Omaha Magazine - September 2020 - The Giving Issue

THE ART OF JOE PANKOWSKI • MIKE SMITH’S WILD RIDE • DANDELION MEAL PROJECT • THE BIG GIVE

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PHOTOGRAPHING DOCUMENTING THIS TIME OF HYPER-CHANGE

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FROM THE EDITOR // LETTER BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN, MANAGING EDITOR

RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF MANY

O m a ha N onpro fits P rovide E d u cat ion , F oo d , H o u s ing ,

T

he presidential election of 1920 saw Ohio Sen. Warren G. Harding win in a landslide over Ohio Gov. James M. Cox. The total vote for 1920 was roughly 26,750,000, an increase of 8 million from the 1916 election.

While that number cannot be attributed to any one thing, it was the first year that women were allowed to vote in the presidential election. The suffragists—including Amelia Bloomer, who lived in this area, and Carrie Chapman Catt of central Iowa—fought for the right to vote for nearly 70 years. Chapman Catt created a national organization in February 1920 that has become a nationwide civic group with more than half a million members—League of Women Voters. The story of Nebraska’s League of Women Voters is Omaha Magazine’s history story this month.

Also paralleling the early 20th century this year is a pandemic. When influenza struck the United States in 1918, the nonprofit American Red Cross, started in 1881 by Clara Harlowe Barton, was one of the first organizations to respond. In fact, when U.S. Surgeon General Rupert Blue decided on Oct. 1 that year the nationwide outbreak of severe influenza warranted a national response, he telegraphed the American Red Cross’ national headquarters in Washington, D.C. The organization recruited a total of 15,000 women to respond to the deadly outbreak by January of the next year.

Nonprofits today are still a significant part of educating voters, responding to the front lines of disasters, and more. When the COVID19 pandemic began to gain speed in March this year, the nonprofit community quickly banded together and began to figure out how to procure and distribute resources. A couple of months later, the popular virtual fundraiser Omaha Gives! successfully saw 23,000 individual donors contribute to the event, their highest count by about 5,000 donors.

Omaha is one of the most philanthropic cities in the nation. A July 1 article in the Los Angeles Times revealed comparisons of charitable giving between Omaha and Wichita, Kansas, home of billionaire Charles Koch. The data revealed that Omaha gave the arts $361 per capita compared to a national $125 per capita (and $49 per capita in Wichita); human services such as food insecurity and sports programs $984 per capita compared to a national $687 per capita (and $810 per capita in Wichita); and health services other than hospitals $860 per capita compared to $1,040 per capita (but $376 per capita in Wichita).

As much as the income itself, the people of Omaha who run charities, volunteer for charities, and sometimes need to use these charities, are what make Omaha special. I spoke with

an d

Fun

Scott Brown for our Adventure article. Brown retired from the military and could have taken a job in the civilian sector. Instead, Brown spends his time volunteering to feed others for the Salvation Army Omaha and felling downed trees with Team Rubicon in places such as Kansas and Puerto Rico.

August. These museums all require a scheduled visit to maintain social distancing, and visitors can schedule their time on their websites or call for more information.

Another article that intrigued me this month was that of Tara Maco-Guillen, a mother who was so appreciative of the time she spent at Ronald McDonald House a few years ago she committed to giving back to them. MacoGuillen arrives at RMH about once a month with a stack of pizzas that she provides to the residents simply because she understands the gift of a hot meal after a long day of visiting a hospital.

The Durham 402.444.5071 | durhammuseum.org

Omaha youth also play a big role in philanthropy. This spring, high school junior (now senior) Jackson Heller learned he won the Prudential Spirit of Community Certificate of Excellence, one of 450 students nationwide to be awarded this certificate, and the only person at his school, Mount Michael Benedictine. He won this award by serving hundreds of volunteer hours at Scatter Joy Acres, the animal rescue ranch in North Omaha near Forest Lawn Cemetery.

The Omaha Magazine team has a soft spot for animals—Zoom meetings frequently feature dogs and cats popping in and out of the video, and everyone on the creative team has at least one beloved pet. That’s why the subject of this month’s Obviously Omaha came easily to us: animal charities. There are so many great animal charities in this city, it was hard to pick six to spotlight.

Strike that last sentence.

With so many great charities in Omaha, it was hard to write only the stories we chose for this Giving Issue. It’s one of my favorite issues to work on throughout the year, and I hope it’s one you enjoy reading.

One last note: With all the great art, history, and culture Omaha offers, one activity I know I have missed is visiting museums. Many large local museums reopened in early SEPTEMBER

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2020

Bemis Center 402.341.7130 | bemiscenter.org

El Museo Latino 402.731.1137 | elmuseolatino.org Great Plains Black History Museum 402.932.7077 | gpblackhistorymuseum.org Joslyn Art Museum 402.342.3300 | joslyn.org Omaha Children’s Museum 402.342.6164 | ocm.org * Note: The hotel edition of Omaha Magazine has a different cover and does not include all of the editorial content included in the magazine’s full city edition. For more information on our city edition, visit OmahaMagazine.com.

TAB L E of CON T E N T S THE USUAL SUSPECTS 003 From the Editor

Responding to the Needs of Many

006 Between the Lines 008 Calendar of Events 088 History

Out of Grandma’s League

100 Adventure

Catering to Chaos

121 Obviously Omaha

An Animal Lover’s Guide

140 Explore!

143 Instagram 144 Not Funny

Emotional Support

A R T S + C U LT U R E 014 Video

Joe Pankowski

018 Photography Life in Flux

SPECIAL SECTION 026 The Big Give

F E AT U R E S

076 080 // 4 //

080

NO STRINGS ATTACHED The Healing Power of Music and Stories

STEPPING UP Omaha’s Nonprofit Sector Rises to the Occasion

SEPTEMBER 2020

PE O P L E 086 Gen O

Jackson Heller

092 Sports

Marquis “Keys” Haynes

096 Profile

Mike Smith

GIVING 102 Profile

Tara Maco-Guillen

104 Calendar

162 trees have been reforested

due to the printing of our last round of publications.

Learn more at

.com

THE ART OF JOE PANKOWSKI • MIKE SMITH’S WILD RIDE • DANDELION MEAL PROJECT • THE BIG GIVE

S E P T E M B E R 2020 | U.S. $4.95

PHOTOGRAPHING DOCUMENTING THIS TIME OF HYPER-CHANGE

60PLUS IN OMAHA

018

A B O U T T HE COV ER Through the imaging glass, several area photographers have found a way to create art while remaining socially distant.

Story page 18.

109 Active Living Phil Perrone

114 Nostalgia

Flights of Fancy

116 Profile

Dottie Deines

118 Feature

Four-Legged Therapy

DINING 122 Review

Oasis Falafel

126 Feature

Dandelion Pop-Up

130 Profile

Stephanie Strode

132 Dining Guide

122

read online at omahamagazine.com

Between

THE LINES A LOOK AT FOUR OMAHA MAGAZINE TEAM MEMBERS KATIE ANDERSON—Freelance Photographer Anderson was born and raised in Omaha. During college she moved away for a few years only to come back when her husband found a job here. She started working at Omaha Magazine in 2010 as a publisher’s assistant before joining the art department as a graphic designer. She loves printed magazines and working “behind the scenes” to get the magazines to the printer. Anderson now spends her time working with local businesses, telling their stories through photographs. In 2019 she earned her certified professional photographer credential from the Professional Photographers of America.

KAMRIN BAKER—Contributing Writer Baker is a former Omaha Magazine-intern-turned-freelancer and former editor-in-chief of the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s newspaper The Gateway. She graduated in May 2020 after studying journalism and media communications, and women’s and gender studies.

When she’s not on the hunt for freelance work or reading feminist theory, Baker enjoys spending time with her shiba inu puppy Mirio, taking naps, practicing yoga, and going to therapy. She is an intern for a local digital communications company. Visit her at kamrinbaker.squarespace.com to learn more about her work—or just to swap dog pics.

KATRINA MARKEL—Contributing Writer Markel is a native of Glenwood, Iowa, and graduate of Abraham Lincoln High School In Council Bluffs. She has a BFA in theater and an M.A. in journalism from New York University.

Markel started her career in television news at ABC, CBS, and Channel One. A founding team member of the San Francisco-based blog site Lipstick & Politics, she has also been published on Buzzfeed and in Huffington Post, The Omaha World-Herald, and other regional publications.

Markel and her husband moved back to the Midwest in 2013 after living on both coasts and abroad. In addition to writing, she has a professional expertise in online marketing and enjoys volunteering with Urban Abbey and local arts organizations. She also enjoys outdoor activities and travel, and lives with two cats.

JAMES VNUK—Contributing Writer Vnuk is a full-time instructor at UNO, primarily teaching English composition to first-year students. He also has a specialty in teaching English as a second language and offers courses in ancient literature and science fiction. Aside from a small stint teaching English in Qingdao, China, Vnuk has lived in Omaha since 2007, and has written articles for Omaha Magazine since 2015. His favorite pastimes are cooking and tinkering with retro A/V equipment, but most of his time is spent doting on his three guinea pigs with his fiancée. This past year, Vnuk learned to play the didgeridoo, and is slowly working toward finishing his first novel.

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SEPTEMBER 2020

SEPTEMBER 2020 VOLUME 38 // ISSUE 4

EDITORIAL Managing Editor

DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN Senior Editor

TARA SPENCER Associate Editor

LINDA PERSIGEHL Contributing Writers

KAMRIN BAKER · LEO ADAM BIGA · RYAN BORCHERS TAMSEN BUTLER · JENNA GABRIAL GALLAGHER CHRIS HATCH · SARA LOCKE · KATRINA MARKEL SEAN ROBINSON · KARA SCHWEISS · JAMES VNUK BRYAN VOMACKA · SAMANTHA WEIDEMAN · SARAH WENGERT DOUGLAS “OTIS TWELVE” WESSELMANN

CREATIVE Creative Director

MATT WIECZOREK Senior Graphic Designer

DEREK JOY Graphic Designer II

MADY BESCH

Explore the groundbreaking work of Jim Henson—and his transformative impact on popular culture—this fall when The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited comes to The Durham Museum.

An exhibition organized by Museum of the Moving Image Photo: Jim Henson and his iconic creation Kermit the Frog, in front of a mural by Coulter Watt. Photo by John E. Barrett.

Kermit the Frog © Disney/Muppets.

Courtesy The Jim Henson Company/MoMI

Contributing Photographers

JUSTIN BARNES · KEITH BINDER · COLIN CONCES SCOTT DRICKEY · JOSHUA FOO · WILLIAM HESS · SARAH LEMKE

SALES Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing

GIL COHEN Director of Sales

801 S. 10TH ST, OMAHA, NE 402-444-5071

ED COCHRAN Senior Branding Specialist

MARY HIATT Publisher’s Assistant & OmahaHome Contributing Editor

SANDY MATSON Senior Sales Coordinator

ALICIA HOLLINS Branding Specialists

DAWN DENNIS · GEORGE IDELMAN Digital Sales Manager

JILLIAN DUNN

OPERATIONS Operations Officer & Local Stubs Ticketing Representative

JOSHUA PETERSON Ad Traffic Manager

MIKE BREWER Accounting Associate

KENDRA HILL

EXECUTIVE Executive Publisher

TODD LEMKE Vice President

GREG BRUNS Associate Publisher

BILL SITZMANN For Advertising & Subscription Information:

402.884.2000 Omaha Magazine Vol 38 Issue III, publishes monthly except February, April, August, November, December, totaling 8 issues by Omaha Magazine, LTD, 5921 S. 118 Circle, Omaha, NE 68137. Periodical postage at Omaha, NE, and additional offices and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Omaha Magazine, 5921 S. 118 Circle, Omaha, NE 68137

Whether it is day or night, inside or out, Joslyn has so much to offer.

FREE GENERAL ADMISSION

(paid ticketed admission for some exhibitions)

THURSDAYS: Open ‘til 8 pm!

SCULPTURE GARDENS Open and free – all day every day!

explore

NOW

AT

DAVID TROUBA Distribution Manager

Joslyn Art Museum features works from antiquity to the present with an emphasis on 19th- and 20th-century European and American art. A fun, educational, relaxing, and artful destination for all.

Open Tuesday–Sunday, 10 am–4 pm.

Just west of downtown Omaha.

Café, Museum shop, and free parking.

2200 Dodge St. | Omaha, NE | (402) 342-3300 | www.joslyn.org SEPTEMBER 2020

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EVENTS

» Exhibitions « PULITZER PRIZE PHOTOGRAPHS

Through Sept. 20 at The Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. This exhibition features more than 80 framed photographs, enlarged so visitors can see the details, as well as interactive touchscreen kiosks to explore other Pulitzer Prize winners with hours of interviews and over 1000 images. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $7 children (3-12), free for members and children 2 years and under. 402.444.5071.

—durhammuseum.org

BONNIE O’CONNELL RETROSPECTIVE

Through Sept. 24 at UNO Art Gallery, 6505 University Drive South. O’Connell, letterpress printer, book artist, and educator, has an extensive portfolio of books, prints and posters. Th is exhibit features fine press editions, letterpress prints, and more. Admission: free. 402.554.2796.

—unomaha.edu

DOLORES HUERTA: REVOLUTION IN THE FIELDS / REVOLUCIÓN EN LOS CAMPOS

Through Sept. 26 at El Museo Latino, 4701 S. 25th St. Th is exhibit explores Huerta’s public life as an activist and cofounder of the United Farm Workers Union (UFW), and what led her to become a Latina civil rights icon. In her life as a communicator, organizer, lobbyist, contract negotiator, teacher, and mother, her unparalleled leadership skills helped dramatically improve the lives of farm workers. Admission: 402.731.1137.

—elmuseolatino.org

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SEPTEMBER 2020

COMMUNITY GALLERY

Through Sept. 28 at Fontenelle Forest, 1111 Bellevue Blvd. This collection of pieces was created by members, staff, volunteers and neighbors of Fontenelle Forest. Admission: $11 adults, $10 seniors (62+), $8 children (2-17), free for members and children under 2. 402.731.3140.

—fontenelleforest.org

A LEAGUE OF OUR OWN: THE NEGRO BASEBALL LEAGUE

Through Sept. 30 at Great Plains Black History Museum, 2221 N. 24th St. Major League Baseball was founded in 1920, but their league did not allow African Americans to participate. Consequently, the Negro Baseball League was founded in that same year. This exhibit highlights artifacts from this league. Admission: 402.932.7077.

—gpblackhistorymuseum.org

FACT AND FICTION IN CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY

Through Oct. 18 at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. Photography in the 21st century is more ubiquitous than at any point in its history, yet fundamentally less believable. Images range from images exposed on film and printed in a darkroom to compositions constructed from multiple digital captures. The Joslyn’s permanent collection is also open to the public. Admission: free. 402.342.3300.

—joslyn.org

SPORTY WOMEN: THE DESIRE TO COMPETE

OMAHA EVENT GROUP HELLO@OMAHAEVENTGROUP.COM • 402.819.8792 • OMAHAEVENTGROUP.COM

Through Dec. 31 at The Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. Levelling the playing field for women in sports is as pressing a topic today for women as it was 100 years ago. Explore the conflicting standards that allowed women to compete in sports, through images from The Durham Museum Photo Archive. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $7 children (3-12), free for members and children 2 years and under. 402.444.5071.

—durhammuseum.org

220 - 600 GUESTS 1502 CUMING ST., OMAHA, NE

UPLIFT & ELEVATE

Through Dec. 31, 2020 at The Union for Contemporary Art, 2423 N 24th St. This new exhibition series will innovate the means by which art is experienced while also supporting the creative practices of local and regional Black artists of multiple disciplines by using their windows to display art. Through Sept. 10, The Union will showcase N8 DeVivo’s photography and Ikran Hamza’s poetry. Beginning Sept. 10, the gallery will present visual artist Kat Wiese and poet Kwame Dawes. Admission: free. 402.933.3161.

