By Fr. Justin Fulton
You ever get tired of polls and statistics? (I feel like Andy Rooney off of 60 Minutes.) Statistics and polls: they try to influence you on what to buy, who to vote for, how you should live your life. And then a month or so later all the polls flip and you’re left scratching your head as to why you stressed out over the polls earlier. Statistics and polls. It seems to me they are cooked up sometimes just to make you read a headline or tune in to a show.
Here at CSS we wanted to let everyone know of some true statistics. We also wanted to share our story of what we do in our diocese.
So, here is what God does through the work of CSS. These are true yearly statistics and this is how we bring hope to people daily from Venango to Verdon, Palisade to Plattsmouth, Wauneta to Wahoo and all points in between:
>$1.8 million in overall cash and in-kind assistance yearly. This can help in paying rent, providing shelter, money for food, electricity, water, a bus ticket, car repairs, medical bills, and anything else that life throws one’s way
>$580,000 given to communities in Nebraska from the March 2019 floods
>40,000 bottles of water distributed to flood-stricken Peru, Neb. in 2019
>345 TONS of food given to the hurting and hungry of southern Nebraska
>59,000 sack lunches provided to the hungry and homeless of the Hastings and Lincoln areas
>1,000+ meals for families for weekend sustenance through our school Backpack and Food Market Program
>325 turkeys given through our offices so families can have a good Thanksgiving
>36 automobiles given statewide to people who have no form of transportation
>3,715 counseling sessions assisting over 377 individuals and families with trauma, depression, grief and more
>$76,000 in counseling service charity grants given by our Immaculate Heart of Mary Counseling Center
>211 forms filed on behalf of lawful permanent residents seeking assistance through our Immigration Program
>21,900 nights of lodging and safety provided for abused women and their children through St. Gianna’s Women’s Homes
>3 babies delivered and saved from abortion by St. Gianna’s, providing shelter for the mother and baby from an abusive relationship
>112,878 diapers for 7,055 babies throughout the diocese, collected by the LDCCW
>51 families vetted by the U.S. Government and relocated from war-torn regions to find a new start here in Nebraska
>1,150 children given toys for Christmas through our locations in Hastings, Lincoln, and Auburn
>24 individuals represented by our Director of Immigration who successfully passed their U.S. Citizenship Interviews
>30 individuals who participated in our volunteer-led English and Citizenship classes
>105 individuals who found permanent work through our CSS Employment Specialist
>$300,000 in revenue added to the state of Nebraska because of our CSS Employment Specialist finding people permanent work
>10s of thousands of people who have shopped at our discounted thrift stores in Auburn, Lincoln, Imperial and Hastings
>590 volunteers from all walks of life including parishes, schools, workplaces, retirement facilities and more
>26,000 volunteer hours statewide which translates to $280,000 in service
>100s of thousands of warm conversations and friendly smiles shared with those who haven’t smiled in a while
>$5.5 Million operating budget per year—$16,000/day in services and salary to provide these services to southern Nebraska
>1 agency that does this for the 24,000 square miles in the Diocese of Lincoln
>1 Blessed Mother praying for all of our work
>3 Men we admire most: The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost... doing work in the Heartland and not on the coast... bringing Hope in the Good Life!
Thank you for your prayers and financial support of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska. May God bless us all!
