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Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha
April 2023 Newsletter
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Supporting our neighbors in need through spirituality, friendship and service;
providing emergency food, clothing, financial and in-kind assistance/homeless prevention
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Message from our Executive Director, Jill Lynch-Sosa | |
“When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, `Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, `My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, `Listen, he is calling for Elijah.’ And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, `Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.’ Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.” | |
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Dear SSVP Friends,
I hope you are having a blessed Holy Week, in anticipation of Easter Sunday.
The passage, above, from the Gospel of Mark, captures the final moments of Jesus’ crucifixion and death on the cross, which is commemorated today – Good Friday. When I was very young, I remember not being particularly enthused about attending Good Friday services with my parents and three siblings. Frankly, I didn’t want to be reminded about Jesus’ suffering. In my young mind, I remember thinking just how completely unjust it was that Jesus would have to be put through such an ordeal. He didn’t deserve that fate, I thought.
As you may remember from a previous communication, for the first six years after I’d graduated from college, I had the opportunity to volunteer in very poor, “developing” communities in Guatemala and Mexico. The families I had the privilege of serving were, by U.S. measures, living in extreme poverty. I observed these people working hard to make a living, while having little to show for it. Generally, the parents I met were able to provide enough food to hold off complete starvation, though not much more. Pretty much every day, I was reminded of the vast difference in standard of living between these countries and that of my hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. These were really nice people who were facing extraordinary economic hardships that I couldn’t begin to fathom. These families didn’t deserve that fate, I thought.
In my nearly three months as Executive Director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and hearing the stories of many individuals and families from right here in our community facing a financial crisis – and to whom the Society has provided assistance. During these interactions, I’ve been similarly struck by how very nice (and grateful) these people are, as well as by the depth of financial challenges that they’ve had to face. To my dismay, a version of the poverty I’d seen in those far-away, developing countries was also right here in my own back yard! From my perspective, no one deserves the terrible hardships that these families and individuals face – including constantly teetering on the brink of homelessness – which describes nearly all of the families we serve.
So many times in the Gospels, Jesus instructs his followers of the necessity to care for the poor and marginalized members of society. Jesus recognized the injustices that the poor people of His time suffered, and made service to that population central to his message.
Today – Good Friday – I reflect on the profound sense of gratitude that I have for supporters of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha. These caring and compassionate friends of the Society make their own sacrifices, in order to provide monetary, in-kind and volunteer assistance to our organization. This much-needed and much-appreciated support allows the Society to come to the aid of our own community’s poor and marginalized neighbors in need.
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In closing, I’m delighted to share with you this photo on the right. I feel fortunate to have been able to snap this unplanned photo right outside my office. This homeless woman – like so many of our homeless neighbors – was taking great solace next to the statue of Jesus which graces the front yard of our Holy Family Community Center. It is my prayer this image fills you with similar hope-filled grace and comfort this Easter Season.
Gratefully,
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Meet Thrift Store Volunteer,
Diane Cassata!
Eight years ago, a friend of Diane Cassata asked if she might be able to help open a new St. Vincent de Paul thrift store at 807 Tara Drive in Papillion. Her friend (the thrift store’s new manager) seemed to indicate that she would only be needing Diane’s assistance for a few days, and that that would be the end of her thrift store volunteering. Eight years later, you can find Diane in this same SSVP Papillion thrift store, helping out wherever she’s needed.
“When we opened that store,” states Diane, “we sort of had to create the layout of what went where, and then place everything on the shelves, help put prices on each of the items, those kinds of things. Frankly, I had never even been to a thrift store before, so I really had no perspective at all on any of this.”
As the store was getting ready to open, a call for volunteers was put out by the SSVP conference at St. Columbkille Catholic Church, where Diane is a parishioner, as well as at other local parishes. Diane, along with a number of other women and men, answered the call. And thus began a great partnership between local Catholic parish volunteers and the Tara Plaza thrift store.
As Diane remembers, “Really, most of the people who worked in the store were volunteers. Initially, the only paid staff were a store manager and an assistant manager. Everyone else was a volunteer.”
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As the store expanded a few years later, so did Diane’s duties. “At first, I just did whatever I was told to do. Whatever the store manager needed to have done, I did,” shares Diane. “After having been here for eight years, I have a much better sense of how things are run – although I still have no problem doing what I’m told to do,” laughs Diane. “All of us who volunteer really have fun. We are sort of a little community who are able to get together and spend time with one another…and provide this important service to people in need.”
Diane shares just how important the Society’s thrift stores are, as she recalls a story about a group of young women she was able to help: “When I volunteer, I sometimes see folks from church shopping at the store. That happened not long ago. There is a group of about five Filipino women, recent immigrants who are studying to be med techs. They are so nice, although I knew they had very little money. They were starting to get set up in apartments, although they really needed everything. A local group that was trying to help these women asked us at the Tara Plaza store if we could be of assistance. I was happy to do my part, helping them acquire beds, bedding, furniture, kitchenware…really anything and everything we knew they could use in their apartments - which they were so grateful for."
When asked about what motivates her to continue volunteering, Diane reflects, “It really feels so good to be part of an organization like the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. This thrift store has been SO helpful for people who are struggling financially, like those wonderful Filipino women. I just love volunteering here and helping people who really need it.”
