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Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha
December 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 | FOOD/CLOTHING FOR THE HOMELESS
DISASTER RECOVERY | HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION | THRIFT STORES
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IN THIS ISSUE:
A message from our Executive Director
SSVP Conference Spotlight – Holy Cross
Make Your Gift by December 31st & Have It Matched & Doubled!
2024 Christmas Dinner for Our Homeless Neighbors
Closet Door Needs Clothing for the Homeless
WOWT "Stuff the Truck" Food Drive Follow-Up
Community Clean-up
Giving Tuesday Follow-Up
SSVP Thrift Store Upcoming Sales
Very Thoughtful Christmas Donation To Our SSVP Pantry
Annual Vincentian Mass & Meeting - Tomorrow, December 7th
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A Message from our Executive Director, Jill Lynch-Sosa
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:11
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Christmas Greetings to our St. Vincent de Paul Friends and Supporters! | |
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As we all are busy making plans to celebrate the birth of God’s Son, I’d like to ask you to take a moment and consider this question: Who is it that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul serves? The simple answer is, of course, the Society provides food, clothing, monetary and material support to poor and struggling local families, helping them get through whatever household crisis they are facing.
However, St. Vincent himself reminds us that it is not the poor whom we serve, but Christ himself who holds out His hand for food, comfort, and for understanding. As he wrote, we “are serving Jesus Christ in the person of the poor.” Jesus modeled this for us. He dined with sinners, touched lepers, and spoke with outcasts. His ministry was one of personal connection and compassion. Indeed, time and again, our SSVP Vincentians and other volunteers have noted that they truly see the face of Christ in their home visits to neighbors requesting assistance, when accompanying neighbors through the SSVP Food Pantry, or when handing out a sack lunch or a warm coat to a homeless neighbor here in downtown Omaha. It’s also well for us to remember that monetary and material assistance are not the only things we provide. We also give our friendship, our understanding, our presence, and our love to neighbors in need.
If you are reading this, you may very well be a financial or in-kind supporter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha. In a couple of days, our donors will be receiving a request in the mail – from me – asking for support for our mission during this Christmas season. In this letter, I share about Theresa, a single mom from right here in Omaha who has four children, three living and a teenage daughter who recently passed away, after contracting a fast-moving bacterial meningitis. For a multitude of reasons, Theresa has been greatly struggling to make ends meet, as she tries to feed and clothe her family, avoid eviction, and have her utilities shut off, all while attempting to figure out how to provide Christmas gifts for her children and mourning the death of her daughter.
Of course, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been assisting Theresa, as much as possible, during what is clearly the most challenging time in her life. We have helped Theresa by providing her with food from our Pantry, clothing we’ve received in donations, vouchers to our thrift stores, as well as some monetary assistance to get her current on delinquent rent and ensure her utilities will remain on during the cold weather that is already upon us. Equally important, we are listening to Theresa and being a friend in her time of need.
This Christmas, I’d like to ask you to please keep Theresa and her children in your prayers. They certainly could very much use them this holiday season.
I also invite you to read the Conference Spotlight found next in this December Newsletter. In this article, you will note the similar (and, perhaps one not so similar) paths that a number of Holy Cross’ Vincentian volunteers took in joining their SSVP conference. You will also see how these wonderful people have come to recognize the face of Christ in their own service to the poor from right here in Omaha.
In closing, as always, please know how grateful I am for everything you do to help the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha fulfill our mission of serving struggling neighbors in need from our community. I wish you my very best for the remainder of this Advent season and I hope you have a blessed Christmas!
Gratefully,
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Jill Lynch-Sosa
Executive Director
P.S. If you have already made your 2024 Christmas/Year-End gift, thank you! If not, will you please consider making it right now? You can make your donation by clicking HERE. Thank you and may God bless you for your support.
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The St. Vincent de Paul Conference at Holy Cross Catholic Church has volunteer Vincentians who truly listen to what others have to say about serving the poor of their community, which is really why they decided to get involved, themselves. Below are four thoughtful stories and reflections from four of the sixteen Vincentian volunteers who comprise Holy Cross’ SSVP Conference. It is clear that this conference’s Vincentian volunteers care deeply about the mission of their group, and hold – with reverence – the important role they play in the lives of the people they serve.
