By Jonathan Kiehl, CSS Hastings director
Last year after Halloween, I asked my 6- and 7-year-old sons to throw away the pumpkins they had carved and placed in the front yard. I assumed they had followed my instructions—until a few months ago, when a suspiciously familiar plant began spreading out from under the bushes near the side of the house, eventually covering much of the front grass.
The plant, and its multiple new pumpkin fruits, are evidence that instead of throwing the pumpkins away, the kids had simply chucked them out of sight behind the front bushes. Sometimes in our own lives, seeds can lay dormant and hidden for a time, only to quickly and unexpectedly spring into life.
That has certainly been the case this year at Catholic Social Services (CSS) in Hastings. God has been working quietly behind the scenes—moving us to new offices, selling our previous properties, and beginning construction on our new warehouse and Gift & Thrift store. At times, His work felt out of sight, but recently, it has blossomed like the leafy branches of that pumpkin plant, spreading over our horizon.
At CSS, we witness a different kind of harvest every day—a harvest of hope and transformed lives. I personally invite you to join us Oct. 4 for our annual Bountiful Harvest dinner and auction. This year’s theme, “A New Harvest and a Bountiful Future,” celebrates how God has visibly moved among us. This special evening is a time to share inspiring stories and honor the incredible dedication of Tom and Tammie Schik, who will receive this year’s “Love of Christ” award for their steadfast generosity to CSS and the diocese.
As we prepare to celebrate, we remain grounded in the “why” behind this event. This past year presented extraordinary challenges for local families. During the sweltering summer heat, we saw a surge of individuals desperately needing help with rent or basic utilities. Through God’s grace and your generosity, we prevented many from losing their homes.
Our mission also goes beyond emergency relief to provide a sustainable path forward. Recently, we’ve had the privilege of helping men transitioning out of the prison system secure safe housing and meaningful work. Some are already giving back to the community in beautiful ways.
These transformations are only possible because of you. Every auction bid directly funds these vital programs.
When you participate, you aren’t just winning a prize; you are helping a mother keep her electricity on, giving a man a second chance, and truly helping us provide Hope in the Good Life.
If you haven’t purchased your tickets for the October 4th dinner, please do so soon. Importantly, you do not have to be physically present to participate! All auction bidding is entirely online. Whether you are at the dinner or watching Sunday Night Football from your living room, you can bid comfortably from your smartphone.
This year, we have curated an extraordinary list of auction items. If you need a quiet getaway to reconnect with the Lord, we have beautiful retreat options, including the Sacred Heart Retreat House in the Colorado Rockies, Our Lady of Good Counsel in Waverly, and a stunning 16-person retreat house in Littleton.
For those seeking adventure, bid on a weekend stay inside a decommissioned Cold War-era missile silo transformed into an underground vacation rental. Sports fans will love our ticket packages for Husker football and basketball, Tri-City Storm hockey, and Grand Island Siege arena football.
We also feature wine and brewery packages, concert tickets, family experiences, premium golf outings, and incredible culinary experiences from our local priests and parishioners—including a cooking and music night with Father Hazuka and Father Chamara, a dessert bonanza by Father Hoesing, and an authentic Spanish tapas dinner prepared by Stephanie Wesley and our CSS staff.
This year’s auction promises unforgettable opportunities. Whether you join us in person to celebrate Tom and Tammie Schik, or you log in from your couch to place a winning bid, your involvement is a profound act of charity.
Together, we can support families in crisis and provide Hope in the Good Life.
To register for this year’s event/auction, visit csshope.org/bh2026.
