CSS Spring Furniture and Appliance Drive

Details: 27 April 2012

Not long ago, a single young man with a serious medical condition was referred to us by his doctor’s nurse. She was familiar with our agency and suggested he call us. She knew he lived alone in a small apartment and was in need of help. I will never forget the day he walked through our doors.

As he walked into our main office I happened to be walking through the waiting room. He had the look of someone who desperately needed help. After hearing his story, the sick young man, along with one of our staff members and myself, headed to a local pharmacy to pay for some needed medicine. Before leaving the office, we packed up some food and headed out the door. Once inside his small efficiency apartment I noticed only an old, worn-out couch and a small end table. When putting the food away, we noticed he lacked the basic kitchen items needed to cook and eat. He didn’t even have a table and chairs, or a bed. To make matters worse, his utilities had been shut off for lack of payment. I was amazed that in his need he seemed rather resigned and content.

Because of our generous donors I knew that within hours we could furnish his small apartment, pay his utilities with emergency service funds, and outfit his kitchen so he could eat like the rest of us. We also set up an appointment with our emergency services staff specialist to sign him up for benefits that he qualified for. Oh, how easy it is to take the simple things in life for granted. He was so grateful, especially since he originally was counting only on help with his medications and a ride home.

I am happy to announce that it is time for our annual CSS Spring Furniture & Appliance Drive! It is scheduled for Friday, May 11 from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 12 from 8 a.m. to noon at our Hastings and Lincoln campuses. They are located on 333 W 2nd in Hastings and 2241 ‘O’ in Lincoln. If you are not able to drop off non-needed items around the house, please call us for a scheduled pick up (Hastings: 402-463-2112; Lincoln: 402-474-1600). You are invited to drop off items at our other two locations in Auburn and Imperial during their regular store hours or you can call for a pick up time (Auburn: 402-274-4818; Imperial: 308-882-3065).

Please know that items donated are either given away to needy individuals and families like the man described above, or sold at a reduced rate and the profits used to help pay for emergency services or grants for counseling for individuals who lack health insurance or are for some reason under-insured.

Please know that we at Catholic Social Services are most grateful for your donations. Please pray for the success of this spring’s CSS Furniture & Appliance Drive and remember that your donation will be used to help someone in need like the young man described above. Please remember that we at Catholic Social Services will keep you, your family and intentions in our daily prayers!