HASTINGS (SNR) – The annual Bountiful Harvest Banquet in Hastings will be held in a different light this year.
For years the banquet has been held in the Hastings City auditorium to highlight the work of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska (CSS) in the 16-county greater Hastings area. Due to social distancing efforts, CSS will not have the celebration dinner, but will conduct an online auction through Oct. 25 to raise funds to help the needy and vulnerable of the Hastings area.
The 2020 Bountiful Harvest Celebration will conclude Sunday, Oct. 25 with a live event on social media where CSS will show a brief video on the work in the Hastings area. They will also close the auction and draw the winner of a $5,000 giveaway sponsored by Plum Creek Wagyu Beef.
To support the 2020 Bountiful Harvest Celebration, participants may visit www.cssisus.org/bh2020 and bid on gifts, trips, packages, and items.
Catholic Social Services opened a full-service location in Hastings in 1991. Now the St. John Vianney Center provides food pantry services; sack lunch distribution; emergency services including rent and utility assistance; disaster relief; the St. Joseph Gift & Thrift; St. Gianna’s West, offering housing for those escaping violence; and through telehealth, the Clinical/Family Counseling program provides psychological services.
“The needs we are seeing in our communities have never been greater,” said Phil Rosno, Hastings Regional Manager.
“So many people that were already on the brink financially have lost jobs or lost hours and that has put them over the edge,” he explained. “When a good 40% of families do not have the resources to handle a $500 emergency, a pandemic of this proportion causes a lot of misfortune.”
He added that the struggles are not just financial.
“Depression, anxiety, suicide and abuse have all increased significantly in the past six months,” he said. “The effects of Covid will take years to overcome. We implore you to be as generous as possible now to help us help those in most need.”
