By Kristina Brandl,
Food Market Program Manager, Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska
“I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Every time you decide to buy extra groceries, donate your time or treasure, and pray for our mission, that sacrifice has the capacity to bring just a little more light into our dark world.
There are many who are walking in uncertain seasons of where their next meal will come from or how they will pay next month’s rent.
Oftentimes, this includes your very neighbors, who may be ashamed to ask for help, as basic survival is increasingly becoming an uphill climb. Some of the clients we see are willing to move forward in courage to seek help while others struggle to even take that first step. Regardless of where they are in their journey, we do our best to encounter them with compassion, patience, and joy.
I was recently reminded of the courage needed to ask for help through one of our clients. For the sake of anonymity, we will call him Bob. Bob is a devoted father who has visited our program periodically over the past few months. Each time he comes in, he brings an attitude of thanksgiving to God and updates: from living out of a vehicle, to his citizenship application finally being progressed forward, to finding temporary housing and, finally, to a more permanent residence at an apartment. He tirelessly pours everything he has into providing for his family.
Unfortunately, with the rising costs in living, Bob is still needing just a little more help to get to the next step. This is where our food market comes in. Our market helps clients by providing at least two of the most basic necessities: food and dignity. Since we have been able to help relieve any food insecurities Bob has had, he has been able to focus his finances directly toward paying rent and any additional fees through the citizenship process. What has been the most joyful to witness is that, through our continued encouragement and the grace of God, Bob has been able to move forward in hope.
One way we are able to keep providing hope for clients like Bob is made possible through the generosity we receive from the Lincoln and surrounding communities. In particular, Mike Hosek and the Knights of Columbus Council at St. Patrick Parish in Lincoln have generously given of their time for the past six years toward the Walk to End Hunger. Without their active leadership and your support, we may not have been able to help families like the one mentioned above.
Since last September, we have collected 151,876 pounds of food through a combination of the Walk to End Hunger event and small donations from individuals and groups. During that same time frame, those donations have gone toward providing help for 691 families throughout the Lincoln area alone.
Though the walk has ended, our vision remains: to inspire hope and love in every encounter. Thank you, again, for sharing that vision and celebrating with us at the Walk to End Hunger! We are grateful for the little ways you continue to share your light throughout this community.