Tom’s Story
Holy Cross’ SSVP Conference President, Tom Messersmith, recalls first hearing about the important work of the Society from his father-in-law, who was an SSVP Conference President at a parish in Grand Island. “It was just so inspiring to hear his stories of service to neighbors," shares Tom. “I was really intrigued."
Around 13 years ago, Tom listened closely again. While attending a weekend mass at Holy Cross, Tom recalls a volunteer Vincentian sharing her reflections from the altar about the meaningful work of their SSVP Conference, and how to get involved. “This Vincentian was so passionate about those she served,” remembers Tom, "and I felt I just HAD to be a part of St. Vincent de Paul and to put my faith into action. I felt like it was my responsibility to do so."
Tom continues: “Whenever I hear the scripture reading about the widow’s mite, it really makes me pause. This very poor woman from the Gospel puts two small coins in the collection, giving from her need, while others gave from their surplus. I bring that Scripture passage up because, just today, I was able to help a mom with four children which kind of reminds me of this Scripture story. This woman we served was just about to have her gas/heat and water shut off. I am so glad that we were able to intervene and make sure that that didn’t happen, and that they continue to have heat in their apartment. Neighbors in need, like this woman, are so relieved and grateful. Some neighbors get quiet and can’t say anything for a while. So often, though, they simply can hardly believe it, as they have tried to reach out to other organizations with no luck.”
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“These kinds of interactions give me a sense of fulfillment, as well as remind me of how fortunate my family and I have been in life. I’ve been so blessed, which simply reinforces that sense of responsibility, that sense of duty, to take care of those in need. Jesus associated himself with the poor. And, while I sometimes forget that, I’m reminded of this whenever I meet with a neighbor who is struggling. It always makes me think that I could have been on the other side of things and that I could have been the one needing assistance. But, for the grace of God go I … and go we."
Bill’s Story
The same thing happened for Holy Cross’ Conference Vice-President, Bill Parr: “I’d been at Holy Cross for a while, and, during that time, I’d listened to a few Vincentians share their own stories at weekend masses. About a dozen years ago, a Vincentian was sharing his story at a mass, and it was at a time in my life when I felt I could really give it the effort it deserved."
“My dad had always instilled in me the obligation of helping people in need, recalls Bill. And, there are so many times in the Gospels where Jesus shares the same message – the responsibility we all have to take care of the poor. I thought that becoming a Vincentian and helping neighbors in need, especially when children are involved, was just what I needed to do. Since I got involved, I’ve absolutely loved this work, and the folks we serve. They’re wonderful people who are just in a bad way, or in a bad stretch, but they are SO thankful for anything we’re able to do to provide them with a little relief."
Bill shares a story about the simple needs of some neighbors requesting assistance: “One time I was helping a single mom who had five kids. They had had a fire right before Thanksgiving and their life was really in shambles. The only thing that this woman wanted was to have a table where she could fit her whole family. That was her biggest ask. She was VERY grateful when we were able to provide one for her.
Bill continues: “In our service to neighbors, I’m often reminded of Mother Teresa who said that the greatest poverty is to be unloved, unwanted, and uncared for. Ultimately, these people we serve simply want love and support and to know that someone cares for them, providing them with hope and dignity. That’s really what we do with our work with St. Vincent de Paul, in addition to whatever material or financial assistance we can provide for them. Because, after all, each and every one of these persons are important. They’re treasures in Christ, and that’s how we need to treat them."
Margie’s Story
A long-time parishioner at Holy Cross, Margie Boyer also heard about St. Vincent de Paul years ago from one of the SSVP conference leaders talking about their service to the poor. “I come from a 'very Catholic’ family,” shares Margie. “My parents engrained in me to be mindful of and to care for families that were struggling. When I had the opportunity to be involved with St. Vincent de Paul, it felt like the most natural thing to do."
