a tent, as she didn’t “trust anyone out there.” Hannah also said that she hadn’t actually slept very much the last few days and that she was exhausted. And, after just a few minutes of conversation with this very nice, sweet young woman, it was clear that – not only was Hannah homeless, tired, and in need of a good number of things – she was also struggling with some significant mental health issues.
After getting her a bottle of water and the last sack lunch from the several hundred that had been made that day, Hannah asked for two more things: a Bible and someplace that she could “rest her head for a few minutes.” We found a donated Bible which we gave to Hannah, as well as let her know that she could take a nap. Letting Hannah know that she was welcome here at our Holy Family Center – and that she was safe – we found a rolled-up mattress in a storeroom that she could rest on. After turning down the blinds in our Vincentian conference room, we let Hannah take a nap for as long as she wished. Amazingly (to us), Hannah slept for well over three hours – sleep that she clearly, very desperately needed.
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Waking up refreshed, Hannah wanted to leave right away. Before doing so, though, one of our longtime Closet Door volunteers, Cyndi Russell, asked Hannah about her outdoor sleeping conditions, and whether she would be interested in a mat that Cyndi had woven out of 400 plastic grocery bags. Hannah was overwhelmed, as she shared that she’d been hoping/praying for something like this, a bed, of sorts, that she could sleep on, out in the woods. Of course, Cyndi was thrilled that Hannah would be able to use the mat (which took her 40 hours to weave), and the two of them took this photo together. Prior to leaving Holy Family, Hannah thanked Cyndi and our staff, many times over, for the kindnesses and hospitality that she’d received at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha.
Now, I’m not a theologian, nor an ordained minister. And, I certainly don’t presume to fully comprehend the mystery which is our God. One thing I DO know, though, is that – like many faith traditions – serving the poor and struggling is a cornerstone of our Catholic identity and is at the very heart of the mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. I also know that the Society’s volunteers and staff universally share how much they have grown, spiritually, as well as how much more alive and deeper their faith and relationship with God have become, by serving those in need. They share that they are simply responding to what God is asking of them – what God is calling them to do – through the relationships they make and the assistance they provide to the people they serve.
In closing, I’d like to leave you with this …. Each year, thousands of people, like Hannah, find their way to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha. Some of them are homeless, while many others are in an apartment, teetering on the edge of homelessness, due to a financial crisis, like a job loss, death of a spouse/parent, or medical calamity, to name just a few. These struggling individuals and families have become hopeless that things could get better and have often exhausted whatever resources they may have had available. When they finally make contact with the Society, they are mentally and physically exhausted … and are crying out for help. Thankfully – and because of the support we receive from compassionate people, like you – we’re able to be in a position to care for them in whatever way they need.
Thank you for reading this note and our October Newsletter. And, from the bottom of my heart, please know how much I appreciate all you do, and the support you provide, to help the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha care for God’s children, like Hannah.
Gratefully, in His Name,
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Jill Lynch-Sosa
Executive Director
P.S. Will you please consider making a charitable contribution to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha today? We see more and more families in need seeking our assistance, and we truly appreciate your generosity. You can make your much-needed gift through our secure website, HERE.
P.P.S. If you haven't had a chance to do so, please check out the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha's program impact through our most recent annual report, found HERE.
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 |  | Mary Eileen Andreasen absolutely loves volunteering at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha’s “Closet Door” Ministry. “I certainly don’t consider providing clothing and personal care items to people who are homeless “work,” shares Mary Eileen. The people who are homeless and who come to the Closet Door have so many needs. To have the opportunity to give out clothing and other basic items to these really nice folks …. to me, I consider this to be a true Grace from God and a blessing. I also truly enjoy getting to know the people we serve on a personal level. I always treat each of them with dignity and respect. And, if I know them well, I make sure to address them by their name. They are so kind and are really grateful for what we’re able to offer to them. Countless times we have provided coats, shoes and necessary clothing for those who had absolutely nothing, with some just having been released from the hospital or incarceration, with no clothes. Those people really needed everything!”
As background: Mary Eileen Andreasen is a parishioner at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. She and her husband, John, have been married for 46 years, with all five of their children – Mike, Tom, Beth, Karen, and Megan – attending school at St. Wenceslaus. And, it should come as no surprise that Mary Eileen loves her volunteer service with the Society, considering the litany of activities she’s helped out with at St. Wenceslaus.
