By Fr. Justin Fulton
In God’s Infinite wisdom, He did not will that I would get married or have children or grandchildren. I’ll admit sometimes that stings. Perhaps it is a desire to be proud that you are married to a beloved, loving spouse. Perhaps it is a desire to be proud of your son when you see him rip a double just inside the first-base line on a summer afternoon. Perhaps it is a desire to be proud of your daughter as you walk her down the aisle on her day of Holy Matrimony. Whatever it is He did not allow me those senses of pride.
That is okay.
He did, in His Infinite Wisdom, allow me to share in a tremendous source of pride—our employees, volunteers, clients, and benefactors of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska. I could not be more proud of this agency and its people. We are turning heads not only in Lincoln, or the state of Nebraska—but indeed, we are turning heads across the country.
Earlier this month, Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska welcomed the University of Nebraska Extension and a film crew from Knoxville, Tenn., to our statewide headquarters in Lincoln. The Nebraska Extension and film crew shot a training video to be used by food pantries across the nation based off of the new CSS Food Pantry model. They chose CSS as one of four filming sites nationwide and captured the best practices we have developed and accomplished in the past year. 
Some of these new best practices include our transition from a distribution-only food pantry to a food market model highlighting client choice. We believe this is in accord with our Catholic understanding of the dignity of the human person. As opposed to being handed a set of groceries a client now chooses what they will eat. There is dignity in making a choice for one’s own self. Along with this we have helped educate our clients about making good and nutritious decisions when selecting food. We have done this in cooperation with MyPlate, which is based off the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
In accompanying clients in our enhanced food market, our volunteers get to understand the true needs of our clients. As they engage in conversation with clients as they shop for their foods, volunteers and clients become friends. Our new community partnerships, our increased educational components, and our central focus of giving hope to our clients in the love of Jesus Christ is being recognized locally and now even nationally.
We are humbled to be considered a nationwide resource for innovative food market practices. We are excited to offer our clients healthy and nutritious services. We are thankful to Almighty God for His blessings. And we are thankful to you for all of your spiritual and financial support. Together, we are bringing Hope in the Good Life to our clients locally and beyond in these United States.
I am very, very proud of the staff, volunteers, clients, and benefactors of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska. God bless and keep them always.