—u-ca.org

1 - 220 GUESTS 1510 CUMING ST., OMAHA, NE

500 COCKTAIL-STYLE, 350 SEATED 200 S. 31ST AVE., STE 4107, OMAHA, NE

400 GUESTS 5110 N. 132ND ST., OMAHA, NE

FIBER ARTS SHOW

Sept. 1-27 at Hot Shops, 1301 Nicholas St. Several member artists will display their fiber work, including fabric art, weaving, quilts, basketry, and wearables.

Admission: free. 402.342.6452.

—hotshopsartscenter.co

RICHARD MARKOFF, MARY KOLAR, AND DAX STERNER

Sept. 3-27 at Artists Cooperative Gallery, 405 S. 11th St. Painter Richard Markoff, mixed-media artist Mary Kolar, and painter Dax Sterner will show their works in the co-op’s September exhibition. Note: Due to COVID-19, there will be no opening reception. Admission: free. 402-342-9617.

—artistscoopomaha.com

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OLD MARKET FIRST FRIDAY

Sept. 4, online and at The Passageway Gallery, 417 S. 11th St. Gaze at the colorful, whimsical, thickly painted canvases of featured artist Sarah McWilliams.

Admission: free.

—passagewaygallery.com

CHRISTIAN GAUTHIER

Sept. 11-Oct. 2 at Project Project, 1818 Vinton St. Gauthier is a young artist currently working out of Lincoln. His primary mediums are oil paint, charcoal, and oil pastel. Christian’s primary focus in recent years has been the human figure. Admission: free. 402.680.6737.

—projectprojectomaha.com SEPTEMBER 2020

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR

Four Old Market

» Stage Performances « PENGUIN PROBLEMS

Sept. 11 through Oct. 18 at The Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. Many believe penguins have no problems.

Mortimer the penguin disagrees. Tickets and show times TBA. 402.345.4849.

—rosetheater.org

oTannenbaum.com • 402-345-9627

MICHIGAN RATTLERS

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS

JEREMY MCCOMB

Sept. 25 through Oct. 18 at Hawks Mainstage Theatre, 6915 Cass St. Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, detective Hercule Poirot must identify the murderer—in case he or she decides to strike again.

Tickets and showtimes: TBA

» Concerts « Fresh chocolates and fudge made in our own kitchen.

OldMarketCandy.com • 402-344-8846

DEVIN THE DUDE

Sept. 2 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Rapping since 1992, Devin the Dude brings classic R&B sounds with songs such as “What a Job,” and “Acoustic Levitation.” Tickets: $20 advanced, $25 day of show, $50 meet and greet. 8 p.m. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

DANIEL & THE DELIVERANCE Travel essentials plus souvenirs and Nebraska-made gifts.

OldMarketSundries.com • 402-345-7646

Sept. 4 at Harney Street Tavern, 1215 Harney St. Th is -year-old Omaha-based bluegrass group performs, churning out cheerful, upbeat covers and original songs.

No cover charge. 9:30 p.m. 402.933.5657.

—harneystreettavern.com

DARKWOOD

Sept. 4 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Associated with acts such as Glitch Mob and Manic Focus, Darkwood produces dark electronic and bass music. Tickets: $9 advanced, $12 day of show. 8 p.m.

402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

Authentic Italian desserts, coffee, and FlavorBurst TMice cream.

DolciOldMarket.com • 402-345-8198

All located at 10th & Howard // 10 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

Sept. 8 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. Paa Kow’s Afro-Fusion Orchestra is equal parts rhythm, jazz, and African roots. He and his band take the stage to perform instrument-heavy songs such as “Black and White” and “The Way I Feel.” Tickets: $15 advanced, $20 day of show. 8 p.m. 402.884.5707.

—reverblounge.com

CLYBOURNE PARK

Through Sept. 20 at Howard Drew Theatre, 6915 Cass St. Th is spin-off to “A Raisin in the Sun” portrays racial issues through the demise and rebirth of Clybourne Park after the Youngers move into the neighborhood. Tickets and showtimes: TBA.

Unique décor, ornaments and collectibles for every season.

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TREVOR HALL

Sept. 6 at The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Hall’s music includes a mix of acoustic rock, reggae, and Sanskrit chanting, inspired by his spirituality and his time in a traditional Hindu ashram in Southern California.

7:45 p.m. Tickets: $30-$130. 402.345.7569.

—theslowdown.com

Sept. 10 at The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Inspired by acts such as AC/DC, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bob Seger, and more, this midwestern group brings small town sounding folk rock to Omaha. Tickets: $10 advanced, $12 day of show. 9 p.m. 402.345.7569.

—theslowdown.com

Sept. 11 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Best known for “Wagon Wheel,” McComb performs country songs and conducts a raw live experience to make an authentic connection with his audiences. Tickets: $12 advanced, $15 day of show. 9 p.m.

402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

SATSANG

Sept. 11 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. Satsang serenades audiences with a fusion of folk-rock and reggae instrumentals and poetic lyrics delivered in melodic hip hop style. Tickets: $16 early bird, $18 advanced, $20 day of show. 9 p.m. 402.884.5707.

—reverblounge.com

THE SAMPLES

Sept. 12 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Active since the late 80s, this relaxed pop group continues to evolve their sound. The Samples bring hits such as “Could it be Another Change” and “Feel us Shaking” to Omaha. Tickets: $30. 8 p.m. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

THE LAO TIZER BAND

Sept. 17 at The Jewell, 1030 Capitol Ave. Encompassing musicians Eric Marienthal, Ric Fierabracci and others, the Lao Tizer Band plays punchy, jazzy, jam-styled selections such as “Metropolis” and “16th Heaven.” Tickets: $25, students (with I.D.) receive a $10 credit. 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. 402.505.8468.

—jewellomaha.com

THE REVEREND HORTON HEAT

Sept 17 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Punk-infused rockabilly meets revelator gone sinner in this high-octane show. High-speed guitar runs, gravelly crooning, and driving drums fuse to create Horton Heat’s best-known songs include “Psychobilly Freakout” and “Galazy 500.” Tickets: $20. 8 p.m. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR

THE UNLIKELY CANDIDATES

Sept. 18 at The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. This Fort Worth, Texas-based band takes its audience on a musical journey through bluesy grunge, rock-pop, acoustic rock, and more, with songs such as “Novocaine” and “Call My Name.” Tickets: $15 advanced, $18 day of show. 8 p.m. 402.345.7569.

—theslowdown.com

NIGHT MOVES

Sept. 19 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. The group that brought “Only to Live in your Memories” to the music scene performs warm and summery tracks, infused with synths, indie vocals and twangy, 70s-inspired guitar riff s. Tickets: $13. 9 p.m. 402.884.5707.

—reverblounge.com

R&B LOVE FEST

Sept. 19 at Baxter Arena, 2425 S. 67th St. Jagged Edge, Dru Hill, Sisqo, Ginuwine, and Jon B. perform.

Tickets: $29-$109. 7 p.m. 402.554.6200.

—baxterarena.com

THE MERCURYS

Sept. 19 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Th is Omaha-based, roots and rockabilly group performs. Tickets: $10. 9 p.m. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

MATT WILSON & HIS ORCHESTRA

Sept. 25 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. Minnesota-based Wilson’s soft and catchy voice is complimented by an unusual “orchestra,” consisting of a harp, banjo, electric bass, guitar, piano, and the occasional harmonica. Tickets: $15. 9 p.m. 402.884.5707.

—reverblounge.com

HYBRID THEORY

Sept. 26 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Th is 5-piece tribute band pays homage to Linkin Park’s best hits, such as “In the End” and “Numb.”

Tickets: $35. 8 p.m. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

KOLBY COOPER

Sept. 26 at The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Cooper layers relatable lyrics about breakups and loss, delivered with ‘ragged velvet vocals,’ over a twangy guitar in this country music show. Tickets: $10 advanced, $12 day of show. 8 p.m. 402.345.7569.

—theslowdown.com

CRASH TEST DUMMIES

Sept. 28 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. The Crash Test Dummies, responsible for “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” and mostly popular with college students in the mid-90s, perform soft rock songs, many with peculiar lyrics. Tickets: $35. 8 p.m. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

» Family & More « FARMER’S MARKETS

Most, if not all, of these farmers’ markets have reserved the first hour for expectant mothers, senior citizens, and those with underlying health conditions. Masks are highly encouraged. Pets, unless service animals, should stay at home.

• Aksarben Village (67th and Center streets)— 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 11.

• Bellevue (Washington Park)— 8 a.m.noon Saturdays through Oct. 3.

• Council Bluff s (Bayliss Park)—4:30-7:30p.m.

Thursdays through Sept. 24.

• Gifford Park (33rd and California streets)— 5-8 p.m. Fridays through Sept. 25.

• Old Market (10th and Jackson streets)— 8 a.m.- 12:30 Saturdays through Oct. 10.

• Village Pointe (168th and Dodge streets)— 8:30-12:30 Saturdays through Oct. 3

GARDEN YOGA

Sundays at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. These yoga sessions in the Peter Kiewit Foundation Sculpture Garden are guided by an instructor from YOGA NOW. Participants are encouraged to adhere to social distancing guidelines. In case of inclement weather, participants can join via Zoom. $5 suggested donation. 10:30-11:30 a.m. 402.342.3300.

—joslyn.org

END OF SUMMER CELEBRATION

Sept. 4 at Rockbrook Village, 2800 S. 110th Court.

Bozak and Morrissey perform classic rock music from 7-8:30 p.m. A fireworks show will take place after the music. Free admission. 7-9 p.m. 402.390.0890.

—rockbrookvillage.com

LA FESTA ITALIANA

Sept. 4-6 at American Italian Heritage Society, 5110 N. 132nd St. Manga! Manga! Manga! Guests are encouraged to come hungry to this festival, at which they can pick up authentic Italian food. Tickets: TBA. 402.493.8888.

—omahaitaly.com

SEPTEMBERFEST 2020

Sept. 4-7 at CHI Health Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. This year’s salute to labor includes a carnival, amusement rides, a car show, and more. Admission: $7 general, free for children under 5. Military families and retirees admitted for free Friday and Saturday. 5 p.m.- midnight Friday; noon-midnight Saturday-Sunday; noon-10 p.m.

Monday. 402.278.2951.

—septemberfestomaha.org

OMAHA FREEDOM FESTIVAL

Sept. 5 at Malcolm X Memorial Foundation, 3448 Evans St. A celebration of community education and awareness of African American culture, at which attendees can see presentations from community resource providers, browse artwork at the Youth Arts Festival, eat cuisine from local vendors, hear performances from local stage acts, and more. Admission: $45 VIP, free general admission.

Noon-midnight. 402.819.7773.

—freedomtainment.com SEPTEMBER 2020

// 11 //

OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR

HARVEST ON ARBOR

Sept. 20 on Arbor Street, 8302 Arbor St. The Arbor street neighborhood event offers homemade goods and supports local small businesses such as Chevron Chic Crafts, DogGurt, The Jam Shack and more. Attendees can grab a bite to eat from Pasta-Tively Delicious Food Truck. 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

—Facebook.com/Chevronchiccrafts

HAUNTICON OMAHA 2020

Garden Yoga Sundays at Joslyn Art Museum

Sept. 26 at Sokol Auditorium and Underground, 2234 S. 13th St. Fans of the paranormal (cryptids, ghosts, aliens, and other anomalies) can expect appearances from representatives of haunted locations in the Midwest and mainstream paranormal personalities.

Attendees can see presentations from paranormal teams to learn about investigation, debunking, and ghost hunting equipment, and browse multiple vendors. No children under 8 are allowed to attend. Tickets: $30.

11 a.m.-7 p.m. 402.346.9802.

—haunticonomaha.com

KENTUCKY DERBY 2020

49TH ANNUAL ART FAIR

136TH GERMAN DAY AND OKTOBERFEST

OMAHA KAIJU CON

CINCO DE MAYO

MIDWEST WINDS KITE FLIERS FALL FESTIVAL

Sept. 5 at Horsemen’s Park, 6303 Q St. Horse race lovers can watch, wager, and win on Derby Day. Attendees can also enter to compete in the annual hat contest with $3,000 in prize money. Admission: free.

402-731-2900.

—horsemenspark.com

Sept. 5-6 at EVEN Hotel, 2220 Farnam St. Kaiju refers to giant science fiction and fantasy creatures often seen in the Japanese fi lm genre of the same name. Th is convention showcases kaiju, from tabletop games and video games to cosplayers and movies. Tickets: $20 weekend pass, $15 Saturday or Sunday only, $25 weekend (at door), and free for children 10 and under with a paid adult. 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

—omahakaijucon.com

Sept. 12-13 at Rockbrook Village, 2800 S. 110th Court. The Rockbrook Village Art Fair features paintings, sculptures, jewelry, photography, wood carvings, and more from local artists. Free admission. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 402.390.0890.

—rockbrookvillageartfair.com

Sept. 11-13 along South 24th Street in Omaha.

The leaves may be turning brown instead of green, but it is the 100th year of Omaha’s Cinco de Mayo, so the Mariachi bands will play and the cerveza will flow. Th is event is a reschedule from the spring.

—cincodemayoomaha.com

OMAHA POETRY SLAM AND OPEN MIC

Sept. 7 at CHI Health Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. Superstars such as Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre, Rey Mysterio and more perform at this high-energy show. Tickets: $23-$118. 6:30 p.m. 402.341.1500.

—chihealthcenteromaha.com

Sept. 12 at Outrspaces, 1258 S. 13th St. Anyone can perform during the open mic segment or to spectate (or judge!) the poetry slam. Open mic performers should prepare up to five minutes of material. Poets in the slam have the opportunity to perform 1-3 original poems, each lasting three minutes in length. $10 suggested donation. 7-10 p.m. 402.403.9454.

—outrspaces.org

TACOBERFEST

MIDWEST CONJUREFEST

WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW

Sept. 11-12 at Scriptown Brewing Co., 3922 Farnam St. Listen to music from Sheely Town, Barry Boyce Band, Mariachi rey Azteca, and the Ken Janak Orchestra will perform while guests munch on tacos and pretzels and sip on German-style beer, margaritas, and more. 5 p.m.-12 a.m. 402.991.0506.

—scriptownbrewing.com

29TH ANNUAL FORT OMAHA POWWOW (VIRTUAL)

Sept. 12 online. The Fort Omaha Intertribal Pow Wow honors traditional dance and music at this powwow, and will be held virtually this year. 1-5 p.m. Admission: free. 531.622.2253.

—mccneb.edu

// 12 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

Sept. 13 at The Conjure Shop, 809 S. 75th St. Th is event will have tarot, palm, or bone readings, and food from local eateries along with live music. Attendees may also peruse vendors, selling everything from jewelry and tapestries to essential oils and voodoo dolls. Tickets: free. Noon-6 p.m. 402.884.5680.

—theconjureshop.com

A LONG-EXPECTED PARTY: THE 2020 HOBBIT BALL

Sept. 18 at Scatter Joy Acres, 4966 Newport Ave. Th is dashing outdoor ball commemorated Bilbo Baggins’ birthday. Costumes are encouraged. Admission: $5. 6-9:30 p.m. 402.709.9401.

