Hidden Treasures

Details: 08 June 2012

I've had the privilege of meeting many fine men and women during our previous rolling thrift stores across the diocese from Fall City to Imperial. While conducting one such rolling thrift store in Crete, I was fortunate to have met Jerry and Kay Wessel. Not long after the event, I was contacted by Jerry with the desire to do more for the agency. In other words, to do more for Jesus Christ who lives in the poor and needy.

Jerry has done many things for Catholic Social Services but one that stands out is going to neighboring parishes on a rotating basis with a trailer to collect used items for CSS. We have found that this program is a great way for parishioners to donate items around the house not needed while benefiting individuals and families in need. Items requested are bedroom sets, refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, air conditioners, dishwashers, dining room sets, kitchen tables and chairs, small appliances, book cases, lamps, recliners, sofas and literally anything that makes a house a home. Items donated are directly given away or sold at a reduced price and the proceeds used to help fund our many programs such as emergency services and our grant program for clinical services.

Avoiding "dead-head" runs is one of the keys to running an efficient program. After dropping off an empty trailer to a parish, Jerry picks up a filled trailer at a neighboring parish. The participating parishes are St. Mary, Ashland (St. Joseph, Greenwood); St. Joseph, Beatrice; Sacred Heart, Beaver Crossing (St. Patrick, Utica); Presentation, St. Peter, St. Joseph, Bellwood; Holy Trinity, Brainard; St. Anthony, Bruno (Ss. Peter and Paul, Abie); St. Joseph, Colon (St. Mary, Cedar Bluffs); St. James, Cortland; Sacred Heart, Crete; St. Francis, David City; St. Mary David City (Assumption, Appleton); St. Mary Dawson (St. Ann, Shubert); St. Mary, Denton; Assumption, Dwight; St. Stephen, Exeter (St. Patrick, McCool Junction); St. Michael, Fairbury; Ss. Peter and Paul, Falls City; St. Joseph, Friend (St. Wenceslaus, Milligan); St. Joseph, Geneva (St. Mary Shickley); St. Patrick, Manley (St. Mary, Elmwood); St. James, Mead; St. George, Morse Bluff (Cedar Hill); St. Mary and St. Benedict, Nebraska City; St. Vincent Ferrer, Osceola; St. Leo, Palmyra (St. Martin, Douglas); St. Joseph, Paul (St. Bernard, Julian); St. John the Baptist, Prague (Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Plasi); Immaculate Conception, Rulo (St. Mary, Arrago); St. Vincent De Paul, Seward; Sacred Heart, Shelby; St. Anthony, Steinauer (Sacred Heart, Burchard); St. Paulinus, Syracuse (Holy Trinity, Avoca); St. Andrew, Tecumseh (St. Mary, St. Mary); Immaculate Conception, Ulysses; Ss. Mary and Joseph, Valparaiso; St. Vitus, Touhy; St. Wenceslaus, Wilber (St. Joseph, Tobias); St. Mary, Wymore (St. Joseph, Barneston, St. Mary, Odell); and St. Joseph,York.

I would like to thank all of the pastors of these parishes for their kindness and support for this very important program. I would also like to thank the faithful in the involved parishes for donating items to CSS, and of course Jerry for saying yes to the Holy Spirit who nudged him to get involved. Please know that all of you are in our special prayers!