By Katie Patrick
As the holiday season approaches and twinkling lights and Christmas wreaths adorn streetscapes across Southern Nebraska, a unifying theme of the Christ-child shines through the windows of our Gift & Thrift stores.
At St. Louise Gift & Thrift in Lincoln, volunteer merchandiser Kathy White, volunteering with CSS through the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, spearheaded a beautiful window display. Inspired by a lovely statue of the Holy Family, Kathy, along with the store team, created a beautiful scene.
“The Holy Spirit guided the idea,” Kathy said, “and with the help of the team, it was seamless.”
Angels, fabric, and twinkling lights complete the display, bringing Christmas joy to passersby.
In Auburn, Marilyn Gerdes, a dedicated volunteer at St. Francis Gift & Thrift, has been transforming the store’s window for nearly five years. With a flourish of creativity, Marilyn utilizes items from the store and her personal collection. Currently, a majestic Advent wreath dominates the display, its symbolism explained on a nearby sign. A banner proclaims “O Come O come, Emmanuel,” while a miniature St. Francis peeks out from amongst pine trees inhabited by winter birds.
“It’s a way to serve and bring beauty to the town and invite people in,” Marilyn explained. Her dedication has always shined through her work. During a short closure due to Covid, Marilyn proactively reached out, offering to spruce up the window to maintain its connection with the Auburn community.
“Our volunteers are so giving, especially during the holiday season,” said Miranda Schumacher, CSS Hastings development officer. “We could not do what we do without them. Each of them emulates the Holy Family by their gift of self and their desire to do God’s will. It is so moving to us as staff, to have them come in, ready to help with whatever is needed, and always with the love of Christ pouring out of their hearts. This window is the perfect display of that selflessness, love, and sacrifice that our volunteers offer CSS every day.”
For Marilyn, the Nativity holds special significance. Nativities are prominently displayed in the front window at St. Francis Gift & Thrift, offering new and unique interpretations of the Holy Family. This not only engages window shoppers but also provides customers with a chance to welcome the nativity scene into their own homes.
Mary Deyle, volunteer and decor extraordinaire at St. Isidore Gift & Thrift in Imperial, describes her weekly volunteering as “therapeutic” and a source of immense satisfaction. “[It] is a goal to make people want to come in and look around,” she said, highlighting the importance of the window displays in attracting customers.
The dedication and creativity of these volunteers are testaments to the spirit of Catholic Social Services. Beyond the beautiful displays, their efforts serve a deeper purpose – to share the message of hope during this Advent and Christmas season.
Want to join the magic? Catholic Social Services is always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to share their time and creativity. Visit our website, csshope.org, and complete the volunteer application form today. Thank you and may God bless you!
Photos courtesy CSS