—scatterjoyacres.org

Sept. 18-19 at German-American Society, 3717 S. 120th St. Th is is an authentic Oktoberfest experience, with live polka music and dancing, German food ranging from soft pretzels with mustard to schnitzel, and lots of beer. Admission free, but charges apply for food and beer. 402.333.6615 —germanamericansociety.org

Sept. 19 at Ditmar’s Orchard, 19475 225th St. in Council Bluff s. Kites of all shapes and sizes will coloring the sky at this special event at the orchard. Activities at the orchard include bumper balls and hayrack rides, along with picking the fresh produce. 712.256.7053.

—ditmarsorchard.com

9TH ANNUAL OKTOBERFEST

Sept. 25-26 at Crescent Moon and Huber-Haus, 3578 Farnam St. Th is Oktoberfest, while newer than the one at German-American Society, is also family-friendly and features German food such as brats and chicken, and lots of beer. Admission: $5 ages 21+.

402.345.1708.

—beercornerusa.com

» Pumpkin Patches « Pumpkins and other in-season fruits and vegetables are ripe and ready to be picked. The following pumpkin patches, berry farms, and orchards plan to be open this season.

BELLEVUE BERRY AND PUMPKIN RANCH

(11001 S. 48th St.) Opens Sept. 12. Children can play in the barn, zipline, or ride on a train. Along with various fun activities, admission includes a hayrack ride to the ranch’s acres of pumpkins. 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

Mondays-Thursdays; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays.

—bellevueberryfarm.com

A LWA Y S HARVEST MOON PUMPKIN PATCH

(1410 US-77, Oakland, Nebraska) Opens Sept.

19. Navigate corn mazes, explore the scarecrow forest, hop onto a zipline, or relax by the fire at this farm. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays; noon-8 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays; closed Mondays.

—harvestmoonoakland.com

SKINNY BONES PUMPKIN PATCH

(3935 NE-133, Blair) Opens Sept. 11. Th is farm includes a tornado simulator, corn mazes, pumpkin shooters, pedal karts, and more. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursdays; 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays; 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays.

—skinnybonespumpkinpatch.com

VALA’S PUMPKIN PATCH

(12102 S. 180th St.) Opens Sept. 18. One of the largest pumpkin patches in Omaha includes rides, photo opportunities, walk-throughs, and plenty of play areas for children. Visitors can add “extras” onto their visit, such as pony rides and apple blasters, for a small fee. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays; 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

Fridays-Saturdays.

—valaspumpkinpatch.com

Event times and details are correct as of presstime,

L O C A L, A LWA Y S B E A U T I F U L. Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble, The Bookworm and other locations!

Included with an Omaha Magazine Subscription—OmahaMagazine.com/Subscribe

IMAGINE • INSPIRE • INNOVATE

but are subject to change. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, many events are canceling and/ or changing dates/time/places as needed. Most venues base these decisions on direction by the Douglas County Health Department and Nebraska’s publication of guidance on canceling events and limiting the number of people in public gatherings.

Omaha Magazine encourages readers to visit venues' websites and/or calling ahead before attending an event or visiting a museum.

Just off I-80 at Exit 426

www.SACMuseum.org

SEPTEMBER 2020

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"I'VE ALWAYS LIKED DRAWING A L O T. I T 'S J U S T A WAY TO KEEP M E B U S Y." -J o e Pa n ko ws ki

eacher w t e ho h VIDEO // T STORY//BYA+CTARA SPENCER

Place Ma t s Po r t f o l i o s n

ev

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN BY DEREK JOY

er

stops lear SEPTEMBER

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2020

ng

TO

i n

// A+C VIDEO //

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RTISTS COME TO ART

in a variety of ways. For Joe Pankowski, it seems to have started on restaurant place mats.

“I’ve always liked drawing a lot. It’s just a way to keep me busy,” he said. When he was younger, his parents kept the paper place mats he’d draw on at restaurants. He said many were car drawings, with “lots of swirly smoke coming out the back.”

While his parents cherished those earlier works, Pankowski said, “They didn’t know what an art kid was supposed to do.” Fortunately, his art teacher at Bryan High School, Karen Drickey, did. “She saw that I was interested in it and wanted me to do more about it.”

Regular readers will know Otis Twelve (aka Douglas Wesselman), who writes the “Not Funny” column for Omaha Magazine. However, they may not be as familiar with Pankowski’s work creating animated videos illustrating Wesselman’s words. He created these shorts for the magazine for just over two years, and they remain on Omaha Magazine’s YouTube and Vimeo channels.

“What was nice about the Otis Twelve stuff was I had this written down thing, and I could just…fi gure out how to make it animated.” A low-profi le guy who is rather quiet and unassuming, Pankowski’s quirky animation was a perfect fit for the often absurdist tone of Wesselman’s column.

While every video opened the same, with Wesselman stating the title of the column in his deeply resonant voice, each one was unique, taking their cues from the text. However there were often unexpected twists, such as in one video on barbecue that opens with a red heart pumping on a black background.

Pankowski said his interest in creating videos didn’t manifest until later in life, when he attended University of Nebraska at Omaha to get his bachelor’s degree. He credits former teachers Russ Nordman and Jody Boyer with inspiring him in that area, and for pushing him to do more, adding that Boyer still sends him messages suggesting places to submit his work.

Boyer, who is currently an adjunct instructor in art and art history at UNO, said helping people is a part of her personality. However, she added, “He’s a pretty special person and he has an enormous amount of talent…I send him things to push him, because he’s also not someone to toot his own horn, so to speak.”

Fortunately, he has people in his life who are willing to do that for him.

Nordman, a professor of media arts at UNO (and Boyer’s husband), also believes there is something unique about Pankowski.

“With some students you see this sort of progression, as far as the concepts behind the art that they make, and you see this development of skill,” he said. But with Pankowski, “He was always at sort of an advanced stage…It’s like he came to us already thinking like a mature artist.”

While his conceptual side of creating has always been strong, the tools he’s used have varied. However, Nordman added, he is zeroing in on certain techniques and ways of doing things.

Video is one area he may be honing in on. Though he is no longer making videos for this magazine, Pankowski is still interested in pursuing that avenue.

He said ideally he’d love to create more animation videos. “Right now I’m trying to get a song from somebody and make like, a music video or animation for that.”

"I like mentoring because I was once a young person who had great supportive parents, but who knew little about how to be an artist or even understood how artists make a living."

-Joe Pankowski

The 37-year-old hasn’t been without a sketchbook since high school, where drawing helped him concentrate in class.

“It just kind of focuses me,” he said. “It’s kind of a meditation.”

Th at focus paid off. The Omaha native went on to get his master’s degree in fi ne arts from the University of Illinois and now teaches art at UNO, Metropolitan Community College, and Creighton University.

Pankowski added working at Joslyn Art Museum’s Kent Bellows Mentoring Program to his schedule in January. He said he is new to mentoring in an official capacity, though he added that he believes he has helped guide his students through his experience as an artist.

Boyer would agree with this. She said she thinks his students are responsive to him “because he doesn’t have a lot of artifice.”

“He teaches to the strengths of studio artists,” she said. “And he’s prolific—he makes a lot of stuff.”

Pankowski said Katie B. Temple, whom he knew from an Artist INC. fellowship through Amplify Arts, reached out to ask him about becoming a mentor at Kent Bellows. He said he was available at the time, and thought it would be a great way to be out in the arts community, something he isn’t always good about.

“I wish I was more active [in Omaha’s art scene], and it’s been tough,” he said, admitting that while it’s been more difficult after having two children, he may also be using that as an excuse. “I know I need to get out more and interact with people. It’s not that hard, and when I do it feels better—just to go to art shows and talk to people.”

Pankowski said he likes helping other artists. “I like mentoring because I was once a young person who had great supportive parents, but who knew little about how to be an artist or even understood how artists make a living,” he said.

“I had art teachers and college advisers that I learned from that directed me to where I [am] today. Without them I don’t know what I would be doing.”

Now he has experiences he can share with people who are on similar paths. “It is reciprocal as well. Mentees become artists that I have a connection with now, and that leads to more opportunities.”

Visit joepankowski.com for more information.

// 16 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

"With some students you see this sort o f p r o g r e s s i o n , a s fa r a s t h e c o n c e p t s behind the art that they make, and you see this development of skill. He was always at sort of an advanced stage.

It's like he came to us already thinking like a mature artist."

-Russ Nordman

SEPTEMBER 2020

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SEPTEMBER

// 18 //

2020

P h oto by J u st i n L i moges

SEPTEMBER 2020

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Photo by E r ic F ra nci s

SEPTEMBER 2020

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A

s quarantine forced schools to close, nonessential employees to work from home or fi le unemployment, and public accommodations to shutter last spring, independent photography projects launched to document the tumult. During the pandemic, photographers took to chronicling another seismic change—the justice movement.

The impulse to capture life amid a health scare and social upheaval is expressed in four distinct Omaha projects whose creatives share an urgency to record history.

Each endeavor employs the added value of marrying a subject’s own words with the photographer’s images to produce intimate vignettes.

Collectively, the hundreds of photos and stories from diverse walks of life represent a city mosaic unlike any other.

With social distance, isolation, anxiety, and adaptation to new norms as context, subjects are pictured at home, their place of business, or in public spaces. The portraits show individuals, couples, and families enduring, alone yet together, afraid yet expectant, in this unsettled time.

(( A+C PHOTOGRAPHY ))

Francis also asked participants to turn on their porch lights, no matter the time of day, to symbolize a beacon of promise. “I always try to frame people within a frame. Their living space is just as important to the composition as the people themselves,” he said. “It may not be their forever home, but in the history of their lives, it’s the place where they rode this out.”

Fujifi lm sent him a medium format digital camera to use. “It makes a really detailed image. I thought if this ever winds up as a gallery show or book I want to make the pictures big so all the details get noticed.”

His stark black-and-white renderings give added weight to the compositions and captions.

Lasha Goodwin—PORCHtraiture: Connection in Quarantine P.J. Morgan Real Estate agent Lasha Goodwin has been taking photos since childhood. Combining land use economics expertise with her passion for historical preservation and her legacy Black family background, her project documents how North Omaha residents are “coping with the pandemic” minus normal socialization.

“We very much so live in consequence of one another,” she said, “so the fact that because of COVID we’re apart, there’s suffering. An essential life component is missing. But with technology, we can still get information and connect.

“We’re living in a very imperfect circumstance.

Our hashtag, well-researched, data-based society has been stumped by nature, and it’s been a minute. There’s a certain authenticity about that.” -Lasha Goodwin

Eric Francis—Isolation in the 402 Photojournalist Eric Francis saw a blank slate on his professional calendar after COVID-19 hit. He informally began shooting pictures of friends posed in their lived environments. Th is took on new meaning when he cultivated their stories and expanded the effort beyond his social circle.

“It felt important—with a story and a narrative revealing itself,” he says. “It just felt like a moment in time that needed to be marked and this being a good way of doing it.”

Francis said he asked people to share how they were feeling in as few or as many words as they wanted, though he did ask that they “stay away from politics.”

“A common theme is gratitude and hope that things are going to be better,” he added. “Th at’s encouraging. I didn’t expect to have that much of it.”

He also implements motifs throughout, such as being sure to include house numbers.

“I’ve always been drawn to black-andwhite. It’s simple, it’s clean, it cuts out some of the distractions color can provide. The composition and connection to the subject have to be strong. There’s no allowance for a weak image.”

Should new outbreaks trigger mass quarantine, Francis said, “I will probably pick this thing up full force and roll with it again because there’s going to be a whole other set of images to be made.”

Over Memorial Day weekend, Francis also covered the Black Lives Matter protests that saw masses of people ignore quarantine to demand justice.

His portraits of protest fold neatly into his project.

“I think it’s going to go down as a really important weekend in the history of Omaha that was part of the change.”

Isolation in the 402 may be the start of a new direction in his career. “It seems like the perfect time to explore new ideas.”

View his project on Instagram: @Efphotopix and @Isolation402

“We’re living in a very imperfect circumstance. Our hashtag, well-researched, data-based society has been stumped by nature, and it’s been a minute. There’s a certain authenticity about that.”

Goodwin’s portraits depicting folks standing their ground at home or at unity gatherings brim with color and life.

She tries catching informal details that reveal people’s resiliency or fragility.

“There’s nothing like the real thing of the moment you experience something.

I’m trying to convey what did it feel like when I interviewed them. Many are grateful for the change of pace and the availability for other things like family dinners or hobbies. There are also themes of fear and how weird this time is.”

She devised her project after coming to terms with her own trauma.

“I was in a Zoom wellness committee meeting at work and everyone began to share what we’re experiencing during [the] pandemic—emotional highs and lows. And it was in that moment I realized I was actually struggling, and I wanted to know how other people were coping.” › SEPTEMBER 2020

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P h oto by J os h u a F oo

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P h oto by Las ha G ood w i n

SEPTEMBER 2020

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(( A+C PHOTOGRAPHY ))

Gathering the images and stories continued to remind her of the real threat of illness and the vital need for justice. It’s also helped her face her own insecurities and strengths.

“Prior to this project, I was taking pictures of things, not people,” she said.

“When it comes to capturing people, I had this genuine fear. But communication [has] never been a challenge for me.

I’m a talker. I love people. I love conversing with people.”

Before, she mostly took pictures with a cell phone. Now she’s using a DSLR camera. She’s still learning, but likes the results.

“I’m a perfectionist. I feel proud of myself that I’ve stepped beyond my fear of imperfection.”

Goodwin submitted a selection of her pandemic-related photography to The Durham Museum’s permanent collection, some of which was featured on their social media. She is also considering an exhibition.

“It’s important to cultivate stories of people who have experience with places and spaces,” she said. “I’m always looking for moments to capture in consideration for the future. I know as a collector of experiences, I will always make room for taking pictures.”

View her project on Instagram: @lifeisgoodwin (#PORCHtraiture: Connection in Quarantine).

“It started with photo essays I posted on my personal Instagram account,” Foo said. “Lauren joined doing video work. I think we did close to 70 interviews in one month, capturing a lot of stories, going with the flow of whatever was happening—from the pandemic to the protests.

We’ve done some interviews since the protests. The movement’s affected the community, mostly in a positive way.

People are talking about it because it’s on their mind.

When commercial photography assignments disappeared with the advent of COVID-19, Justin Limoges knew he wasn’t alone in seeing his work vanish and his life revolve around home. So he started visiting friends to check in and snap a quick pic. Those simple drive-by reconnections proved more than he bargained for.

They are also following the way restaurants are adapting and places reopening.

Foo added, “I think it’s something that just all blends together. We just want to be conduits for everyone’s voices to be heard.”

“There was such good feedback from so many people that I decided to make an Instagram account to share it,” he said.

“And it really struck a chord. The way it grew happened organically. It just took on its own life.”

“Th is is kind of a little window into what people in the industry are going through,” Abell said. “We’ve had several people mention that it’s kind of a therapy session for them. It is for us, too.”

Word of his project spread through a six-degrees-of-separation grapevine. “It’s amazing how in isolation so many of us were connected even though we were apart.”

Abell said people are optimistic that on the other side of this pandemic, the community will be stronger. “Hearing people talk about hope for the future reminded me there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”

He pushed to keep up with the fluid environment. “Everything was changing so quickly with the whole situation.”

New stories have continued to emerge, and this pair of collaborators—he’s the extrovert, she’s the introvert—have expanded their vision beyond food to other fields. The project could birth several series.

“I think it will continue to evolve even beyond COVID,” Foo said.

“I think it’s something that just all blends together. We just want to be conduits for everyone’s voices to be heard.” -Joshua Foo Joshua Foo and Lauren Abell—Right Here, Right Now Joshua Foo and Lauren Abell fi x the subjects of their project in stills and videos, respectively. They often profi le restaurateurs, chefs, waiters, and kitchen purveyors because Foo is a food photographer with deep industry ties to folks adversely impacted by the pandemic.