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Going on home visits with another Vincentian and meeting families, one-on-one, has been one of the most rewarding parts of Margie’s involvement with the Holy Cross Conference, as she shares: “Most of the people and families we serve are not Catholic, although that doesn’t matter at all. I love getting to know them on a personal level and gladly pray with them if they wish. And the neighbors always appreciate that – here we are, people they don’t even know – who show up, care for them, and are able to help get them through whatever crisis they’re in. So many of them are so anxious, trying to figure out how they’re going to pay rent or a delinquent utility bill and avoid homelessness. So, when we tell them we can help, they are so overcome with emotion that they literally aren’t able to speak. And I feel like our assistance is SO needed right now, as we are getting more calls than EVER."
“Being a Vincentian has helped me realize that I truly have a great compassion for the people we serve,” continues Margie. “I really do because, but for the grace of God and a little luck, I easily could have been in their predicament, myself."
Rosanne’s Story
Roseanne Mulcahy also listened to the pitch to join Holy Cross’ SSVP Conference while sitting in mass one Sunday morning 24 years ago. But, that was actually the SECOND time she’d heard of and interacted with Holy Cross’ SSVP Conference. The first time was a couple of years prior, when Roseanne and her family found themselves in a financial crisis and were desperately in need of assistance.
“My husband, Kevin and I had had a successful construction company,” shares Roseanne, “and we were doing well in life. Nothing extravagant, but we were doing okay. One Sunday, Kevin really wasn’t feeling well. We were visiting Roncalli that day, as we were planning on sending our son to high school there. So, I left Kevin off at Immanuel Hospital, while we went across the street to Roncalli. Fast forward, and it turned out that Kevin had congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and atrial fibrillation. He was REALLY in a bad way, as tests revealed that his heart was only pumping at 13 percent!”
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Rosanne continues: “Kevin ended up having many, many medical interventions on his heart, was put on a number of medications, and needed extensive cardiac rehab. For a long time, Kevin couldn’t work – at all. With no income, we ended up on Medicaid and food stamps. We went from having money to living on $800 a month, which was definitely NOT paying our bills. And, to top everything off …. I was also pregnant!"
“We just couldn’t make our household finances work, remembers Roseanne. And I would do ANYthing before asking for help. But we really had no other option. We needed help, from somewhere, from anywhere. I was so embarrassed, as my past thinking was that people who were in that kind of position were there through their own choices. And here we were needing help, ourselves."
“I reached out to Holy Cross’ St. Vincent de Paul Conference, asking for assistance. We had gotten way behind on our MUD and OPPD bills, and Holy Cross’s conference paid everything off. And, there were other local organizations who helped in different ways, like one which helped cover some costs which allowed us to send our son to Roncalli. It’s an understatement to say that Kevin and I were incredibly grateful for all of the assistance we received."
Through their life challenges, Roseann and Kevin had obviously become well aware of St. Vincent de Paul and the good work they do for people needing assistance, as Roseanne continues, “As we were coming out the other side of Kevin’s health problems and our finances were getting better, both Kevin and I were at mass at Holy Cross, and were listening to Vincentian, Margie Boyer, talking from the altar about the fact that their Conference needed people to step up and join the Society. That hit me like a bombshell, as I felt that Margie was talking directly to me,” shares Roseanne.
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“Christ tells us to be of service to the lowly and those in need. And, this was exactly that, so Kevin and I both signed up to become part of Holy Cross’ SSVP Conference. I think we bring a unique perspective to the group. From my perspective, you really can’t truly know what being in need is truly like unless you’ve been there. All we can do is give with the simple intention of giving, and nothing else. We don’t judge anyone who asks for assistance. Our duty is simply to help when called upon to do so."
Holy Cross’s SSVP President, Tom Messersmith shares some final thoughts regarding their conference and the service they provide to neighbors in need: “All of us Vincentians here at Holy Cross are truly privileged to get to know and to work with one another. It’s a very caring and compassionate group of people who really inspire you…who inspire me. They care, and they never judge anyone who is seeking help. To a person, each of us would want to be able to say yes to help each and every individual or family who requests assistance. It’s hard for any of us to say no to someone who needs our help."