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Shares Mary Eileen: “Over the years, I’ve been involved in a number of ministries at St. Wenc, including serving on the Parish Council, choir, Emmaus Table, Live Lent Together, Parish EMHC, Bereavement Committee, Home & School, Catholic Daughters, RCIA and Adult Faith Formation Committee. I am also currently involved in the parish gardening efforts and the Creation Care Team.”
When asked about her motivation for volunteering at the Society’s Closet Door, Mary Eileen shares: “I was originally asked to help reorganize the clothing distribution program at the Closet Door in 2020. Covid had really disrupted everything, and they needed a ton of help. After we were able to get the Closet Door up and running well, I also found that it was a wonderful way to meet our neighbors in need, face-to-face, helping them obtain clothing and other personal care items they need every day. It’s so rewarding. I also love the WAY we provide our service to neighbors in need, which is with a caring smile and an authentic message of hospitality."
Trained as a nurse and as a pastoral care provider, Mary Eileen received her Bachelor of Nursing at St. Louis University and a Master’s in Medical-Surgical Nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Mary Eileen taught nursing students for 14 years at Creighton University and at Methodist College of Nursing. She later completed Clinical Pastoral Education at Immanuel Hospital and also received a Master’s degree in Ministry from Creighton. From 2012 to 2018, Mary Eileen was St. Wenceslaus’ first-ever Director of Adult Faith Formation, planning all adult faith activities in the parish.
After retiring in 2018, Mary Eileen’s educational background and work experience prepared her well for interacting with and serving a diverse population of people experiencing homelessness. “These folks who come to the Closet Door, they’re great, although clearly many of them struggle with life issues, with the main one being mental illness. So, sometimes these homeless neighbors will be upset, angry, and loud – and act irrationally, for no apparent reason. Of course, I don’t take it personally. I just respond to them with a soothing voice and a warm smile. After all, these people are human beings, made in the image and likeness of our God. I remind myself of that when they come to the Closet Door and they may not be in a `good space.’”
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“What really warms my heart are the homeless folks who come to the Closet Door after having just gotten a job. They want to look nice, and they need more than a few outfits to wear to work. It’s so satisfying to help them with that. We generally have a limit of how much clothing we can give out to any one person, but in those cases, I don’t mind breaking the rules …. a little bit,” smiles Mary Eileen. “And, very often they will tear up, knowing that someone really does care for them, as they’re starting a new job and are doing everything they can to get off the streets.”
Mary Eileen offers some final reflections on her service at St. Vincent de Paul’s Closet Door: “I’ve been involved with other ministries in the past, although this is so different. Here, I’m not sitting in a conference room, talking about programs or ministries. My faith is my motivator and my energy, and it requires more of me. Dorothy Day would often talk about how serving the poor is not easy, although essential in making the world a little simpler place for people to feed, clothe, and shelter themselves, as God intended. I know that the Closet Door’s ministry, while sometimes challenging, is absolutely essential to the people who rely on us for some of life’s most basic needs. And, as Jesus reminds us in the Gospel of Matthew …. whenever anyone provides food or drink or clothing to someone in need, they are actually doing that for Him. And, I believe, at the Closet Door, we are truly caring for Jesus – in disguise – as every person we serve is an embodiment of the spirit of Christ.”
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St. Vincent de Paul Omaha’s Food Programs have never been busier.
While some of the food we provide at our very large Pantry and Sack Lunch Program is donated, the Society has been purchasing more and more products, lately, as we’ve been seeing extraordinarily large numbers of poor and homeless individuals and families seeking assistance.
Just last year, the Society’s Food Pantries served 26,547 neighbors, who received $1,402,510 worth of food. And, during that same one-year period, SSVP Omaha’s Sack Lunch Program served 58,867 meals to homeless and low-income neighbors in need - a record number!
Right now, we are running very low on a number of food items (and, which we consistently seem to be in need of). As such, we are asking for donations to help feed your poor and homeless Omaha neighbors, as well as to provide relief to our organization’s budget. Will you please consider donating any of the following to our Food Pantry and Sack Lunch Program?
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FOOD PANTRY
- Canned Beans (e.g.: chili; pinto, kidney, white; baked, etc.)
- Canned Corn
- Rice
- Cereal
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s Food Pantry is located at 2101 Leavenworth Street. Donations can be dropped off from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm, Mondays through Thursdays.
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SACK LUNCH PROGRAM
- Sweets (pre-packaged or homemade cookies, brownies, etc.)
- Salties (e.g. potato chips, nacho chips, pretzels, popcorn, etc.)