He and Abell intentionally captured the poignancy of once-bustling eateries turned empty, quiet spaces. The resulting textured images and confessional reveals feel immediate and intimate. // 24 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

Making time for the project may get challenging as these freelancers pick up more paid gigs. “But the project is still our top priority,” he said.

The team includes producer Jesse Hassler and line producer Sam Foo (Joshua’s brother).

The project has attracted attention from the James Beard Foundation, and a local library wants to archive it. Foo and Abell said they hope to adapt it into a documentary. A gallery show and book are also on the table.

View their project at righthererightnowproject.com.

Justin Limoges—Stay Home, Wave Hi

Though COVID-19 has meant uncertainty, he said, it has also meant “a silver lining of spending more time together and having more intentional conversations with friends and family.”

He is intent on being true to people’s lived reality without adornment, though he does ask subjects to wave and smile as a kind of hello from the homefront signature for his Stay Home, Wave Hi project.

“It’s like a slice of life. I’m seeing everybody through the same lens to just capture what they’re doing and where they’re at right now.”

Asked by the Refugee Empowerment Center to take photos of local refugee communities, he’s integrated those images, along with pictures of social justice activism, into the project.

“It’s personally gratifying to be able to do work that I love,” Limoges said.

It’s even better when it resonates with others.

He said he intends to share his work in a gallery show.

Visit stayhomewavehi.com for more information.

A LWA Y S Car Detai lin bile g Mo

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SEPTEMBER 2020

// 25 //

SPONSORED SECTION

al u n n th A

13

PRESENTED BY OMAHA MAGAZINE

O

MAHANS GIVE BIG Omaha Magazine recognizes that 2020 is a unique year for many organizations, yet the nonprofit sector works tirelessly each day to provide food, medicine, a place to sleep, a place to pray, and more. Each page in this sponsored special section gives readers information about a different organization, such as its mission, background, points of pride, and special events.

27 Aksarben

Foundation

28

American Midwest Ballet

29

American Red Cross

40

Do Space

52

64

41

Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands

Omaha Home for Boys

Siena Francis House

53

65

42

Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska

Omaha Public Library Foundation

Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha

54

Omaha Rapid Response

66

Legal Center

55

The Jewish Federation of Omaha

Omaha Street Schol, Inc.

Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum

56

Open Door Mission

45 KANEKO

57

Prairie STEM

46

58 Rejuvenating

30 Assistance

43 Immigrant

31

Autism Action Partnership

44

32

Avenue Scholars

33

Bethlehem House

34

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands

League of Omaha

35

Boys Town

36

Carole’s House of Hope

37

Completely KIDS

38

Cross Training Center

39

CUES School System

// 26 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

GOTT L.E.A.P.

47 Merrymakers Association

Women

59 RISE

48 Metropolitan

60

Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha

49 Nebraska

61

The Rose Theater

62

The Salvation Army

63

Santa Monica House

Community College

Humane Society

50 51

New Visions Homeless Services Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance

67 Together 68 Whispering Roots

69

Women’s Center for Advancement

70

YMCA of Greater Omaha

71

Youth Emergency Services

72

Featured Events

73

Omaha Public Schools Foundation

WISH LIST

MISSION STATEMENT Aksarben is a unified network of business and community leaders committed to preserving and expanding prosperity in our heartland communities through advancements in education, workforce development and civic projects born from effective private, public and philanthropic partnerships.

Support of the Aksarben Foundation initiatives help further the betterment of the heartland in areas of education, community, and workforce development – the most important issue facing Nebraska today.

By working together, we can continue to help improve the condition of the heartland economy and strengthen communities across the state for a better, more prosperous tomorrow.

UPCOMING EVENTS Aksarben Stock Show Sept. 24-27, 2020 Aksarben Purple Ribbon Auction Sept. 26, 2020 Aksarben Ball Jan. 09, 2021

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Celebrating 125 years, the Aksarben

The Aksarben Foundation focuses

Aksarben supporters make several

Foundation networks with premier

on the betterment of Nebraska

programs possible. The Aksarben |

employers to influence change for

and western Iowa. For nearly 75

Horatio Alger State Scholarships are

the betterment of youth, economy,

years, the Aksarben Foundation

for students throughout Nebraska

and heartland communities. The

has awarded scholarships to

and western Iowa who plan to attend

Aksarben Foundation recognizes

Nebraska youth so that they can

four-your colleges within Nebraska.

and celebrates the philanthropy and

realize their dreams and give

Aksarben awards 50 of these

volunteerism of heartland families,

back to the heartland. Aksarben

scholarships each year. Aksarben

funds scholarships and community

awards over $1 million in

annually awards 100 Aksarben

grants throughout Nebraska and

scholarships annually and has

Career Promise Scholarships to

western Iowa, and celebrates the

long been known for the Aksarben students attending MCC. Ag

dedication of Nebraska’s agricultural

Ball and Aksarben Stock Show.

Leaders Scholarships are awarded

families with the Aksarben Farm

These events recognize, promote

to 4-H student exhibitors during

Family Awards, given to families who and celebrate volunteerism,

the Aksarben Stock Show, and

have maintained family ownership of philanthropy, and community

Aksarben Community Grants help

their farmland for 100 or 150 years.

communities throughout Nebraska

pride while helping raise funds.

and western Iowa realize their goals.

AKSARBEN FOUNDATION 7101 Mercy Road, Suite 320 Omaha, NE 68106 402.554.9600 aksarben.org SEPTEMBER 2020

// 27 //

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

American Midwest Ballet (AMB) is your resident professional dance company, bringing work beyond words to audiences in Nebraska, Iowa, and beyond.

Performing at home and on tour, our mission is to provide cultural enrichment through dance programs of the highest quality: breathtaking performances, engaging education, and uplifting community outreach.

» Scenic and costume sponsorships » Education and outreach sponsorships » Individual donations » In-kind donations » Guild volunteers

UPCOMING EVENTS Until we can safely return to the stage, we are finding innovative new ways to share the magic of dance with our community. This includes streaming performances, creating and sharing interviews and behind-the-scenes content, offering a rich dance-based curriculum with study guides for schools and outreach partners, and teaching interactive workshop classes.

Visit us at amballet.org for the latest updates on our programming!

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

INSPIRATION. BEAUTY.

As the region’s professional dance

ATHLETICISM. ENERGY.

company, AMB’s work is truly

American Midwest Ballet plays a

beyond words.

key role in the cultural vitality of

» Founded in 2009 by visionary

our region, inspiring people with

artistic director, Erika

stunning productions performed

Overturff

by our talented roster of 24 dancers

» Professional dance

from around the nation and abroad.

productions that uplift, inspire,

At AMB, we live our commitment

and bring people together

that dance is for everyone, partnering with more than 100 schools and 30 community partners to bring the inspiration of dance to people from diverse backgrounds.

AMB is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

// 28 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

» Over 30,000 people reached in the community and on tour » Outreach to over 7,500 students and 1,000 people in need » Partnerships with over 30 social service agencies

» Collaborations with fellow arts organizations » AMB School fosters a love of dance for students of all ages

PAY IT FORWARD » Attend a performance or take a class » Become a season subscriber » Make a donation » Join the AMB Guild » Partner with AMB to bring dance to your audience » Follow AMB on social media

AMERICAN MIDWEST BALLET P.O. Box 6413 Omaha, NE 68106 712.890.5590 amballet.org info@amballet.org

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.

» Volunteers » Blood and platelet donors » Financial support

UPCOMING EVENTS Heroes in the Heartland March 9, 2021

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

American Red Cross, serving the

American Red Cross provides about

» Become a volunteer. Help us

Omaha Council Bluff s Metro

40 percent of the U.S. blood supply,

provide relief and hope to those

area turns compassion into action

making it the single largest supplier

affected by disasters.

through its strong network of

of blood in the nation. Last year,

Go to the website and click

volunteers, donors, and partners in Red Cross volunteers in the Omaha

on “Volunteer.” » Donate blood. Each blood

times of need. They ensure that all

metro area responded to more than

members of the armed forces and

150 disasters, mostly home fires,

donation can save up to three

their families fi nd support and

providing help, hope and comfort

lives. To make an appointment

comfort when needed, and that

to individuals and families affected.

visit the website and click on

in an emergency there are trained

Also in the last year, the Red Cross

individuals nearby ready to use

enrolled more than 11,000 people

Red Cross skills to save lives. Red

in the metro area in lifesaving

90 cents of each dollar is invested

Cross also ensures that people

courses such as CPR and First Aid.

in humanitarian services and

“Give Blood.” » Make a donation. An average of

have access to lifesaving blood and

programs. Go to the website and

blood products.

click on “Donate.” To make a $10 donation text REDCROSS to 90999.

AMERICAN RED CROSS 2912 S. 80th Ave. Omaha, NE 68124 402.343.7700 redcross.org SEPTEMBER 2020

// 29 //

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

Assistance League volunteers transforming the lives of children and adults through community programs.

» Monetary donations » Volunteers » Tax deductible donations of housewares, adult clothing, and accessories to the Thrift Shop » Books for young children » Donations and Grants

PAY IT FORWARD » 3,700 Children were provided clothing through our Operation School Bell® in 2019. » 127 Teen parents graduated and 4 scholarships were awarded through Operation Teen Parent. » 415 Assault Survivor® Kits were delivered to victims of abuse and assault. » 620 Teddy bears wee given to comfort hospitalized children through Operation Bear Hug. » 107 High School Students participated in ACT/ PSAT review sessions.

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

UPCOMING EVENTS

Assistance League® of Omaha

Assistance League of Omaha has

Tentatively Opening Soon: Our

(ALO) is an all-volunteer 501(c)

achieved Platinum status with

new ALO thrift shop will open

(3) nonprofit service organization

GUIDESTAR, is a 2020 Top-

October 1st at 8502 West Center

whose members identify, develop,

Rated GREATNONPROFITS

Road in Omaha with lots of great

implement and fund ongoing

NONPROFIT and is a Best

buys in men’s and women’s clothing,

philanthropic programs to serve

Practices organization of the

accessories and small household

specific needs of local children

Nonprofit Association of

items. Check our website at

and adults in the Greater Omaha

the Midlands.

alomaha.org for more information.

» 3,900 New/nearly new books were collected from ALO members and business partners to be given to less fortunate children through our Operation Literacy. » Women in recovery from chemical addictions are supported at the Santa Monica House.

Area. Assistance League of Omaha receives no federal, state or city funding.

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE® OF OMAHA 8502 West Center Rd. Omaha, NE 68124 402.342.4288 alomaha.org

// 30 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

To improve the quality of life of persons on the autism spectrum and their families through education, advocacy and support, thereby enabling them to be an integral part of the community.

» Corporate Partners » Employment opportunities for PACE participants » Inclusion event opportunities » Guild members » Volunteers » Donations

UPCOMING EVENTS “Making Memories” at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium Sept. 12, 2020 12th Annual A Vintage Affaire Gala Oct. 3, 2020 Omaha Children’s Museum Sensory Santa Dec. 13, 2020

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Autism Action Partnership has

In 2020, AAP created the

The world has begun to embrace

served the needs of the Nebraska

Pandemic Support Program (PSP)

autism like never before.

autism community for over a

to assist the Nebraska autism

Communities and businesses are

decade. AAP offers programming

community during the COVID-19

turning their focus to the unique

focused in three core areas:

pandemic. While members of all

abilities possessed by individuals

education, workforce development,

communities are being impacted

with autism and the significant

and enrichment and inclusion.

by unplanned and seemingly

contributions they can make in

unavoidable circumstances, we

all areas of life. Autism Action

are acutely aware that members

Partnership is regularly seeking

The diagnosis of autism continues

to grow significantly, worldwide and of the autism community are

support in all forms to help harness

locally. Autism Action Partnership

being impacted in unique ways. In

and sustain these opportunities…

provides an array of services for

order to help minimize the lasting

and fulfill our mission. Contact us

individuals with autism and their

impact of the pandemic, PSP

today to learn more about how your

families and remains dedicated to

offers an Online Resource Guide,

time, talent and/or treasure can help

working with all partners to create

Navigation Services, Pandemic

change lives!

a more inclusive environment for

Response Fund, and Activity Kits.

those affected by autism to thrive.

AUTISM ACTION PARTNERSHIP 10110 Nicholas St., Suite 202 Omaha, NE 68114 402.763.8830 autismaction.org info@autismaction.org SEPTEMBER 2020

// 31 //

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

Avenue Scholars strives to ensure careers for committed students of hope and need through education/training and supportive relationships.

» Business partners

to participate with Avenue Scholars students in careerbuilding opportunities, such as career exploration events, mock interviews, job fairs, career consultations, job shadowing, internships, apprenticeships, parttime employment, and full-time employment » Financial contributions

UPCOMING EVENTS Avenue Scholars Wine Tasting and Vintner Dinner November 19, 2020 Avenue Scholars Celebration Luncheon Late April/early May 2021

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Avenue Scholars provides

Avenue Scholars has supported

Businesses are encouraged to

comprehensive, individualized

the career development of 3,051

join Avenue Scholars’ effort by

support and resources to help

students since its inception in

providing career exploration

students from low-income

2008. Thanks to the generosity

and employment opportunities

families identify, persist toward,

of the Suzanne and Walter Scott

for students in the five targeted

and enter financially sustaining

Foundation and the ongoing

industry sectors. Please contact

careers. Students are selected on

support of Metropolitan

the organization to discuss

financial need (eligibility for free

Community College, the

opportunities to partner in

or reduced-priced school lunches

organization is able to offer all

providing high school and

or a federal Pell grant) and interest

students who successfully complete

postsecondary students the career-

in pursuing a career requiring

their high school program an

building experiences outlined in

an associate degree or less in one

$8,000 scholarship to continue

our wish list.

of these high-demand industry

education/training at MCC, in

sectors: Health, Information

addition to the career-focused

Technology, Automotive

support services provided by

Technology/Transportation,

Avenue Scholars’ dedicated staff.

Trades/Manufacturing/Builders, or Business/Office Processes.

// 32 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

AVENUE SCHOLARS 7101 Mercy Road Suite 240 Omaha, NE 68106 402.916.9777 info@avescholars.org

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

The mission of Bethlehem House is to provide pregnant and parenting women in crisis, regardless of their faith preference, with a home, hope, and empowerment through life-affirming services rooted in the Catholic tradition.

» Donations (accepted online) » Financial literacy coaches » Diapers and Pull-Ups » Gas and grocery cards in $25 increments » Household cleaning supplies » Laundry detergent » Toilet paper and paper towels » Garbage bags » Disinfecting wipes

UPCOMING EVENTS #GivingTuesday Dec. 1, 2020 Bethlehem House Annual Fundraiser April 2021 Omaha Gives!

May 26, 2021

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Founded in 2005, Bethlehem

Thanks to Bethlehem House, 398

» Donate. In-kind donations provide

House provides emergency

mothers have received shelter and

material items for the women

housing for women and infants. It

love, allowing them to choose life

and babies they serve. Current

is a community-funded, faith-

and a healthy re-direction. During

needs include: baby wipes, baby

based nonprofit organization

2019, 89% of graduates went on to

monitors, and gift cards for

providing social services, at

maintain stable, independent living.

grocery stores and gas stations.

no cost, to families in crisis.

Structured programming and case management by trauma-informed staff helps women develop life skills, build accountability, gain financial literacy, and set goals through a 14-course Family Life program. Aftercare provides graduates of Family Life with case management, incentives and fellowship to continue their journey to success and self-sufficiency.

The Humble Lily Boutique supports the mission of Bethlehem House, serving as the hub for volunteers and donations, and providing experience and training to Bethlehem House clients. In 2019, more than 35,000 shoppers experienced the store’s eclectic blend of high-end women’s fashions.