"And, not only do the members of our conference inspire me, we also have a very generous, diverse parish and grade school that supports our work. The Holy Cross parishioners realize that there is SO much need `out there,' and they’re so generous to our SSVP conference, helping us help those who proverbially knock on our door. They’re always there when we need them. The kids at Holy Cross Grade School are also involved with serving the poor, as they just recently helped with a food drive to support the SSVP Pantry (pictured above). We’re so thankful to everyone at Holy Cross and to the other parish’s SSVP conferences around Omaha who help us support those we serve by providing `twinning’ funds. We’re also grateful to be part of the District Office and the whole St. Vincent de Paul Omaha community. Here at Holy Cross, we realize that we’re really all in this together."
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We are thrilled to let you know that all financial contributions made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha during the month of December 2024 will be matched – dollar-for-dollar – up to a total of $140,000!
These “matching challenge funds” have been pledged by other friends/supporters of St. Vincent de Paul who share SSVP’s mission of serving the poorest of our Omaha community.
This is a great opportunity to make your donation go even further this December – essentially doubling both it and the positive impact you can make on our organization and the people we serve. Please consider making your Christmas gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha by December 31st, in order to have it matched/doubled.
Also, please be in touch with St. Vincent de Paul’s Executive Director,
Jill Lynch-Sosa if would like to discuss this matching challenge fund – or your 2024 year-end gift. Jill can be reached at 402-779-8499, ext. 101, or at executivedirector@ssvpomaha.org.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of this exciting opportunity to make YOUR CHRISTMAS DONATION go even further!
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For a number of years, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha has made the Christmas season just a bit more special for the homeless neighbors who rely on the Society for food, clothes, warmth, friendship, and hospitality. The Society’s annual Christmas Dinner for the homeless was held this past Wednesday evening, December 4th, here at our Holy Family Center.
This year’s event was particularly festive, as Omaha Archbishop George Lucas and Deacons from the Archdiocese volunteered, providing a welcoming holiday atmosphere, as well as helping serve the dinner, consisting of pulled pork, baked beans, mac & cheese, fresh vegetables, and homemade desserts. Each homeless neighbor who attended also received a personal gift, courtesy of the Archdiocese of Omaha and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
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Many thanks to everyone who helped out with the 2024 Christmas Dinner for our homeless neighbors, including the SSVP staff & volunteers, Archbishop Lucas, members of the Deaconate Program, and students from St. Bernard Catholic Grade School. The collective effort of all volunteers helped make this year’s event a wonderful way to usher in the holiday season!
Photos courtesy of the Catholic Voice
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As you may know, the Closet Door is a program hosted here at our Holy Family Center, where we offer free clothing, blankets, and personal care items to our homeless neighbors. This program is incredibly important for these unhoused neighbors who rely on the clothes and supplies they receive from the Closet Door to stay warm and protected against the elements during the winter. However, due to the high demand, we currently have a limited supply. In particular, at this time of year, we find ourselves in need of blankets, men’s coats, men’s winter hats, men’s and women’s gloves, and men’s 30-36 waisted jeans.
To make sure we have enough clothing and supplies for our neighbors this winter, will you please consider donating any of these most-needed items to our Closet Door? Donations can be made between 9 am and 4 pm, Monday through Friday, here at our Holy Family Center located at 1715 Izard Street. Your donations will go DIRECTLY to serving the poorest of our Omaha neighbors.
We thank you for thinking of those in need whom we serve as we enter into the coldest days of the year.
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Just yesterday, WOWT Channels 6 News and Methodist Health Systems hosted their twice-yearly Stuff the Truck event to benefit our SSVP Omaha food pantry. This event invited individuals from around the Omaha community to come together and donate food and toys for our neighbors facing financial difficulties during the Christmas season.
Thanks to generous donors from across Omaha this event was an AMAZING success with 22,131 pounds of food raised and given to our pantry for our neighbors in need.
