Southern Nebraska Register
Catholic Social Services
Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska (CSS), headquartered in Lincoln, won a 2023 Sustainability Award by the Keep Nebraska Beautiful organization.
CSS was given the award in the “Civic/Non-Profit Organization” category for its strong emphasis on sustainability, aiming not only to generate funds for its vital services aimed at helping the poor and marginalized, but also to be responsible environmental stewards.
“Our goal is to extend the lifecycle of donations at our four thrift stores throughout southern Nebraska,” said Katie Patrick, executive director of CSS. “We do this through regifting, reselling, or recycling them and therefore mitigating the potential of items ending up in the landfill.” The thrift stores are located in Lincoln, Auburn, Hastings, and Imperial, Nebraska.
Recycling
“From October 2022 to June 2023, CSS recycled 88.5 tons of clothing, 8.5 tons of shoes, and 2 tons of purses and belts,” said Patrick. She explained that when donors contribute clothing, for example, CSS evaluates the items’ condition. Wearable clothing is either distributed directly to clients in need, or sold in the thrift stores, with all proceeds supporting CSS programs.
“When donated clothing is damaged or stained beyond use, we recycle these garments by bundling them into bales and selling them to brokers using industry-standard ethical practices recommended by the Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART) with the proceeds deposited into our program budget,” she added.
Online Gift & Thrift Store
In addition, in April 2023, CSS introduced the Online Gift & Thrift Store on Facebook Marketplace. This platform allows CSS to sell items like appliances, collectibles, and large furniture that may not be suitable for program clients but can enable CSS to expand its services when sold.
E-commerce store on eBay
This summer, CSS expanded its reach with an e-commerce store on eBay, providing an avenue to sell collectibles and high-end items. To enhance thrift store operations, CSS has initiated an operational audit through Upright Labs, a company specializing in helping second-hand stores nationwide become more efficient and sustainable.
CSS is a non-profit organization that has been around for nearly a century helping people in need of all backgrounds and faiths across 24,000 square miles of southern Nebraska. CSS programs include Family Support Services, providing crucial financial assistance; the St. Gianna Program, offering support to survivors of domestic violence and those facing crisis pregnancies; Food Market and Meal Services; Refugee Resettlement; Immigration Legal Services; and Employment Services. CSS can be found at www.csshope.org.
