by John McDonald
Hastings Regional Director, Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska
It’s all about relationships. As I looked around Hastings Auditorium during our recent Bountiful Harvest banquet, I recognized hundreds of people who have supported Catholic Social Services in Hastings in the past through their donations of time, talent, and treasure. More importantly, I recognized hundreds of people who were, in that very moment, supporting CSS through their presence at this event. That night, our keynote speaker, Christ in the City’s Managing Director, Blake Brouillette, expounded on the goodness of “wasting time” with the homeless friends to whom they minister.
Upon further reflection, it is evident that the same principle was present last Sunday evening. Those guests at Bountiful Harvest were “wasting time” with us. They were wasting time with the Catholic Social Services staff to show their support for our mission to bring hope in the Good Life. Financial donations, indeed, are a great show of support, but better yet is the show of emotional support, simply the presence of people who took time out of their weekend to take part. Some who attended the banquet traveled hundreds of miles to help CSS Hastings — and to help the most vulnerable in south-central Nebraska.
There are so many stories and relationships built throughout all our programs at CSS and many of them are micro-interactions, such as a kind word or a shared story, that go unnoticed day to day, but slowly build over time. On the other hand, there are the more dramatic interactions which really ignite a relationship in one fell swoop, such as when a homeless man came in for a sandwich and socks, but what he really wanted was to talk to a priest. Though an uncommon request, a few minutes after this request, he was sitting in our chapel, praying with our local priest. I know my staff will never forget that man, and will greet him every time he comes to the door thereafter.
Bountiful Harvest is a buttress of support to my staff and volunteers. I know when that homeless man came to us, my staff had in their minds, from the previous night, Blake’s emphasis on personal encounter. The Holy Spirit, through Blake’s words, guided my staff and volunteers the next day. This is why events like Bountiful Harvest are so important. When the community shows up for Catholic Social Services in Hastings, it gives our staff greater strength and courage to show up for our clients.
Those who attended Bountiful Harvest dramatically demonstrated their support for CSS by giving a standing ovation to longtime Open Table volunteer John Brooks. For his service to CSS clients, John received the Love of Christ Award, honoring a volunteer who displays Jesus’ love for others through service to clients of Catholic Social Services. In encountering the hungry, John is on the front line — sharing a sandwich, a smile and a joke. He brightens the lives of those around him — clients, staff members or fellow volunteers.
John is the perfect example of someone who shows up. Despite being limited to a scooter, he would do everything he could to make it to our office to hand out sandwiches during his regularly scheduled shift, even if at times he would be risking physical injury. John showed up for our clients until he physically could not. John recently made the hard decision to retire from his volunteer duties to take care of his physical health.
John gave Christ’s sacrificial love to each client to whom he gave a sack lunch. John showed up. Thank you to all those who supported us at Bountiful Harvest! You all showed up, so that John could show up. For that, on behalf of those we serve, I am forever grateful.