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The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha is grateful for in-kind donations that are made to our thrift stores. These items include gently used clothing, household goods, furniture, small appliances, toys, books, home décor and more.
Your donations – some of which we sell in our stores - help fund SSVP programs, such as providing financial assistance to our neighbors in need, helping prevent them from falling into homelessness. Please feel free to drop off in-kind donations to any of our four thrift stores.
Our SSVP thrift stores offer free donation pick-ups. Just call 402-341-1688 to schedule a donation pick-up. Complete information regarding our SSVP thrift stores, in-kind donation pickup, as well as the in-kind items we accept and those which we do not accept can be found on our website at www.ssvpomaha.org/thrift-stores.
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The Archdiocese of Omaha is once again sponsoring “Joy of Giving” – a 24-hour day of giving to benefit the parishes, schools, ministries, and organizations of the Archdiocese of Omaha. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha will be participating in Joy of Giving, to be held on Wednesday, April 26th,
Please look for additional information in the next couple of weeks regarding “Joy of Giving”, including a matching challenge for anyone who donates to SSVP Omaha – which would double your gift to the Society that day!
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From Wednesday, April 19 through Saturday, April 22, SHARE Omaha is once again powering Do Good Days. In the spirit of National Volunteer Week, the focus of Do Good Days this year is on VOLUNTEERING and encouraging volunteering with your favorite non-profit organization – including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha. Just click on the image on the left to visit the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's SHARE Omaha organizational profile, or click HERE!
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha cannot operate without the committed effort and support of the many hundreds of volunteers who help provide our service to our neighbors in need.
If you are wondering how to help the thousands of people we serve each year, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha offers a variety of meaningful volunteer options, including:
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Conferences - 31 parish-based groups, SSVP committees in the greater Omaha area - Offering emergency assistance and friendship to neighbors experiencing a financial crisis;
- Helpline - At home or at Holy Family, 1715 Izard Street – Answering phone calls, making referrals, and more;
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Food Pantry & Pantry Garden - 2101 Leavenworth Street – Serving neighbors visiting the pantry, picking up and unpacking food from food drives, assisting with/tending the pantry garden;
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Thrift Stores - 4 locations throughout Omaha – Assisting staff with sorting and organizing donated in-kind items;
- Sack Lunch Program – Holy Family, 1715 Izard Street – Preparing and distributing sack lunches to neighbors in need;
- Closet Door – Holy Family, 1715 Izard Street – Organizing and distributing clothing to neighbors in need;
- Churchyard Garden/Grounds – Holy Family, 1715 Izard Street – Assisting with/tending the garden, front lawn, and more;
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SSVP District Office - 1715 Izard Street – Office work, marketing, fundraising, collection drives.
Additional volunteer information and sign-up can be found on our website at www.ssvpomaha.org/volunteer.
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Pantry Garden “Angels”
Do angels really keep watch over our Pantry Garden? Yep, they’re real! They have first and last names and are known as our “Garden Angels” – volunteers who plant, tend to, and harvest produce from our pantry garden, located at 2101 Leavenworth Street. And, we’re hoping YOU might consider becoming a Garden Angel, too!
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Associated with our large SSVP food pantry, the Pantry Garden was founded ten years ago, as a way to offer fresh produce to our neighbors in need who visit the pantry. With a good deal of imagination and hard work, over this past decade, our Garden Angels volunteers have helped the Pantry Garden to grow and flourish.
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The Pantry Garden is operational beginning mid-April, with the garden closing down in mid-October. In between, our Garden Angel volunteers plant, water, remove weeds and harvest the vegetables that are then given away in our adjacent food pantry.
Our SSVP pantry garden volunteer leaders are asking you to consider lending YOUR hand in this important endeavor - even if you are “green” and have no previous experience in gardening. Garden tools are provided.
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On each volunteer shift, there will always be a more “seasoned” pantry garden volunteer paired up with a volunteer who has less experience.
Group volunteering is also welcome, especially in April. And, no problem if you want to bring your kids along; we’ll put them to work as well!
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The Pantry Garden volunteer schedule is from 8:30/9:00 until no later than 11:00 am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, from mid-April through mid-October.
You can choose when you want to volunteer, as little or as much as you like.
So, if you are even thinking about becoming a “Garden Angel” volunteer, feel free to contact Pat Slaven at mpslaven035@gmail.com. She can answer any questions you may have.
Thank You!
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Speaking of Volunteers...
The Society's of St. Vincent de Paul's Sack Lunch program - administered by volunteers here at our Holy Family Community Center at 17th & Izard - recently received the assistance of one of our younger helpers, 10-year old, Carly Fontaine.
Carly, who was off from school on spring break in mid-March, accompanied her long-time sack lunch program volunteer mom, Heather.
While the happy expression on Carly's face says a lot about how much she enjoyed her volunteer experience, fellow Sack Lunch program volunteer, Bill Gast, commented, “I was amazed at how Carly managed to bag so many tomatoes all by herself. Carly was very happy to know that she was helping feed a lot of hungry people.”
We appreciate Carly's help, as well as the critical assistance provided by ALL of our SSVP volunteers; we definitely cannot provide our services to our neighbors in need without it!
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