Donors Help Families with Holiday Needs

With the support and enthusiasm of our Friends Guild, our neighbor agencies in Sarpy and Council Bluffs, donors to the Omaha World Herald Goodfellows fund, and generous individuals and families across the Heartland, we were able to help 855 local families with more than 1,000 children to enjoy a thankful, merry holiday season.

Through our Hardship Assistance Program Thanksgiving baskets were donated to 330 families by the Presbyterian Church of the Master for North Omaha and, in Sarpy County, St. Columbkille Church, the Bellevue Kiwanis Club and Faith Presbyterian Church, which also contributed funds to those families’ January OPPD bills. The Sarpy County Holiday Store—our collaboration with other Sarpy organizations—provided holiday food and gifts to 345 families with 815 children age 12 or under. Our Adopt-a-Family program provided gifts, (including four bicycles!) to 155 families.

In Council Bluffs, 345 families received gifts, food, clothing and other assistance during the annual Holiday Celebration at the Charles E. Lakin Campus. Council Bluffs WalMart shoppers donated gifts to the Angel Tree. Employees of many corporations collected Wish List gift items, including Frankel Zacharia Certified Public Accountants; McCallie Associates, Inc. Information Technology Solutions; Beta Sigma Phi International Service Committee and the Entenman Studio of Dance.

Thanks so much to all the thoughtful donors who reached out to help our clients who requested assistance during the holidays! If your family or your organization would like to join our Holiday Assistance efforts in 2012, contact us at 402-552-7418 or email ltennant@HeartlandFamilyService.org.

Click here to learn more about the Sarpy County Holiday Assistance Program.