Catholic Social Services

Food, clothing, and material assistance - serving the most basic needs - food, clothing, and household goods - that is our goal. On site Services are available in lincoln, auburn, imperial and hastings Nebraska. Services offered include food pantries, budget counseling, Social service referrals, and financial assistance for payments of rent, utilities, deposits, vehicle repairs, medical bills, and other necessities. Our st. francis food pantry in lincoln is the second largest pantry in the city. The hastings and lincoln offices supplement their offerings of food through a brown bag lunch program given to those needing prepared food in the hastings and lincoln areas.

Refugee resettlement - with the europeans left homeless by world war ii and cubans fleeing communism in the 1960's, the diocese of lincoln has been welcoming refugees in the name of christ for more than half a century. Today, refugees from all over the world fleeing persecution, poverty, and war begin new lives in southern Nebraska with the assistance of css. Resettlement Services include securing housing, cultural orientation, food, medical, and dental Services, and job placement. All refugee Services are designed to assist the families to achieve self-sufficiency at the earliest possible date.

Gift and thrift - material relief through our gift and thrift stores in lincoln, hastings, imperial, and auburn Nebraska. The stores sell clothing, household items, furniture, and appliances at reasonable prices. We call our thrift store activity, "giving squared; a donor provides css with an in-kind gift, which we can provide to a needy family at below market prices and any cash profits earned are given away again through our assistance programs. The 'gift' portion of the stores is managed through our voucher program. Our case workers identify families who would benefit from an in-kind item and offer them a voucher to the gift and thrift store. The family can then shop in our clean, organized, well-lighted stores along with other customers, thus respecting their dignity. The voucher can be used to offset or eliminate the cost of the item.

Evangelization - two important works of mercy are visiting the sick and imprisoned. Catholic Social Services conducts programs in each of these areas. Individuals incarcerated in prisons located in our diocese are supported and assisted spiritually by a full-time Catholic pastor. Our agency also supports the activities of the apostolate of suffering, which produces publications designed to support and assist those who are suffering from chronic or terminal illnesses. An important piece of our publications sent to homes throughout the diocese is to instruct and encourage families to live and strengthen their Catholic faith. Holy cards, rosaries, and tools to assist families in their spiritual growth are also offered at most of our agency's functions.

Housing - housing Services are provided through our st. gianna women's homes program in lincoln and hastings, Nebraska. Safe, secure housing and utility assistance are provided to families and their children fleeing domestic violence. Scattered site housing and case-managed apartments are provided to 32 families at any one time.