By CSS staff
At Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska, we are blessed with generous contributions of time, talent, and treasure. This past week, from April 21-27, CSS celebrated those who donate their time and talent as volunteers in Auburn, Hastings, Imperial, and Lincoln during National Volunteer Week.
Incredibly, CSS notched 24,000 volunteer hours across southern Nebraska in 2023, and there’s room for more volunteers in 2024 as we endeavor to respond to our community’s needs. This includes families in need of food and financial support, women experiencing domestic violence, refugees and immigrants building a new life in our communities, and more.
Every hour of time provided by our generous volunteers helps fulfill the CSS mission, which is to perform the Works of Mercy in response to the call of God. As a team of staff and volunteers alike, CSS is proud that our core values of dignity, integrity, empathy, trust, and sustainability guide us along the way. And by upholding these core values, we have observed how human connections continue to unfold stories of Hope in the Good Life at CSS.
One volunteer grew up helping his family tend a 1,700-square-foot garden, the purpose of which was to donate produce to CSS in Hastings.This same volunteer now attends the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and gives of his time at CSS Lincoln’s Food Market, including in a garden that provides produce distributed to CSS clients, who shop at no cost in the Food Market.
In the western part of the state, Imperial is blessed with generous volunteers, including two longtime volunteers who contribute their time after their day jobs at St. Isidore Gift & Thrift. The two women make the shopping experience aesthetically pleasing and welcoming for store customers.
Talent and commitment abound in Auburn, where volunteers who have been a part of the team—some for more years than employees—are warmly referred to as “trainers.” One expert volunteer is a seamstress with a talent for design who helps with store merchandising. Another longtime volunteer sets a strong example of living by CSS’ core values in the words she lives by daily: “Love God, Love People.” She says, “I don’t try, I do!” as she moves between cleaning, deliveries, and cheering on the team.
Several volunteers in Hastings lead innovative projects to help care for our God-given resources at CSS. One volunteer with expertise in carpentry leads furniture refurbishment. A professional florist volunteers to design floral arrangements out of silk flower donations, which are a community favorite at St. Joseph Gift & Thrift.
In Lincoln, the Refugee Resettlement Program welcomes many families to the community, supporting them with housing, translation, cultural integration, and more. The team of volunteers is often on-call to be available for housing setup that can be approved with short notice, and everyone comes to the ready with a focus on making the home feel welcoming with the furniture and essentials.
Two sisters volunteer at St. Louise Gift & Thrift in Lincoln, and have for the past 10+ years. Their workstations are near each other, and you will often see them laughing and sharing stories. One sister said being a part of the CSS volunteer team brings her joy. CSS staff members responded that she also brings joy to all the team.
To our incredible volunteers, thank you for choosing CSS to volunteer your time. We learn and gain energy from our expert volunteers every day. Our volunteers not only bring smiles to the faces of our clients, but they also cheer on our hardworking staff. They help make the organization more whole, and are often driven by their faith to serve those in need.
As we reflect on the many blessings we counted during National Volunteer Week, we encourage everyone to consider giving of your time and talent in some way. There are many organizations across the state in need of volunteers to help build community and connection and live out our faith in service to others.
Bishop James Conley wrote a September 2019 article, “Volunteering with the virtue of charity.” In it, he said: “As the document from the Second Vatican Council Gaudium et Spes states, ‘Man cannot fully find himself, except through a sincere gift of himself.’ When we volunteer or perform any acts of charity, we are opening up our hearts to the work of the Holy Spirit.”
If you are interested in volunteering with CSS, visit www.csshope.org/volunteer.