» Monetary Gifts. Monetary donations fund critical programing for expecting moms. » Shop. Visit the Humble Lily, Bethlehem House’s high-end women’s clothing boutique, where all proceeds support women and children. The Humble Lily also accepts donations of high-end women’s clothing and accessories for resale.

BETHLEHEM HOUSE 2301 S. 15th St. Omaha, NE 68108 402.502.9224 bethlehemhouseomaha.org

THE HUMBLE LILY 10730 Pacific St. in Shaker Place Omaha, NE 68114 402.933.3366 Thehumblelily.org SEPTEMBER 2020

// 33 //

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

BGC’s mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, healthy, and caring members of society.

» Internships for Club Members » Corporate Event Sponsors » Business Tours for Club Members » Volunteers » Guild Memberships » Monetary Donations

UPCOMING EVENTS Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands has a number of exciting events, if you are interested in a sponsorship or more information, please visit bgcomaha.org.

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

For more than 58 years, Boys &

Thanks to patrons’ support, Boys

A contribution to Boys & Girls

Girls Clubs of the Midlands has

& Girls Clubs of the Midlands

Clubs of the Midlands would

provided youth with the support

has served more than 74,000 free

allow them to continue to provide

needed to reach their full potential.

meals to Club members and their

essential services to Club members

Serving more than 7,000 youth

families during the COVID-19

during this unprecedented time.

across 14 locations in Omaha,

pandemic. BGC also distributed

Your gift ensures that Club youth

Bellevue, Carter Lake, and Council

3,650 activity packets and 278

have the vital programming needed

Bluffs, programs are led by

laptops so members could maintain to become positive role models and

professional and caring staff. Each

school work and participate in

peers, while enabling them to learn

Club offers services to help young

virtual programming at home.

powerful life skills.

people succeed in school, develop

This year, their Scholarship Team

leadership skills, and maintain

awarded $330,000 in scholarships

healthy lifestyles.

to 53 Club members and alumni.

Members also have opportunities for internships, college visits, and more.

// 34 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE MIDLANDS 2610 Hamilton Street Omaha, NE 68131 402.342.1600 bgcomaha.org

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

Changing the way America cares for children and families.

» Make a Donation at BoysTown.org » National Hotline support (suicide prevention) » Career readiness (vocational training) » School supplies

UPCOMING EVENTS Shine a Light on Giving Tuesday Dec. 1, 2020 Youth Athletic Program: Booster Banquet April 27, 2021

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

Since 1917, Boys Town has given

» In 2019, Boys Town impacted the lives of 523,000 children across the country. » This year, Boys Town National Research Hospital® and its Behavioral Health Clinics launched virtual care visits. » Boys Town National Hotline® (800-448-3000) expanded texting service to 24 hours a day (text VOICE to 20121) in response to increased need during the COVID-19 crisis. » Boys Town is making a commitment to #TeachLove by working to create a more just, peaceful, and equitable society. » Boys Town programs and services touch the lives of more than 2 million people nationwide every year.

thousands of at-risk and troubled children the love, support, and education they need to succeed.

Every day abused and neglected children, and broken and struggling families, find help at Boys Town.

The care Boys Town provides is uniquely effective because it is driven by an unwavering belief that every child and family has the potential to succeed, regardless of their circumstances. When Boys Town saves a child, the positive effects ripple through the family and community, making society a better place for all.

» Boys Town conducts applied research that focuses on understanding the problems children and families face in today’s world and identifying the most effective ways to help them.

PAY IT FORWARD Help a child break free from the cycle of abuse and neglect so they can enter adulthood better prepared to succeed. Get involved and help spread the word. Boys Town kids and families are everywhere. They come from all walks of life and have unique experiences and difficult challenges. Given help and a second chance, they can triumph. Boys

BOYS TOWN

Town needs support to continue

14100 Crawford St., Mod 1 Boys Town, NE 68010 531.355.1508 Boystown.org

the life-changing work it does every day—and has been doing for more than 100 years.

SEPTEMBER 2020

// 35 //

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

Carole’s House of Hope provides transitional living for young women and mothers who have aged out of foster care or become homeless. CHH’s home-like environment, paired with innovative programs and services, encourages self-sufficiency and independence, promotes healing and ultimately restores hope.

» Financial support

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

Serving women primarily from

In 2019, 63 women and children CHH encourages people to

Douglas and Sarpy counties,

found stable, supportive housing

donate to ‘Beyond the House,’

CHH provides participants with

at CHH, which accounted for

and help young families who have

the resources to build successful

4602 shelter nights for the

found independence outfit their

lives. In addition to supportive,

young women alone. These

new apartments. Items can be

safe, and secure housing, women

women, some of which were

purchased from online registries

are provided with life skills

dealing with the consequences

or at local stores. The “Urgent

training, on-site mental health

of abuse, addiction and mental

Needs” page of CHH’s website has

assessments and the opportunity

illness, saw amazing successes;

more details. Monetary donations

to participate in therapy sessions,

some were reunited with their

allow CHH to continue offering

12-step programs to support those

children, others achieved

a stable home and the dynamic

in recovery, financial literacy and

educational goals such as earning services families need to find hope

after-care program

UPCOMING EVENTS Interested persons can visit Facebook, Instagram, or CHH’s website to stay up-to-date with the organization’s upcoming events!

PAY IT FORWARD

sustainability coaching, educational a GED or becoming certified

and independence. People can

assistance and workforce readiness,

as a CNA. Four women chose

visit the website and click

case management support,

CHH to be their home while

on “Donate.”

parenting education and an active

welcoming babies.

after-care program.

» Houseware donations for

CAROLE’S HOUSE OF HOPE 7815 Harney St. Omaha, NE 68114 402.991.HOPE (4673) hello@caroleshouseofhope.org

// 36 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

Completely KIDS educates and empowers kids and families to create a safe, healthy, successful, and connected community.

New school supplies: » Backpacks » Markers » Colored pencils » Mechanical pencils » Spiral notebooks (wideand college-ruled) » Watercolor paint » Glue sticks Always in need: » Volunteer support » Weekend food items » Grocery store gift cards » New board games/ puzzles/sports equipment » New/gently used books » New coats/gloves/hats » Reading glasses » Diapers/baby wipes » Feminine products » Toothbrushes/toothpaste » New socks/underwear sizes preschool-young adult

BACKGROUND When we think about our community, we imagine one that is safe, healthy, successful, and connected. That’s why Completely KIDS has a mission to empower kids and families with the skills necessary to break the cycle of poverty and overcome barriers to their success.

Each year, Completely KIDS serves more than 2,000 Omaha-area kids, primarily between the ages of 4 and 14, and their families in working toward this mission. The organization’s work takes place after the school day and during the summer with kids. Completely KIDS provides a safe, academically supportive, and enriching environment via partnerships with area schools, homeless shelters, and

other local agencies. Additionally, Completely KIDS provides expanded services to the families of kids in the form of literacy, educational support, mental health services, and referrals to other agencies as needed.

BRAG LINES Completely KIDS reopened in May 2019 after renovating its headquarters. Within six months of resuming programming at the building, Completely KIDS had met each of the goals laid out for serving kids and families.

Omaha metro area for 100 years.

Completely KIDS will add Gifford Park and Walnut Hill elementary schools in fall 2020.

PAY IT FORWARD Completely KIDS offers many ways to get involved through time or financial contributions, including: » Working directly with children » Weekend food program

Please call or visit the website for a full list.

UPCOMING EVENTS Author Luncheon April 2021 Pinot, Pigs & Poets May 12, 2021 Night in the Neighborhood Sept. 24, 2021

» Fundraising and supply drives There are always more kids and families in Omaha who need the help of Completely KIDS.

Through the COVID-19 pandemic,

The organization can’t do it without

staff have adapted to a virtual

the backing of donors

COMPLETELY KIDS

programming style and weekly food

and volunteers—people just like

distribution to meet family needs.

you. Please contact them to find out

The year also marks a milestone of

more information about

serving kids and families within the

giving opportunities.

2566 St. Mary’s Ave. Omaha, NE 68105 402.397.5809 completelykids.org SEPTEMBER 2020

// 37 //

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

Cross Training Center exemplifies the message, “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day but if you teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.” The mission they fulfill each day is to equip disadvantaged and under-educated adults through vocational training and job experience so they can attain employment and become financially successful.

» Corporate partnerships » Monetary donations » Volunteers » Community speaking engagements » Collection drives for needed items

UPCOMING EVENTS Invite CTC to speak about solutions to poverty at a civic, church, or workplace event.

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Cross Training Center provides

» Students receive work experience » Donate automobiles,

vocational training and job experience

while providing valuable services

electronics, and other out-of-

for those who are not able to attain a

and products that benefit our

service equipment. Everything

job due to challenging backgrounds

community.

collected is used to provide

and circumstances. CTC empowers

» Cross Electronic Recycling

and equips those who have been

kept over 300,000 pounds of

incarcerated or homeless, involved

electronics out of the landfills

in gangs or substance abuse, have

last year.

mental or emotional disorders, have

» Redeemed Computers and

vocational training and job experience. » Utilize CTC’s services when a need arises. Find out more online. » Financial contributions are

been a victim of human trafficking or

Electronics refurbished over 500

domestic violence, or live in poverty

computers, laptops,

needed to build a recycling

for numerous reasons. They receive

and appliances.

warehouse and a commercial

life-changing training and experiences in order to gain employment on a career path that breaks the cycle of poverty for generations to come.

» Cross Automotive provided 58 donated vehicles to those in need last year. » Cross Social Hall hosted over 40 events while helping students learn hospitality services.

// 38 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

kitchen, and to meet the annual operating budget. » Hold collection drives at workplaces, churches, or civic groups.

CROSS TRAINING CENTER 5040 N. 72nd St. Omaha, NE 68132 402.590.2100 crosstc.com

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

The CUES School System consists of three innercity schools: Sacred Heart, All Saints, and Holy Name. CUES-supported schools provide academic excellence, blended learning, and support for students and families. The CUES Fund raises money through private donations to support the schools.

» Tuition Assistance » Internet Connected Devices for Remote Learning » Safety Equipment to meet COVID-19 Guidelines

UPCOMING EVENTS TEE IT UP FORE CUES Schools To be Determined CUES-A-PALOOZA To be Determined The Gathering March 27, 20201

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Founded in 1975, CUES began

CUES School System will provide

Supporting the CUES Fund

by providing financial support and

service to 600 inner-city students in

allows the CUES School System

operational guidance to Sacred

the 2020-2021 school year. More than

to provide the education and

Heart School. In 2012, CUES

58% of the CUES School System

opportunities that will prepare our

expanded its mission to welcome

Class of 2020 will head to private

students for a successful future.

All Saints and Holy Name schools.

school this fall and all the graduates are

Support CUES with:

The CUES School System, a first

planning to continue their education in » Individual Donations

of its kind in the region, was

high school. The Board of Governors

» Corporate Donations

created in 2017 and is fully funded

that ensure that the school system is

» Foundation support

through the CUES Fund. The

adhering to the new initiatives of:

CUES School System is governed

» Blended Learning

Join one of CUES volunteer groups:

by a board of academic experts

» Student and family

who ensure that each school is

support services

following a standard of excellence.

» Community Partnerships

» Hearts of CUES » The CUES Young Professionals Group Visit CUES website for more information.

CUES SCHOOL SYSTEM 2207 Wirt St. Omaha, NE 68110 402.451.5755 cuesschools.org SEPTEMBER 2020

// 39 //

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

Do Space’s mission is to empower the Omaha community through access to technology and innovative learning experiences.

» Program and equipment sponsorships » Monetary donations

UPCOMING EVENTS Littles Lab Tuesdays After-School Club Mondays through Thursdays Do Space Code Community Tuesdays *Do Space offers around 60 programs and webinars every month.

Register for free on the website*

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Do Space is a one-of-a-kind

» Over 80,000 members

Every day, Do Space works with

technology space, digital

» Membership, programs, and

hundreds of Omahans to help

workshop, and innovation playground. It was designed to

services are free » During the COVID-19 crisis, Do

them achieve their technology education goals. Since launching

tackle the digital divide in Omaha,

Space has been connecting the

Digital Services in response to

as well as to boost digital skills and

community to much-needed

COVID-19, we have hosted

drive innovation, creativity, and

interview resources, including

hundreds of webinars for a live

invention in the region. Free to the

our state of the art Job Interview

audience, which had thousands of

public, Do Space is a place where

Lab for online interviews.

attendees. The future belongs to

community members can interact

At Do Space, Omahans have

those who understand technology.

with cutting-edge technology and

access to modern technology

Help make Omaha future-ready

receive assistance and instruction

and technology-focused learning

with a gift today.

in its use. It’s more than just

opportunities. Do Space has

a building—it’s a community

something for everyone, but aims

technology movement.

to make an impact on two key groups: underconnected, lowincome individuals; and creators, entrepreneurs, and inventors.

// 40 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

DO SPACE 7205 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402.819.4022 dospace.org

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

The Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands is committed to connecting those touched by Down syndrome through education, advocacy and support.

» Baby quilts » Board books » Baby blankets » Baby Toys » Special Needs Stroller » Cube chairs

UPCOMING EVENTS Omaha Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk and Family Festival October 3, 2020 10AM - 2PM Werner Park + Virtual Event 2021 Building the Future Gala March 27, 2021 5PM Embassy Suites La Vista

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Down Syndrome Alliance of the

DSA is a small but mighty non-

Pay it forward - DSA’s programs

Midlands provides support and

profit serving over 500 families

are funded primarily through

programming for individuals with

in the Omaha metro area. They

fundraising at their annual Step

Down syndrome and their loved

welcome 35 new families to their

Up Walk and Building the Future

ones. They are parents, advocates,

organization each year through their Gala, and through grants and private

educators, medical professionals,

medical outreach program. DSA

donations. Volunteers, as well as

and community members coming

promotes education through their

partnerships with local University

together for the common cause of

Down Syndrome Education Series,

students and businesses, help by

improving the lives of individuals

Young Adult Series, Baby Sign

contributing their time and talent.

with Down syndrome. From

Language Classes, Reading &

Your donation will help continue the

prenatal diagnosis to delivery, and

Writing Camp, and Adult Series

programs and services we provide to

through a lifetime, DSA is there

on Aging. They offer families

our families and to the community.

every step of the way.

opportunities for friendship and

Ways to Give:

respite through social events and

» In honor or memory

support groups throughout the year. » Monthly » Planned giving » Corporate sponsorships

DOWN SYNDROME ALLIANCE OF THE MIDLANDS 6001 Dodge St. CEC 117b Omaha, NE 68182 402.554.6095 dsamidlands.org SEPTEMBER 2020

// 41 //

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

» Make a gift to support the Girl Scout Leadership Experience » Share Girl Scout Alum stories » Attend the artVenture signature fundraising events in Lincoln and Omaha » Follow Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska on social media » Make memories by renting a Girl Scout camp property » And don’t forget to buy Girl Scout Cookies!

UPCOMING EVENTS artVenture Omaha March 20, 2021 artVenture Lincoln April 24, 2021

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska

For over 100 years, Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts’ research-proven

is the largest girl-serving

has challenged girls to lead,

programs help girls cultivate

organization in the state. They

break barriers, and create positive

the important skills they

give girls the necessary tools to

change. These are the girls and

need to take the lead in their

empower themselves. Girls learn

young women who dream big

own lives and are designed

their voices count, and they have

and do bigger. They stand up for

specifically for girls, providing

the strength to take the lead. Girl

what they believe in, they call

opportunities only available

Scouts’ one-of-a-kind leadership

the shots and they make things

from the world’s preeminent

development program provides

happen. Girl Scouts is a safe

leadership organization for

age-appropriate, progressive

place for girls to grow and share

girls. Girl Scouts offers fun and

opportunities. Girl Scouts off ers

new experiences, build healthy

challenging activities that include

every girl the opportunity to

relationships, develop positive

outdoor adventures and service

build courage, confidence, and

values, and contribute to society.

in a girl’s own community. No

character, and to make the world

other organization comes close to

a better place by discovering her

offering the full experience that

strengths, passions, and talents.

girls find in Girl Scouts.