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With thousands of pounds of food donated, our pantry staff and volunteers have a lot of sorting and organizing to do prior to the pantry’s reopening on Tuesday. Luckily, every year, Coach Tim Horton and the Papillion La Vista South softball team come in over the weekend to help with this massive effort.
We are extremely grateful for WOWT 6 News, Methodist Health Systems, our volunteers and donors, and everyone who helps to make this event such a success year after year.
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This past month, SSVP Omaha Disaster Case Managers, Lily Reyes, Diego Padilla, and our Executive Director, Jilly Lynch-Sosa, along with other members of the Tri-County Long-Term Recovery Group, rolled up their sleeves to help Nebraska families recover from the devastating storms and tornadoes that swept through the area this spring and summer.
The Tri-County Long-Term Recovery Group is a coalition of government agencies, volunteer organizations, philanthropic partners, and non-profits including SSVP Omaha. This group has been working to rebuild the damaged communities and address the long-term impacts of the tornado.
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As part of two large-scale community clean-up events, members from non-profits including Habitat for Humanity, Omaha Community Foundation, Project Houseworks, Christian Outreach Program – Elkhorn, and Heartland Hope Mission, joined forces with volunteers to assist homeowners with clearing debris and repairing damage caused by the storms.
These two clean-up events in the city of Elkhorn and Washington County brought some much-needed relief to many of our neighbors who were left struggling in the aftermath. We, along with the rest of the Tri-County Long-Term Recovery Group, will continue to provide assistance to those who are recovering from natural disasters – helping them stay housed and providing them hope for the future.
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This last Tuesday, December 3rd, was Share Omaha’s Giving Tuesday! This national day of giving, which always falls on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, encourages Omaha residents to give back to local non-profits serving their community – like the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha!
We are excited to share this year’s Giving Tuesday was a record-breaking success! In total, with the help of 93 generous donors, we were able to raise $73,750 through this event! This incredible amount includes $45,000 in matching challenge funds that were offered by a friend of, and donor to SSVP Omaha.
Please know how grateful the Society is to everyone who made a gift in support of our organization on Giving Tuesday. With the help of you, our generous donors, this fundraising event was the most impactful Giving Tuesday in the history of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha!
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Our SSVP Omaha thrift stores would like to thank everyone for their support on our recent Christmas sale! By shopping and supporting our SSVP stores, you help fund our other programs giving back to those in need in Omaha. With more sales to come, now is the perfect time to shop SSVP and support your local community!
Speaking of sales - join us tomorrow, Saturday, December 7th, for our 50% off sale! Everything, excluding mattresses, will be half off!
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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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For years, Omaha resident, Stephanie Lukowski has been bringing in the holiday cheer by decorating her house “head-to-toe” with a plethora of Christmas decorations and décor. This December, though, Stephanie decided that it was time to pass along all of her many Christmas ornaments, greenery, nutcrackers, snowmen, and other holiday-themed items to families in need. “I’m at a point in my life where I just wanted to bring the Christmas joy that I’ve enjoyed over the years to people who may be struggling and might not have these kinds of things,” shares Stephanie.
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So, Stephanie called up the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha to make her donation – which consisted of well over 100 assorted Christmas decorations – all of which we gave out this week to individuals and families who were visiting our Food Pantry. “The people who received these items were absolutely thrilled,” states Food Pantry Manager, Gayle Reyes (pictured). “Everyone was so happy and grateful to have them.”
“It means the world to me that these Christmas items went to people who can really use and really appreciate them,” shares Stephanie. “Christmas is such a special time for everyone, but especially for families with children."
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The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is grateful to Stephanie Lukowski for this wonderful and very timely donation! | |
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As a reminder to all Vincentians that tomorrow, Saturday, December 7th is the SSVP Annual Mass & Meeting at Holy Name, located at 2901 Fontenelle Blvd.
Mass is at 5 pm, with the dinner and program following.
This mass and meeting will welcome in new Vincentians for 2024, along with congratulating new conference presidents and the winner of the Top Hat award.
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We look forward to seeing you all tomorrow at Holy Name! | |
Follow us on social media to keep up-to-date with the latest SSVP Omaha stories, news, and events! | | | | |
