In this November episode of 180 with Katie, Executive Director Katie Patrick and Development Officer John Soukup look back on a month of strong community engagement, increasing need, and hopeful moments across southern Nebraska. The 180 second episode highlights record social media reach, generous donor and grant support, and meaningful impact through food assistance, family support services, immigration legal services, refugee resettlement, sustainability efforts, and the Prison & Reentry Apostolate. From Thanksgiving baskets and holiday outreach to community events and behind-the-scenes ministry, this episode offers a snapshot of how Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska continues to bring Hope in the Good Life to thousands of neighbors each day.
“I’ve heard of one family that faced the decision of whether or not to get Christmas presents for their kids or have a decent Christmas dinner,” said CSS Development Officer John Soukup. “We don’t want families to have to go through that kind of decision-making.”
In this episode, we take a look at meaningful and tax-wise ways to give as the year comes to a close. Host John Soukup sits down with planned giving expert Jim Gustafson, to explore simple year-end gifts, monthly giving, IRA charitable distributions, appreciated assets, grain donations, Donor Advised Funds, and more. If you’re considering a year-end gift to CSS or another nonprofit, this conversation offers clear, practical insight on how your generosity can make a real impact.
By Katie Patrick
For the second year in a row, Catholic Social Services has chosen a patron saint of the year. The CSS team offered thoughtful and inspiring nominations, each reflecting how the saints have embodied the works of mercy throughout history (Who did we pick? More on that another time!). As their leader, I was moved to see how deeply our team identifies with the mission of serving the poor and vulnerable — striving, in its own way, toward sainthood. Shouldn’t we all?
EXTRA EXTRA! Read all about the latest CSS HOPE IN THE GOOD LIFE news!
By April Boellstorff
Regional Director in Auburn, Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska
Auburn CSS had originally planned to distribute 40 Thanksgiving meal kits, complete with a turkey and all the trimmings, to local families in need. When the Thanksgiving request line opened, all 40 meals were claimed within five minutes!
Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska (CSS) hosted its annual Trivia Night in Imperial Nov. 14—an evening of friendly competition and community generosity in support of CSS’s outreach across southwest Nebraska.
After a year’s absence, Trivia Night in Imperial returned this year when a record-breaking 18 teams filled the Nutrien Event Center Nov. 14.
In this episode of 180 with Katie, we take listeners through just over 180 seconds of highlights from an extraordinary month across all Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska locations. From record-setting assistance in Hastings and remarkable volunteer engagement in Auburn to significant increases in homelessness outreach and family support in Lincoln, October showcased CSS’s mission in full motion.
CSS now hopes to make donated plots available to the public at approximately half the cost of the standard market rate.
Catholic Social Services of
Southern Nebraska
For Catholics, November is the month dedicated to remembering and praying for the faithful departed. Throughout the month, Catholics are encouraged to visit cemeteries, pray for deceased loved ones, and reflect on the hope of the Resurrection.
The season of remembrance offers a special opportunity to consider the corporal work of mercy to bury the dead, an act of compassion that Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska (CSS) has quietly carried out over the years. Through the generosity of local donors, CSS has received several dozen cemetery plots that were no longer needed by their original owners. Many of the individuals moved away from Lincoln or made other burial arrangements, but wanted their unused plots to serve a good purpose.
