by Katie Patrick
In Lincoln, our staff at Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska has just one week left in our current location at 2241 O Street.
Cheever Construction arrives Monday, Oct. 24 to begin the renovation of our current building and to add a south addition, making it a more welcoming and functional space for our growing number of staff and client-centered programs.
Some of the new spaces include an expanded client-choice food market, a cafe area where our homeless and low-income clients can enjoy their meals, a dedicated classroom for cultural orientation, English and citizenship classes, a room for recording podcasts, and many focus and meeting rooms for our staff as they encounter and serve our clients – and each other.
During the construction phase, we will be working in the building alongside St. Louise Gift & Thrift, which means that for the next nine to 12 months, we will go from 16,000 square feet to 3,000 square feet. Oh my!
In fact, as I’m writing this article in my office right now, staff are pulling off cupboards, carting over desks and chairs, and cleaning out file cabinets.
We will also be moving the altar and two kneelers into one of two small enclosed meeting rooms in our temporary space so that our Lord is present with us in the Blessed Sacrament. We know that space is tight, but as our Vice President of Operations Bill Meduna, said yesterday, “Would we rather have a second meeting room or a room for the Creator of the universe?” We went with our Creator.
So over the coming months, please know that you are all welcome to come by and say hello – just not all at once! You’ll receive updates from me in Messages of Hope and CSS publications as to our progress and a grand reopening date. But for now, St. Anne, mother of Mary, grandmother of Jesus, and patron saint of moving, pray for us!
P.S. I wanted to include a photo showing the great lengths our donors have gone to to provide for us. We are so incredibly grateful for all that we have received, whether it was a gift made or given yesterday for our renovation or a gift given 25 years ago like this conference table being removed from the Lincoln Benefit Life building. We are so thankful for each and every one of you! Thank you and may God bless you!