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s Sack Lunch Program is located at our District Office, located at 1715 Izard Street (the former Holy Family Catholic Church). Donations can be dropped off from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Mondays through Fridays.
We are grateful for however you may be able to assist our SSVP Omaha’s Food Programs!
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St. Basil the Great said it best:
“The coat unused in your closet belongs to the one who needs it.”
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Our Coat Giveaway is here! Our first giveaway is happening TOMORROW, Saturday, October 5th, from 3 pm-8 pm at El Centro Pastoral Tepeyac!
Between this giveaway and our second giveaway at Omaha Home for Boys on Saturday, October 19th, from 8 am-1 pm, we expect to serve thousands of neighbors - children and adults - across the Omaha area by providing them with a much-needed winter coat, and other winter accessories like hats, scarves, gloves, and mittens.
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Starting tomorrow, we will need lots of helping hands to facilitate such a large project to serve those in need. If you haven't already, please consider volunteering at either of our two upcoming Coat Giveaways!
To volunteer for the Coat Giveaway at El Centro Pastoral Tepeyac on October 5th, please sign up HERE.
To volunteer for the Coat Giveaway at Omaha Home for Boys on October 19th, please sign up HERE.
Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to volunteer their time and efforts to our Coat Giveaways. These events, and the thousands we expect to serve through them, rely upon the generosity and goodwill of those who are dedicated to serving others - like you!
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While our first giveaway is happening tomorrow, our Coat Drive collection is still well underway! As you start to pull out your winter coats for the chilly days ahead, please consider donating new or gently-used coats you may have, along with any new winter apparel, like hats, scarves, gloves, and mittens. We are in particular need of coats that are between the sizes of 2XL-5XL. You can drop off your donations at any of our four thrift stores across Omaha. Please mark your donations as "Coat Drive."
If you don't have any coats or other winter apparel to donate, you can still help provide coats by making a financial donation to the coat drive 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' “Coats for Kids” website!
Whether you're donating winter apparel or volunteering your efforts for this year's Coat Giveaways, your support will help keep those in need warm this winter!
For more information about the Coat Drive and Giveaways, please check out our website HERE. If you have any questions regarding the coat drive or giveaways, please contact Kevin Grode at councilpresident@ssvpomaha.org.
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On Tuesday, September 24th, we celebrated the Feast Day of St. Vincent de Paul with a mass and brief reception. We were so happy to see so many familiar faces and some new friends - including Vincentians from the brand new SSVP Conference, Assumption Guadalupe!
Monsignor James Gilg was the mass celebrant, accompanied by a lovely choir and piano group from local parishes.
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After the mass, a brief reception was held in our "sack lunch room" where attendees chatted, caught up with old friends, and met others who are involved with or are friends of the Society.
The best part? We were able to provide over 40 of our homeless neighbors with a warm meal with the remaining food at the reception!
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For the past few months, our dedicated SSVP Omaha thrift store staff members have been hard at work to make sure everything is prepared for our two Winter Coat & Apparel Giveaways. These last few weeks have required them to put in extra effort, as we prepare for our first giveaway, which will take place tomorrow, Saturday, October 5th from 3 PM-8 PM at El Centro Pastoral Tepeyac - 5301 South 36th Street. | |
Whether it's been sorting winter coats that were dropped off to the stores or picking up winter apparel from local coat drives, our thrift stores' team has been incredibly determined to make sure that our Winter Coat & Apparel Giveaways will be as successful as possible. We are incredibly thankful to have team members who are so committed to our mission! | |
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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
Tues-Sat, 9:30 AM-5:30 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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The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha is grateful for the financial support we receive from caring and compassionate members of the community who share our mission of serving the poor and homeless. Frankly, such support is what makes our services even possible, as monetary donations from households, individuals, churches, and businesses are the primary source of support for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha.
You may be interested to know that there are a number of options to consider – and to choose from – when making a financial 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.
- Making an ACH transfer directly from your bank account to the Society’s account.
- Setting up a recurring donation.
- Facilitating a matching gift from a business that you’re affiliated with.
- 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.
To make an online and/or recurring gift right now using a credit or debit card – or to set up an ACH transfer – just click HERE.
For all other donation options, or if you have ANY questions or need assistance with making a donation, please be in touch with our Development Director, Tim Sully, at development@svdpomaha.com or at 402-779-8499, extension 103. Tim will be happy to chat with you.
Again, thank you for considering ANY of these options when making your financial gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha. Your donation will be used to assist the poor and homeless of our community who turn to us during their time 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.
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