By John McDermott
Vice President, Marketing & Development
Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska
There are some days in your life that you just never forget. For me, Jan. 2, 1996, is one of those days. Not only was that my first day working at Catholic Social Services, but later that night, you Husker fans will remember, Nebraska put a 62-24 beatdown on the Florida Gators for Coach Osborne’s second consecutive national championship. Ah, the good old days!
Twenty-eight years (and six Nebraska football coaches) later, I’ve witnessed two things while working at CSS that never get old: God cannot be outdone in charity, and there is no such thing as a coincidence.
A few weeks ago, just before Christmas, Mike Fitzgerald, our family support services program coordinator at our Lincoln site, was contacted by a client in need of financial assistance. In his early 50s and divorced, Joe (not his real name) lived on a very tight budget and fell behind on his bills due to health issues. His battle with cancer, kidney disease, and diabetes worsened in September, causing him to be hospitalized in October. During his stay, he developed some memory loss and severe cognitive impairment.
Over the next few weeks, Joe improved enough to be released from the hospital and began working with therapists to improve his cognition and speech. Unfortunately, Joe was now three months behind on his bills, including his rent. His goal was to somehow get caught up to the point where, as Joe put it, “My monthly income will again match my bills.”
As part of the assistance application process, Mike took all of Joe’s information and opened a client file. The amount of requests for assistance far outweighs our cash assistance budget. In order to help as best we can with what we have, our Family Support Services Request Review Committee looks at all applications to determine if and how we can provide assistance.
While Mike was compiling Joe’s information, he noticed Katie Patrick, our executive director, having a conversation with a gentleman who—uncoincidentally—had stopped in and asked to speak with her. After a few minutes, Katie called Mike over to meet the man. She asked Mike if he was working with anyone who had asked for financial assistance.
The man explained that his family has a tradition that at Thanksgiving dinner, they each receive $100 to do whatever they want to do with it, but had to report back to the family at Christmas what they did with the money. He said he was running behind on getting this taken care of but suddenly felt the Holy Spirit was directing him to us, to give the money to someone in need of help. Mike explained Joe’s situation to the donor, who then asked that the $100 go toward Joe’s rent. With this donation and other available funds, the committee approved Joe’s request for help.
Later that afternoon, Mike sent Joe an email with the good news and explained that CSS would mail a check to LES to help with his electric bill. He also told Joe that another check would be mailed to his landlord to help with rent and that “$100 of the amount was from a Good Samaritan who came to our office today and said he was moved by the Holy Spirit to help someone. I told him we were working on your application (keeping you anonymous), and he asked that his $100 go toward your rent bill.”
Joe’s humility and gratitude are shown through his email response to Mike: “So grateful to God and CSS: sincerely thank you, the person who came in this morning, and CSS for the help. I wish you, your family, the person who came in this morning and all at CSS a merry Christmas, in the name of our Savior. Amen.”
Joe then concluded his email with: “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:37-40.”
Over the years, we’ve witnessed our donors and volunteers assist us in bringing Hope in the Good Life, often at just the right moment. God cannot be outdone in generosity, and there is no such thing as a coincidence. It never gets old.
