I will never forget on a cold winter day just minutes before closing on a Friday afternoon, a young man battling cancer came in for help. I immediately noticed he was without a winter coat, warm hat and gloves. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we were able to give him a warm coat, hat and gloves. After a stop at a store near his apartment for some groceries, we noticed his apartment was rather cool as he was heating it with his oven. That’s why the oven door was left open. Also because of the help of our generous donors, we were able to cover his heating bill.
Just last winter I ran into a homeless man who for a brief time was living in a small tent along one of the bike trails. Since we were near a local fast food restaurant, I treated him to breakfast. It was then I learned that he needed some clothing, too. Again, because of the generosity of our benefactors, we were able to clothe this middle aged man.
Recently, Mark Rezac and Dennis Clare of the Monsignor Helmann Council of the Knights of Columbus at St. John’s in Lincoln paid me a visit. They brought in two cases of brand new children’s coats. The gift couldn’t have been made at a better time. We will use them in one of our annual Christmas giveaways that is just days away. This will help keep many children warm and cozy this winter. Thank you to the members of the KC’s from St. John’s!
Now that winter has arrived, we will be needing more winter clothing such as coats, scarfs, hats, gloves, socks and boots. I always like to keep a stash of these items whenever winter arrives for ‘walk-ins’ like the young man described above. One never knows when, but during every winter, individuals wander into the lobbies of our offices and ask for warm winter clothing. Please look around the closets of your home and consider giving us that extra coat that you almost never wear, and after donating it to CSS, someone will come into our office without a coat and will leave happy and warm.
Please know that we at Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska will keep you, your family and intentions in our prayers!