// 42 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

GIRL SCOUTS SPIRIT OF NEBRASKA 2121 S. 44th St. Omaha, NE 68105 402.558.8189 girlscoutsnebraska.org

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

Immigrant Legal Center welcomes immigrants into our communities by providing high-quality legal services, education, and advocacy.

» Monetary donations to support our free services to immigrant families » Host a Friend-raiser or invite ILC experts to speak to your community group about immigration » Language interpreters and translators » Legal clinic volunteers » Pro-bono attorneys for the Attorney of the Day program

UPCOMING EVENTS Food Truck World Tour Oct. 11, 2020 In response to COVID-19, this year’s Food Truck World Tour will be a drive-thru event. Ticket and sponsorship information is available at immigrantlc.org/foodtruck.

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Immigrant Legal Center was

In 2019, ILC handled 4,297 cases

The need for high-quality legal

established as Justice For Our

for individuals from 55 countries

services for low-income immigrant

Neighbors–Nebraska in 1999.

and the need is only growing.

families in Nebraska and Southwest

Today, the organization is shifting

ILC’s legal experts are at the top

Iowa has never been higher. Show

its focus to long-term sustainability

of their field and have changed

your support for immigrants in the

in this ever-changing field of

immigration laws in Nebraska

community by:

immigration. They look forward to

that directly impact families in the

» Making a donation to fund legal

fostering relationships with existing

community, in particular abused and

and new community partners to

neglected immigrant children. ILC’s

» Attending ILC events

advance shared goals and working

partnerships with local hospitals

» Inviting ILC attorneys to

to deepen ties in the community,

and health centers connect low-

speak to your community

especially in rural Nebraska. The

income immigrant clients with legal

group about immigration

generosity of all who believe that

options that improve their access to

everyone is deserving of dignity and

traditional health care.

respect are critical to our success.

fees for an immigrant family

» Contacting your representatives and ask them to advocate for legislation that supports immigrant families

IMMIGRANT LEGAL CENTER 4223 Center St. Omaha, NE 68105 402.898.1349 immigrantlc.org SEPTEMBER 2020

// 43 //

MISSION STATEMENT JFO’s vision is that every person in Omaha feels welcome on the campus and is inspired to have a meaningful and relevant relationship with the Jewish Federation of Omaha and its agencies.

UPCOMING EVENTS Exploring Judaism Fall Series via Zoom 9/8/20-11/24/20 Winter Series (format TBD) 12/7/20-3/15/21 Info at jewishomaha.org ADL Webniar Series Info at omaha.adl.org 2021 Annual Campaign Event - Koolulam (A social-musical initiative aimed at strengthening the fabric of society)

Info at jewishomaha.org

PEW - Promoting Empowerment in our World Info at omaha.adl.org

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

The Jewish Federation of Omaha is

» 11,800+ people of all faiths visit

The JFO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and

a full-service organization serving

our campus daily for fitness,

greatly appreciates individual and

the Jewish and Omaha community.

dance, camaraderie, to visit

corporate donations. Your donation

They provide services and programs

loved ones and much more.

will benefit people in Omaha, in Israel

for all ages from early childhood

» Provided $338,000 in

and around the world.

education to a long-term, skilled care

scholarships for education,

Other ways to support the JFO:

nursing home. They also have one of

summer camps and Israel

» Visit our campus in-person

the finest fitness centers in Omaha

experiences.

that features indoor and outdoor

» Delivered over 3,500 meals to

or online to participate in our community offerings; educational

aquatic centers; youth programming;

local Jewish seniors in need of

programs and classes, concert

newly renovated theater and learning

hot nutritious food.

series, film festival, Israel’s

commons (Opening Soon); a public art gallery; a weekly newspaper; Meals on Wheels; counseling

» Served 132 clients for therapy in 2019-20, both virtual and in-person » Provided funding to social

Our core values of Judaism,

communities.

» Subscribe to the Jewish Press » Choose Rose Blumkin Jewish

education, health and well-being,

in Institute for Holocaust

Home for your rehabilitation

integrity, leadership, and stewardship

Education programs and Anti-

needs

inspire us to, as a community,

Defamation League workshops.

critical issues.

» JCC membership and youth camps are open to everyone in the community.

// 44 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

Our campus is open to everyone regardless of religion.

camps and youth services » Become a JCC member

develop innovative responses to

Art and the Holocaust: Student Art Show April 2021

» Volunteer

welfare programs for vulnerable » 10,000+ students participated

Yom HaShoah Community Commemoration April 7, 2021

Independence Day, cultural arts,

services; and community advocacy. collective responsibility, community,

Institute for Holocaust Education Week of Understanding March 22-26, 2021

THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA Staenberg Kooper Fellman Campus 333 S. 132nd St. Omaha, NE 68154 402.334.8200 jewishomaha.org

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

Creativity begins with an idea—seeing things differently. KANEKO’s purpose is exploring the creative process—how a new idea is born into the arts, sciences, and philosophy. Supporting and promoting freedom in creativity is KANEKO’s mission.

» Volunteers and docents » Memberships » Corporate partnerships » Annual fund contributions » In-kind donations » Art supplies

UPCOMING EVENTS Party at The Bowtruss Physical Distance Lounge Party October 24th, 2020 MOVEMENT Series Experience tbd dance collective with a Soirée Atmosphere September 18th, 2020 Watie White Exhibit Mid-September 2020 TBA Ceramics with Peter Scherr An Introductory Ceramics Workshop September 26th, 2020 November 7th, 2020

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

Established in 1998 by

With over 60,000 visitors annually, » Visit KANEKO. Explore the creative

international artist Jun Kaneko

KANEKO is one of the most

and his wife, Ree, KANEKO is

attended visual arts organizations

headquartered in three turn-

in the state. Recently, KANEKO

of-the-century warehouses in

has been able to expand its core

at KANEKO monitor the gallery,

the Old Market. KANEKO is

creative programming to include

help give exhibition tours,

an institution with a vision to

the Generator, Movement, and

and assist with programs and

celebrate creativity, and began

Passages Series as an outlet for

educational workshops.

programming in 2009, officially

local and national artists to

opening as a public gallery in

showcase their innovation in

members help make KANEKO a

2010. Since then, KANEKO has

music, performance art, dance, and

creative resource for the Omaha

hosted a wide range of artists,

writing to the creative community

community and beyond.

writers, scientists, educators, and in Omaha. KANEKO’s

PAY IT FORWARD

Exclusive KANEKO Gallery Tour Explore New and Exciting Exhibits November 21st, 2020

process through an exhibition or program at KANEKO. » Become a Volunteer. Volunteers

» Become a Member. KANEKO

» Make a Donation. Help make

speakers to share their gifts of

educational programs serve youth

KANEKO a place where ideas

creativity with the community

and adult learners alike around the

are born and visitors are inspired

of Omaha.

Omaha metro.

to explore the creative process.

Donate online.

KANEKO 1111 Jones Street Omaha, NE 68102 402.341.3800 info@thekaneko.org thekaneko.org SEPTEMBER 2020

// 45 //

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

GOTT L.E.A.P.’s mission is to cultivate and promote technological confidence and competency in youth through our early-learning S.T.E.A.M. program. By engaging youth to participate in Global Opportunities in Technology Trends, GOTT L.E.A.P. empowers them to systematically maximize their learning experiences.

» Monetary donations to keep programming going » Volunteers » Sponsorships

UPCOMING EVENTS EnrichHER Cohort launch Remote Learning Center Grand Opening GOTT L.E.A.P. S.T.E.A.M. Initiative

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

GOTT L.E.A.P. is an enrichment

GOTT L.E.A.P. S.T.E.A.M.,

LifeChangers community

program designed to teach

is a program for girls in grades

acknowledges and appreciates all

science, technology, engineering,

1-8 and is a subsidiary of LCA

means of support from patrons.

art, and mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) Emergent Montessori. It is

Lifechangers is actively seeking

to minority females in grades

through empowerment, exposure,

out partners for our programs

1-8. The students learn basic

and success that every child who

through volunteering of your

S.T.E.A.M. skills while making

is touched by this program will

time, knowledge and experience,

new friends and improving social

thrive and exceed expectations.

or financial donations. Your

skills. The primary focus of the

They will become better people,

donations will insure that every

GOTT L.E.A.P. program is to

gifted and capital investors on the

child is given the opportunity

facilitate greater exposure to these

global stage, and shape the future

to succeed allowing a better

areas of expertise.

for the betterment of all. It is not

chance to make a change in our

just about a community but a

community.

multi-dimensional focus in mind.

Powered By LifeChangers Academy Emergent Montessori Inc

LIFECHANGERS ACADEMY/GOTT L.E.A.P. 6720 North 30th Street, Omaha NE 68112 402.522.6137 lifechangersacademyllc.com

// 46 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

Merrymakers improves the quality of life for seniors by encouraging active participation, increasing social interaction, and sparking memories through professional musical entertainment.

» Monetary donations of any size » Volunteers to serve on event planning committees

UPCOMING EVENTS Toast to Mayor Jean Stothert Nov. 19, 2020 Songs and Suds TBA (Summer Event)

BACKGROUND Merrymakers Association consists of 18 professional musicians who serve more than 50,000 seniors each year, traveling to 153 nursing homes, assisted living centers, senior centers. Veterans homes, and even hospice care. Since the pandemic, Merrymakers has been offering “courtyard concerts,” and virtual performances, to keep everyone safe.

Merrymakers performers: » Play music geared to the seniors’ age group, sparking fond memories » Create a comfortable environment where expression is encouraged » Provide an opportunity for socialization

» Offer a genuine personal connection » Executive Director Sandy

» Gives an overall increase of enjoyment and happiness, » Gives a chance to express

Lemke is supported by an

feelings, and gives an

enthusiastic and dedicated

opportunity for social

board of directors, led by

engagement.

President David Mayer.

PAY IT FORWARD

BRAG LINES

Individuals can serve on event

Merrymakers consistently

planning committees throughout the

achieves a high level of success with

year or make monetary donations

its programs. Its results are quantified

of any size. A contribution to

through annual surveys of partner

Merrymakers is a meaningful way to

facility activity directors. These surveys

support culture and socialization for

show that Merrymakers music:

senior citizens. Merrymakers has a

» Improves quality of life

waiting list of facilities who would like

» Decreases feelings of anxiety

to receive our services. Merrymakers

and/or depression » Decreases feelings of loneliness and/or isolation

can’t achieve its mission without the support of donors and volunteers.

Please contact them to find out more information about ways to help!

MERRYMAKERS ASSOCIATION 12020 Shamrock Plaza Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68154 402.697.0205 merrymakers.org SEPTEMBER 2020

// 47 //

MISSION STATEMENT The Metropolitan Community College Foundation advances the college’s mission by creating community awareness, building and nurturing meaningful relationships and connecting community partners with giving opportunities that fulfill their philanthropic objectives.

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Metropolitan Community College

Metropolitan Community College

People can help MCC through the

has nine locations in the surrounding

has always been responsive to

foundation by giving to what aligns

four-county area that provides

industry and community needs.

with their philanthropic goals, such as:

students the chance to earn high-

Two industries—automotive

» Giving to an educational program,

demand technical skills, industry

and manufacturing—need more

helps grow programming,

credentials and credits to help them

skilled workers to fill the jobs of

purchase equipment and support

reach their academic goals. Others use

today and tomorrow. MCC is

MCC to engage in lifelong learning

addressing the need with the new

through English-language instruction,

Automotive Training Center and

development funds that help

GED or college prep courses, career

the renovated Center for Advanced

to keep faculty abreast of

training and continuing education.

Manufacturing with embedded

technology and curricular

The foundation connects students

veterans services at the South

advances in their fields.

with scholarships, helps fund new

Omaha Campus. The new building

facilities, and supports programs and

and renovations are scheduled to be

existing scholarship fund of your

initiatives through partnerships with

completed in 2021.

choice to help fulfill the college’s

generous community donors.

student learning. » Establishing professional

» Creating or contributing to an

mission by bridging financial gaps for students.

// 48 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE 531.MCC.2346 mccneb.edu/foundation

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

The Nebraska Humane Society protects, saves and enriches the lives of animals in the communities we serve.

» Blankets » Towels » Canned cat food » Vienna sausages » Canned chicken » Dog/Cat kibble » Canned Tuna » Soft dog treats » Kong Toys » Peanut Butter » Kitty Wand Toys

UPCOMING EVENTS Walk for the Animals and 5K Run (virtual) October 1-30 2020 Come Wine With Us November 14, 2020 Black Tie and Tails April 23, 2021

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

The Nebraska Humane Society

In 2019 NHS adopted out 10,319

NHS is a private nonprofit

offers shelter and care for animals

pets, performed 1,317 specialized

corporation. Animal Control is

in the Omaha metro area. NHS

surgeries, fostered 2,092 fragile

funded through the cities who

provides animal control services to animals in 268 foster homes, and

contract for those services, but

Omaha and all of Sarpy County,

provided free behavior help to

all shelter programs including

upholding laws that protect

1,130 callers. NHs also returned

rehabilitating and rehoming

animals and the people who love

more than 2,800 pets to their

of animals are funded through

them. They provide education,

homes, offered training classes,

private donations. Our volunteers

encourage adoptions, and

low-cost spay and neuter services,

donate time and talent to walk

promote responsible pet care for

and a free pet food pantry. They

dogs, enrich cats, counsel for

the communities they serve.

provided a safe haven for animals

adoptions, help market pets, and

of domestic violence, offered pet

foster those needing TLC in their

safety and animal care presentations homes! Your help becomes hope for groups across the metro and

when you donate:

hosted pet friendly events.

» In honor or memory » Monthly » Planned giving » Corporate sponsorships Details at nehumanesociety.org

NEBRASKA HUMANE SOCIETY 8929 Fort St. Omaha, NE 68134 402.444.7800 nehumanesociety.org SEPTEMBER 2020

// 49 //

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

To provide help, hope, and opportunity to our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness and hunger in the Omaha and Council Bluffs communities.

» Cleaning supplies » Diapers » Disinfectant cleaners » Hamburger » Hygiene supplies » Household goods » Laundry soap » MAT bus tickets » Monetary donations » Paper towels » Razors » Salt, pepper, and other seasonings » Socks and underwear » Toilet paper » Towels » Turkeys » Washcloths » Household goods

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

New Visions Homeless Services was

In 2019, New Visions provided

founded in 1995 in Council Bluffs as

43,800 nights of shelter to 810 men

MOHM’S Place to provide meals to

in the emergency shelter, Joshua

the hungry. In September 2008, the

House; served over 140,000 meals

New Visions Complex in Council

to 3,400 hungry men, women,

Bluffs was built. This facility houses

and children in their community

southwest Iowa’s only emergency

meal site, MOHM’S Place; and

men’s shelter, community meal site,

provided 9,360 nights of housing

and permanent supportive housing.

to 32 chronically homeless men and

In 2012, New Visions Omaha

women through their permanent

Campus was built to address the

supportive housing facility,

specific needs of veterans that are

Timothy House.

experiencing homelessness. These

New Visions’ veteran-specific Omaha

services include 40 fully furnished

Campus expanded their programs to

apartments to street-level veterans,

provide safe housing and wrap around

transportation, daily meals, and

services to 54 veterans at a time. Last

access to on-site mental health and

year alone this program provided

substance abuse therapists.

