There are several ways we at Catholic Social Services obtain referrals. These include individuals and families who walk into our four social service offices asking for assistance, those that call us directly, and those who contact us through our website and priest referrals.
Recently during the last cold snap, a concerned priest in a rural parish somewhere south of the Platte River called me about an elderly woman and her daughter who were living in a worn-down trailer. Her electricity had been shut off because she was late on her payment. It is my understanding that some utility companies never disconnect during the winter months, but not hers.
I asked him if he could visit her with a parishioner for an assessment. There he found the elderly woman on her couch wrapped in a blanket. Her trailer reeked of diesel fumes. Because of the stench, she would turn an antiquated heater on until things were tolerable and then shut it off. Because of this priest’s fear of them dying of carbon monoxide poisoning, he put them up in a local motel for several days. That is when we stepped in and helped her catch up on her bill. She was one happy woman to finally feel heat coming out of the vents of her home without the nasty smell of diesel fuel. She apparently didn’t know of the risks that carbon monoxide poses. People dying of carbon monoxide poisoning is not uncommon every winter around the country.
I can imagine when people send us money, they may ask, “I wonder how this money will be spent…” This story is just one of the many I can relate. Ever since Bishop Kucera started Catholic Social Services in the Great Depression in 1932, with the help of the faithful, we have been helping poor and needy individuals and families that come to us in crisis.
Not only do we help individuals from a social services standpoint, we also do so from a clinical standpoint. Our Immaculate Heart of Mary Counseling Center is unique in that our well trained clinicians are able to incorporate the Catholic faith in their counseling. However, not everyone is able to access services because of an inability to pay for some reason. It is my understanding that we have never turned anyone away for the inability to pay for services because of being under or non-insured.
Last year, because of the generosity of our donors, we provided nearly $240,000 in charity grants. I am unaware of any other mental health clinics in southern Nebraska that can say the same thing. This, of course, is only possible because of the generosity of our benefactors.
Unfortunately there are some who need help from both of our arms of charity because a major psychological illness can temporarily keep one out of the work force. We all know it is impossible to pay for rent and utilities without having a job. In these instances, we do our best to help those who are out of work because of a crippling psychological illness become employable once again.
Please know that we at Catholic Social Service are most grateful to our many supporters, for with your help, we are a beacon of hope for so many who access our services each and every year. Please be assured of our prayers for all of you!
