By Paula Schlotterbeck
Digital Media Manager,
Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska
Time and time again, a fruit-filled wicker basket on St. Francis Gift & Thrift’s counter shares apples, oranges, and our Auburn team’s Christ-like love for the community.
Whenever CSS Auburn receives excess fruit from the food bank or a generous donor, Regional Director April Boellstorff shoots me a quick text: “Can you post about the fruit again? Thank you!” I spring into action, our Auburn social media channels share the news, and our faithful followers help spread the word like wildfire. The basket provides healthy treats to grateful neighbors and then goes back under the counter until the next time it’s called into service. 
That humble little basket represents just a tiny portion of the 33,994 pounds of food CSS Auburn shared with the local neighbors last fiscal year. This food fueled families and freed up their financial resources for other household expenses – quite often, during tight times when they’d run out of money before running out of month. Our ongoing efforts to alleviate food insecurity is just one facet of the vital work we’ll celebrate at our upcoming 20th anniversary celebration in Auburn (one that you’re encouraged to support in a fun way during the event; more on that later!)
It’s true that profits from St. Francis Gift & Thrift (opened in 2004) support CSS Auburn programs, including Family Support Services (FSS), making its success a vital component of our agency’s mission in the community. But our celebration is about more than commerce. In truth, we’re celebrating connections.
St. Francis Gift & Thrift is much more than a register ringing up transactions. Our loyal volunteers, some of whom have been with the store since the beginning, sort donations and stock the shelves with care. They uphold the dignity of our shoppers by creating an atmosphere of beauty for the eyes and heart. That beauty is further enhanced by our good friend and former staff member, Kathy Florence, who creates gorgeous mosaics to sell in the store’s “Artist’s Corner.”
And CSS Auburn is more than a source of assistance. It’s April sharing a handmade puppy quilt donated by one of the community’s quilters with an antsy little boy as he waited in his car seat while she and his mom loaded groceries (April shares, “Then he was all smiles, waves, and woofs!”). It’s a grateful client passing their blessing forward by returning to donate not only groceries, but fall decorations for our offices, hoping to bring a smile to the faces of those we serve.
Our Auburn team has inspired hope and love in every southeastern Nebraska encounter for over two decades. Now that’s something worth celebrating!
Please join us in Auburn (1014 Central Ave.) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 5 for food, fun, and a chance to win! Bring along an item for our CSS Auburn Food Market (or make a St. Francis Gift & Thrift store purchase), and you’ll be entered in our raffle for fabulous prizes, including our grand prize of an Ozark getaway. You can learn more about our event at csshope.org/Auburn. We can’t wait to celebrate two decades of southeastern Nebraska “Hope in the Good Life” with you!