29,600 nights of transitional/ permanent supportive housing to

// 50 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

107 veterans that would have found themselves living in a shelter or on the streets instead of their own fully furnished apartment.

PAY IT FORWARD New Visions depends upon the community’s generosity and are grateful for all who pay it forward, and invest in those who are experiencing homelessness and hunger. People can partner with New Visions to provide over 100,000 meals a year to the hungry; hope to over 800 seeking a safe place of refuge from the harsh conditions of the streets; a home to 94 men, women, and veterans who found safe housing in one of New Visions’ apartments, and Christmas gifts to over 2,000 children in the Metro Area.

NEW VISIONS HOMELESS SERVICES 1435 N. 15th St. Council Bluffs, IA 51501 newvisions.cc

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

To improve children’s health through healthy homes.

» Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance greatly appreciates donations that enhance and support programming throughout the year.

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance is

In 2019, OHKA:

OHKA’s “Share the Health”

a children’s environmental health

» Earned the EPA’s National

model works so that clients can

nonprofit whose mission is to

Environmental Leadership

receive quality environmental

improve children’s health through

Award in Asthma Management

assessments regardless of their

healthy homes. OHKA’s main goal

- the highest award that an

ability to pay, but all our

is to bring awareness and education

asthma management program

construction upgrades to clients’

to families in the city about

can receive in the United States

homes are provided at no cost,

environmental hazards, and how

» Performed 119 tailored

funded through grants and private

these environmental hazards can

interventions with education and

donations. Common construction

impact overall health. They believe

supply delivery

upgrades include vent fan

that education is fundamental for empowering people and creating change, and provide construction

» Completed 34 construction

installation in kitchens and

interventions in client homes

bathrooms, mold remediation,

» Attended 18 outreach events,

and gutter repair/replacement.

upgrades to eligible clients that

educating 3,360 people on their

Donating to OHKA helps ensure

improve the health of their homes

programs and services

a healthy home for every child.

and families.

OMAHA HEALTHY KIDS ALLIANCE 1425 S. 13th St. Omaha, NE 68108 402.934.9700 omahahealthykids.org SEPTEMBER 2020

// 51 //

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

OHB’s mission is to support and strengthen youth, young adults, and families through services that inspire and equip them to lead independent, productive lives.

» Books, board games and activity books for teens and young adults » Gift cards for clothes, shoes, backpacks, and school supplies » Ticket donations for youth to attend sporting events, concerts, or theater performances » Hygiene products, cleaning and laundry supplies, and household wares » New mattresses » Essentials, such as vacuums, bedding, towels and dishes, for setting up a first-time apartment » Essentials for children ages newborn to five » Gift cards for gas, public transportation, or Uber

UPCOMING EVENTS BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Omaha Home for Boys

What started as a home for

Supporting OHB is an investment

is celebrating 100 years

neglected and wayward boys in

in the community we all share!

of transforming lives and

1920 has evolved to a continuum

» Invest in OHB’s Mission—

strengthening our community!

of care that serves youth, young

monetary gifts, planned or

OHB empowers youth, young

adults and families from across

monthly giving, bequests

adults and families with the skills

Nebraska. Most recently, OHB’s

needed to become self-sufficient.

programs have expanded to

Through its programs focusing on

include clinical services, crisis

housing, education, employment,

intervention and supportive

transportation, basic life skills, and

housing, all of which meet critical

social media, OHB Guild,

mental and behavioral health, OHB

needs of the community’s most

awareness events

equips individuals with the tools

vulnerable youth and families.

» Connect in OHB’s

OHB Golf Classic June 2021

Families—volunteer, attend an event, hold a donation drive » Engage in OHB’s Conversation—

Community—AmazonSmile,

crisis to one of safety and growth.

TAGG, Share Omaha

SEPTEMBER 2020

Project Christmas Joy December 2020

» Support OHB’s Youth &

needed to transition from a state of

// 52 //

100 Year Anniversary Celebration September 9, 2021

OMAHA HOME FOR BOYS 4343 N. 52nd St. Omaha, NE 68104 Giving@OHB.org 402.457.7000 OHB.org

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

The Omaha Public Library Foundation raises money and advocates for Omaha Public Library. The Omaha Public Library Foundation reads between the lines, supporting Omaha Public Library by increasing community access to lifelong learning and literacy. This year marks its 35th anniversary serving Omaha Public Library.

An unrestricted financial donation to the Omaha Public Library Foundation is the most effective way to show your support of Omaha Public Library.

The Omaha Public Library Foundation accepts cash donations, bequests, memorials, stock transfers, and planned gifts.

UPCOMING EVENTS Between the Lines with Elaine Weiss, author of “The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote” Oct. 6, 2020 (Virtual) Omaha Reads, Omaha Public Library’s annual one city/one book initiative, featuring “After the Flood” by Kassandra Montag Sept. 1-30, 2020 (Virtual)

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Private funding through the

Acting quickly after libraries were

When Omaha Public Library

Omaha Public Library Foundation closed this year, the Omaha Public

branches closed to the public

has supported Omaha Public

Library Foundation embarked on

on March 16, Douglas County

Library since 1985. Gifts of all

a $200,000 campaign for eBooks,

residents could only access digital

sizes make it possible to enhance

audiobooks, and other digital

materials, such as eBooks and

the library’s programs, services,

materials for all Douglas County

audiobooks. These materials

and community access. Private

residents. During the closure,

were not only valuable to library

support through the Omaha

Omaha Public Library saw record

patrons for general recreation

Public Library Foundation

circulation among digital books.

and research, but also for parents,

includes individual donations,

Online registration of library eCards

grandparents, and other caregivers

corporate and foundation grants,

dramatically increased. Despite

suddenly homeschooling children.

event sponsorships, Omaha Gives

the pandemic, the Omaha Public

Circulation of digital materials

gifts, and more. The Omaha

Library Foundation continued

quickly skyrocketed. Omaha Public

Public Library Foundation is

fundraising for adult and youth

Library immediately responded to

managed by a staff of two, plus a

literacy initiatives, the Summer

heightened demand by increasing

board of directors and an advisory

Reading Program, staff development, its digital collections—made

foundation@omahalibrary.org

council consisting of former staff

and more.

possible with funding through the

402.444.4589

Omaha Public Library Foundation.

omahalibraryfoundation.org

and volunteers.

OMAHA PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION 215 S. 15th St. Omaha, NE 68102

SEPTEMBER 2020

// 53 //

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

Omaha Rapid Response (ORR) is committed to bringing Hope to the hopeless by meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those suffering in the midst of crisis and disaster.

» Volunteers skilled & unskilled » Team Leaders » Financial Support » Administrative Support » Corporate Partnerships » Church Partners » Prayer Partners

UPCOMING EVENTS 20th Anniversary Celebration September 20, 2020 4-8pm* Hurricanes Floods Tornadoes Earthquakes Tsunamis Typhoons Famine Terrorism *Visit the Omaha Rapid Response website, Instagram and Facebook page, for the latest news, or call for more information.

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Omaha Rapid Response is a

ORR continues to send teams

Omaha Rapid Response deploys

non-profit organization founded

to the victims of disaster as

volunteers trained in medical,

by members of the churches of

long as they feel they can be

construction, chaplaincy and many

Omaha in 2000 in response to

of assistance. Since the recent

other disciplines. They welcome

the increasing number of natural

historic flooding, they have

all volunteers, whether skilled or

and man-made disasters around

helped hundreds of victims in ten

unskilled. If you have a heart to

the world.

regional communities. They build

help those suffering in the midst

The impact of a disaster is

relationships with those they serve

of crisis, you are qualified to be

immediate and long term. The

in order to meet their immediate

deployed. Do you want to bless

effects of loss, destruction and

and future needs. God has called

others in their time of need? Do

hardship do not end when the

them to use relief work as a tool

you want to be blessed beyond

disaster no longer makes the news.

to bring Hope and Love to those

words? Are you called to be a

After the shock subsides, the reality

hurting the most.

volunteer, to pray or to give?

and depression of the ’new-normal’ for the victims sets in.

// 54 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

RAPID RESPONSE: OMAHA’S DISASTER RELIEF TEAM PO BOX 53, BOYS TOWN, NE 68010 402.305.3053 omaharapidresponse.org

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

Omaha Street School empowers at-risk high school students to discover new hope and success through education, vocation, and love in a Christ-centered environment.

» Donations of Supplies » Volunteers » Monetary Donations » Prayers for our Students

UPCOMING EVENTS Annual Gala April 13, 2021

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Omaha Street School opened

OSS is THE Omaha high school

Get involved or donate at

its doors in January 1999 with

that 1) brings faith into the ev-

OmahaStreetSchool.com

four students. Today enrollment

eryday life of the students, letting

Be a Volunteer:

ranges from 25 to 30 with

them know God has a purpose for

an average classroom size of

their life; 2) enrolls students who

eight students. Serving mainly

have not been successful in tradi-

inner-city families living below the

tional education settings; 3) pro-

poverty line, over 650 students have

vides individualized attention to

attended OSS. The school offers

students with an 8:1 student/in-

a high school diploma, leadership

structor ratio; and 4) offers mental

» All supplies for running and maintaining the school are donated

training, mental/behavioral

health and post-graduation pro-

Donate Money:

health sessions, and internships

grams. OSS celebrates the smallest

for graduates. With caring and

victory and give teens the opportu-

compassionate teachers, staff, and

nity to become successful members

volunteers, students find hope, gain

of the community.

self-esteem, and increase selfsufficiency skills.

» » » »

Classroom Lunch provider Cleaning group Special projects

Donate Supplies:

» All financial support for the school comes from individuals, businesses, foundations, and churches. We receive no state or federal money.

Pray for our students.

OMAHA STREET SCHOOL, INC. 3223 N. 45th St. Building H Omaha, NE 68104 402.451.5234, ext. 4 OmahaStreetSchool.com SEPTEMBER 2020

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MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

Open Door Mission is a Gospel Rescue Mission that meets the basic needs of individuals and families while inspiring hope for lasting change.

» Men’s socks and underwear » Toddler toys » $10.00 gift cards to Walmart or Target » Matchbox and Hot Wheels car sets » Play-Doh sets » Board games and puzzles (especially for children 8 and older or families) » Sports balls » Small and medium Lego sets » Hair dryers » Shaving kits » Makeup kits

UPCOMING EVENTS Love Your Neighbor Virtual Gala Oct. 10, 2020 Watch Party starts at 7:00 p.m.

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Open Door Mission meets the

Daily, Open Door Mission’s campus This holiday season, Open Door

basic needs of individuals and

offers 917 safe shelter beds to

Mission expects to provide more

families while inspiring hope for

homeless people; serves over 4,747

than 284,820 hot, nutritious

lasting change. They are a bridge

hot, nutritious meals to the hungry;

meals to the Heartland. We

for people trying to reclaim basic

and provides homeless preventive

invite individuals, churches, or

necessities, restore dignity and

measures to over 1,000 people

businesses to organize a Hope

hope, and rejoin the community.

living in poverty so they can remain

for the Hungry food drive to

KFAB Hope for the Hungry Radiothon Nov. 19, 2020 Tune into 1110 AM 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

President/CEO Candace L. Gregory in their homes. Open Door Mission help stock ODM’s pantry shelves uses her extensive experience in

monthly partners with more

for the holidays with canned

community prevention programs to

than 1,200 volunteers who make

vegetables, fruits, and meats;

break the cycle of homelessness and

a difference right here in their

instant potatoes; and boxed meals.

poverty. She works to bring hope

community. Please visit the website

Please visit opendoormission.org

to others and develops innovative

to learn how to have a life-changing

for more information.

ways to make this happen through

volunteer experience.

partnerships and collaborations.

// 56 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

OPEN DOOR MISSION 2828 N. 23rd St. E. Omaha, NE 68110 402.422.1111 opendoormission.org

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

Prairie STEM’s mission is to improve critical thinking and creativity for all K-12 students through STEM integration and helping them understand their greatest value is themselves.

» Laptops (old/new/refurbished) » Cell phones (old/new/refurbished) » Tablets (old/new/refurbished) » Apple pencils (to support digital art for students) » 3D printers » CNC laser cutters » Cricut/Silhouette machines » Heat Press » Legos » Drones » Oculus VR goggles » Storage Cart for technology items in classrooms » Sanitation Cart and items for cleaning technology items » UV light » Go Pro 360 cameras » Little Bits (tech toys) » Poster printer » Headsets with mics (for students to record on iPads) » Leaf Blowers (cordless, for studentbuilt hovercrafts) » Small engine (suitable for a donated Zenith 750 body) for youth-in-aviation airplane build

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Founded in 2013 by current and

Prairie STEM works in all

Prairie STEM works closely

former education professors and

communities, but they have a

with their public and private

UPCOMING EVENTS

chancellors, Prairie STEM has

strong presence in underserved

partners within the community

impacted thousands of students

and rural communities working to

to deliver programs and services

Girls in STEAM

throughout the state/region

bridge the gaps in education and

to those in areas of greatest

through hands-on, problem-based

social justice. Through directed

need. In helping to bridge the

learning in schools and after school

initiatives, students are exposed to

digital divide, Prairie STEM is

Aviation Nation STEM-day June 12, 2021

programs. Prairie STEM’s mission

areas of technology and industry

focused on creating a sustainable

Nebraska Robotics Expo

has its roots in helping students

that otherwise would not be

platform for volunteers to help

understand their greatest value as

accessible. From robotics, drones,

pay it forward to all participants

themselves with a strong focus on

and VR/AR to programming,

in our programs.

social emotional learning skills

coding and digital arts/music,

essential for success in academics

the engagement in all areas

and workforce development.

of 21st century workforce development is essential for their students’ success in the future.

Virtual STEAM night

PRARIE STEM 6825 Pine St. M/S B1, Omaha, NE 68106 402.577.0844 prairiestem.org/media Alan.Wang@prairiestem.org SEPTEMBER 2020

// 57 //

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

Providing hope and restoration for individuals of human trafficking and exploitation. Their vision is empowering trafficked individuals to lead healthy and independent lives.

» Dryer balls » Bunt cake pan » Clorox/Lysol wipes » Hand sanitizer (alcohol free) » Food storage bags » Toilet paper » CRAFTSMAN Wet/Dry Vac » New patio furniture » Camping chairs for outdoor events » Cooler for outdoor events » Gardening equipment, pots, seeds, flowers » Memberships to museums, state parks, etc. » Passes for putt putt golf, activities in the community » Yard games » Socks » Women’s underwear (all sizes from small to XL)

BACKGROUND Rejuvenating Women is a nonprofit organization providing hope and restoration to those enslaved in

recovery residential home as well

community events, colleges, and

as those participating in other

universities. They advocate for

programs or services that they offer.

victims’ rights and speak on behalf

Rejuvenating Women believes in

human trafficking. The organization a multidisciplinary team approach is committed to developing

and tailoring the best possible care

long-lasting relationships with

for each survivor and prevention

the girls and women who are

of future human trafficking. RW

deeply traumatized by loving her

also uses curriculum integration

right where she is at in life. RW

which focuses primarily on the

helps them restore their physical,

different disciplines and the diverse

emotional, and spiritual health.

perspectives they bring to illustrate

The organization raises awareness of human trafficking in Omaha and surrounding communities.

Their team of dedicated staff and volunteers invests in the lives of each individual living in the

// 58 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

a topic, theme or issue.

BRAG LINES

of survivors in the legislature and before the judiciary committee.

They offer support to local and state law enforcement and associated government agencies.

They are committed to creating an environment where sex trafficking no longer occurs. They walk beside survivors of human sex trafficking,

» Tennis shoes (size 6-10) » Pajamas/PJ sets (all sizes small to XXL)

UPCOMING EVENTS Sixth Annual Restored Wings, Beautiful Broken Gala Sept. 10, 2020 Embassy Suites LaVista Doors open at 5:30pm Guest Speaker Cyntoia Brown-Long

loving them exactly where they are in life while helping restore their physical, emotional, and spiritual

Rejuvenating Women raises

health. With vocational training,

awareness and train on human

education, and redemption support,

trafficking in Nebraska at

RW assists them in regaining their

conferences, churches,

independent lives.

REJUVENATING WOMEN P.O. Box 207 Boys Town, NE 68010 800.402.0601 rejuvenatingwomen.com

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

RISE’s mission is that all people find freedom from cycles of incarceration.

» Monetary donations » Planned Monthly/ Annual donations » Volunteers (online and in person) » Background friendly business partners for potential hiring » Background friendly, safe and affordable housing options » In-kind donations (personal hygiene products) » Community speaking engagements » Employer speaking engagements

UPCOMING EVENTS Virtual Business Pitch Competition & Graduation (Omaha Correctional Center) Fall 2020 Virtual Business Pitch Competition & Graduation (Nebraska State Penitentiary) Fall 2020

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

At RISE, transformation starts

In three years, RISE has graduated

The barriers to reentering society

pre-release and continues post-

407 program participants (Builders)

after incarceration are substantial.

release. The organization’s inside/

from the RISE in-prison program.

From finding safe, affordable housing

out model bridges incarceration to

Currently, 105 RISE graduates

to meaningful employment; mental

the community and considers all

have reentered the community and

to physical health support; rebuilding

the critical steps in that journey.

87% are meaningfully employed.

families to maintaining healthy

RISE prepares and trains people

Additionally, there are 32 RISE

relationships. It not only takes an

for each reentry phase through

program participants residing at

individual to reenter well, it takes a

intensive character development,

Nebraska Community Corrections

supportive community. When people

employment readiness, job creation

Centers and are 100% employed.

re-enter well, public safety improves,

through entrepreneurship and case

Because of COVID-19, RISE has

communities are strengthened,

management. They transform people

successfully built and implemented

financial security can be built for

in the community through awareness

modified programming to ensure

families, and the generational cycles

and empathy that leads to support

continued growth, learning, and

of incarceration can be broken—all

and opportunity. These connections

reentry planning inside Nebraska’s

aiding in reducing recidivism in

heal families, create employment

state correctional facilities.

Nebraska state correctional facilities.

pathways and lower recidivism.

Virtual Business Coaching Event (Nebraska Correctional Center for Women) TBD - Fall 2020 Virtual Deep Dive Event (Lincoln Correctional Center) Fall 2020

RISE 3555 Farnam St., Suite 209 Omaha, NE 68131 402.999.8063 seeusrise.org info@seeusrise.org SEPTEMBER 2020

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MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha (RMHC) is to create and operate programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. RMHC provides opportunities that strengthen children and families during their most difficult and challenging times.

» » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » »

» » » »

Bleach Disinfectant Spray Bathroom Cleaner Non-latex Gloves Trash bags (30-gallon) Keurig K-cups On-the-go Snack Items Breakfast Bars Ground Coffee Sugar Non-dairy Creamer Paper Plates &Plastic Utensils Flour Batteries White Copy Paper 13-watt CFL Light Bulbs Heavy Duty Serving Utensils Gas Cards Gift Cards: Target, WalMart, CVS, Walgreens, Baker’s, Hy-Vee, Family Fare, etc.

Travel-Size Toiletries Feminine Hygiene Products Adult and Youth Winter Coats Diapers – All Sizes

UPCOMING EVENTS Big Red Friday 2020 Sept. 4, 2020

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

During the COVID-19 pandemic,

RMHC is so much more than a

Meals That Heal: Plan, shop for and

RMHC never ceased to support

house. Consider it the made-to-

deliver (or cater in) dinner safely for

families in need.

order, one-of-a-kind, double home.

the families staying at RMHC.

Upon reinstatement, and with the

» In 2019, 380 families (1,153

Sponsor or volunteer at signature

ability to host up to 40 families

individuals) stayed at RMHC

events and third-party fundraisers.

per night, RMHC helps establish

for an average of 22 days

Annual fund: Support a family for

per visit.

one night for just $120. Donations

normalcy with warm beds, hot showers, meals, laundry facilities, a

» Through the first six months

family-friendly kitchen, playrooms,

of 2020, 135 families (430

In-kind gifts: Various professional

and a playground. It also provides

individuals) stayed at RMHC

services, household supplies and

educational and artistic programs

for an average of 38 days per

food items are necessary to care for

for all members of the family.

visit. These results are lower

the families and maintain the House.

Additionally, the RMHC

than expected due to COVID-19. Pop Tabs are recycled to help pay

environment includes a built-in support system where families are able to connect with each other, forming an interdependent network of resources and collaboration.

// 60 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

» Since 2019, roughly 50% of our families come from Nebraska.

of all amounts accepted online.

for the RMHC electric bill.

Light Up The Night Virtual Gala Sept. 11, 2020 Kids & Clays Sporting Clays Tournament October 16-18, 2020 Annual Golf Tournament May 2021 Wings & Wheels Gala May 2021 (Lincoln) September 2021 (Omaha) Big Red Friday August 2021

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES IN OMAHA 620 S. 38th Ave. Omaha, NE 68105 402.346.9377 rmhcomaha.org info@rmhcomaha.org

MISSION STATEMENT

UPCOMING EVENTS

Inspiring young people and their families to discover the magic of theater, to find their voices and enrich their communities.

Rockin’ Rosie 2021 Date & Details TBA

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

For more than 70 years, The

The Rose Theater is the only

Donate: Help make the arts accessible

Rose Theater has been proud

professional children’s theater

to all children. Donations will help

to be the place where a love of

company in Omaha and one of the

bring the magic of live theater to all

the arts begins. From the young

largest in the country.

children regardless of their family’s

preschooler seeing her favorite storybook burst to life in vibrant color to the shy student taking his first timid steps on stage and discovering his voice, to the teen intern with dreams of making it on Broadway, a lifelong love of theater starts right here, under the copper domes of The Rose.

No child is ever turned away from

economic circumstances.

The Rose for economic reasons.

Volunteer: Bring a smile to a child’s

“Pay-what-you-can” evenings are

face by volunteering at The Rose.

off ered for most productions.

Contributions to our daily operations

Thousands of tickets are given

help to ensure a delightful experience

to area youth-serving charities

for every patron.

year after year. Scholarships are available for classes.

The Rose Theater Guild: For more than 25 years, The Rose Theater Guild has supported the

THE ROSE THEATER

efforts of The Rose by enlisting

2001 Farnam St, Omaha, NE 68102 402.345.4849 rosetheater.org

dedicated volunteers to raise funds and awareness of all The Rose has to offer.

SEPTEMBER 2020

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MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

The Salvation Army’s mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

» Monetary donations » Corporate partnerships » Planned gifts » Volunteers » Toys and gifts (for AdoptA-Family Radiothon) » Non-perishable food » Clothing » New K-12 school supplies

UPCOMING EVENTS Virtual Tree of Lights Kickoff Nov. 13, 2020 2020-2021 Winter Night Watch Season Begins Nov. 30, 2020 D.J.’s Hero Awards Luncheon May 4, 2021

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

The Salvation Army of Omaha’s

In fiscal year 2019, The Salvation

Monetary donations support

three community centers—Omaha

Army of Omaha served more than

thousands in Omaha whose lives

Citadel Corps, Omaha North

56,500 hot meals to food-insecure

are improved by The Salvation

Corps, and the Omaha Kroc

and homeless people, filled more

Army’s services—including food,

Center—as well as its Burrows

than 8,000 food pantry grocery

housing, material assistance, youth

Center and Renaissance Village,

orders, helped more than 2,000

development, older adult services,

meet the diverse needs of Omaha’s

people receive mental health

behavioral health, anti-human

metro-area neighborhoods. From

services, and helped 3,000 families

trafficking, and disaster services.

after-school programs and summer

put gifts under the Christmas tree.

In Omaha, 87 cents of every

camps to food pantries to behavioral Their COVID-19 relief efforts

donated dollar funds programs that

health programs that support those

provided some 2,700 food pantry

help those in need. The Salvation

THE SALVATION ARMY

struggling with mental illness, The

orders, 8,400 grab-and-go lunches,

Army also has many volunteer

Salvation Army of Omaha sustains

and 2,000 children’s activity kits to

opportunities, including mobile

the bodies, minds, and spirits

the community.

meal distribution and disaster relief.

Western Divisional Headquarters 10755 Burt St. Omaha, NE 68114 402.898.7700 salarmyomaha.org

of the community’s most

For information, call 402.898.6000

vulnerable neighbors.

or visit the website and click on “Volunteer in This Community.”

// 62 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

To provide long term residential treatment to women with co-occurring disorders, to empower them to live productively drug and alcohol free.

» Feminine hygiene products » Razors » Cleaning products » Deodorant » Clothing/shoes » Household items for the apartments

UPCOMING EVENTS Luncheon & Auction April 2021 Omaha Gives!

May 2021

BACKGROUND Santa Monica provides a holistic treatment experience that utilizes proven practices to improve women’s mental, physical, and spiritual health. They use multiple therapeutic strategies to improve clients’ cognitive behavioral patterns and to address clients’ physical and

past the halfway house. The 3/4-way house is a minimum three-month commitment. In 2018 an additional step-down level of care was added.

The Supported Transitional Living apartments provides a two bedroom fully furnished apartment with a one-year commitment.

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD Santa Monica has been in service for 48 years. Santa Monica is funded in part by Region 6 Behavioral Health. Other support comes from community foundations, annual fundraiser, Omaha Gives, and generous philanthropists. As Santa Monica continues to grow the needs

psychological traumas. They help

Santa Monica secured a second

are many and varied. Each program

women develop a sense of personal

round of three-year accreditation

supports women as they grow into

accountability with structured

by CARF in April 2019.

their potential. Providing them an

programming that focuses on

This year Santa Monica is

experience they can walk through

practical life skills, 12-step

renovating the carriage house

with dignity is Santa Monica’s focus.

participation, and employment.

on their existing halfway house

Items often needed include feminine

Santa Monica’s halfway house

property to provide additional

hygiene products, toiletries, clothing,

program can last from six to nine

office space for staff and a

and household items.

months; the length of stay for each

conference room for confidential

woman is individualized based

meetings. This year has brought

on her needs and her progress in

new life to Santa Monica like never

treatment. In 2016 a step-down level before. Three healthy babies were of care was added for continued care

born in the program.

SANTA MONICA HOUSE 401 S. 39th St. Omaha, NE 68131 402-558-7088 santamonicahouse.org SEPTEMBER 2020

// 63 //

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

The Siena Francis House welcomes and empowers those experiencing homelessness to navigate their path to housing.

» Canned fruits and vegetables » Coffee » Salad dressing (all varieties/flavors) » Cooking oil » Zip-Lock bags (all sizes) » Disinfecting spray (e.g. Lysol Aerosol) » Disinfecting wipes » Disposable masks » Disposable nitrile gloves (large & XL) » Toilet paper » Paper towels » Liquid laundry detergent » Cold-weather clothing » Women’s and men’s underwear » Men’s jeans (esp. sizes 32 and 34) » Women’s shower shoes/flip flops » Tennis shoes (for men and women) » Work boots » Socks » Shaving cream and razors » Men’s and women’s deodorant

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Siena Francis House is a 501(c)(3),

» Siena Francis House provides

The Siena Francis House relies on

» Pain relievers

independent, nondenominational,

services 24/7, 365 days a year.

the generosity of the community.

» Towels, washcloths

Below are ways to get involved.

» Twin sheet sets, pillow cases

charitable organization. Siena Francis

» In December 2019, Siena

House provides three levels of

Francis House opened a new

» Make a monetary donation online.

housing: emergency overnight shelter,

43,000-square-foot facility,

» Sponsor a drive for food,

residential addiction treatment/

including a 450-bed emergency

clothing or personal care items.

transitional housing, and permanent

shelter, commercial kitchen and

» Volunteer in the kitchen/dining

supportive housing. Siena Francis

dining room, centralized clothing

room. All volunteers MUST be

House provides meals to clients

room, loading dock for in-kind

scheduled online, in advance.

and anyone who is hungry. While

donations, and offices.

For additional information on

immediate needs such as food and

» In all programs in 2019, Siena

volunteering, please contact the

shelter are met first, Siena Francis

Francis House served 3,198 total

Volunteer Services Manager,

House’s ultimate goal is to assist

persons, including providing

Silvia Rodriguez, at 402.341.1821

every homeless guest to achieve and

428,875 meals and 13,443 case

extension 1113, or via email at

maintain stable, permanent housing

management services, which

srodriguez@sienafrancis.org.

out in the community, like current

are focused on helping guests

shelter guest, Janelle, pictured above.

develop their own housing plans.

// 64 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

» Hair brushes/combs

SIENA/FRANCIS HOUSE HOMELESS SHELTER 1702 Nicholas St. Omaha, NE 68102 402.341.1821 sienafrancis.org

OMAHA MAGAZINE | THE BIG GIVE

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST MISSION STATEMENT The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a network of friends » Pantry Theby Society of St. Vincent de Paul in holiness inspired Gospel values, growing and and garden volunteers is dedicated to bringing volunteers building a more just world by personal relationships with together to grow spiritually by offering » Event volunteers and service to people in need. person-to-person services to the community’s most vulnerable neighbors in need, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or age.

» Event sponsors

WISH LIST » Pantry and garden volunteers » Event volunteers » Event sponsors

» $25 monthly, Disciple of » $25 monthly, Disciple of Charity membership

Charity membership

» $100 monthly, Apostle of Charity membership » $100 monthly, Apostle of » A $300 donation covers one month’s utilities

Charity membership

» A $300 donation covers

one month’s utilities » A $500 donation provides one month’s » A $750 donation provides rent to avoid a one month’s rent to avoid family eviction » Non-perishable, nonexpired pantry items » New or gently used thrift store items

a family eviction

» Non-perishable, nonexpired pantry items » New or gently used thrift

» Winter coats, all sizes store items

» Monetary donations of » Winter coats, all sizes any size supports the mission » Monetary donations of

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

UPCOMING EVENTS

any size supports the mission

15th Annual Responding to need. Sharing Respond to the call to serve the most The Society of St. Vincent de Free Coat Giveaway UPCOMING EVENTS vulnerable.Visit the website for in hope. In 2018: Paul in Omaha is a Catholic, November 2019 volunteer opportunities: » 15,688 people received parish-based, direct-aid 16th Annual » Helpline responder emergency aid of rent or organization that brings BACKGROUND BRAG LINES PAY IT FORWARD 1st Tuesdays Free Coat Giveaway » Ozanam Outreach worker utilities. together women and men to Eat at Baileys, Dundee November 7, 2020 » Special eventsRespond to the call to serve the most impacted to 64need. Sharing grow their spirituality The in Society of St. Vincent de » $20,255 Responding in hope.

Dell, Shuck's and Give! » Food pantry team people with emergency through service to neighbors April 2019 in Serving OmahaOmaha is a Catholic, In 2019:Ozanam » Garden Angelsvulnerable.Visit the website for relief through inPaul need.

USPS Stamp Out Hunger Thrift store orvolunteer opportunities: Outreach, a program forreceived »emergency neighborhoods 1868, we parish-based, since direct-aid » 15,151 people Food Drive USPS Stamp Out Hunger warehouse sorters non-conferences areas. are part of an international Food Drive May 2021 organization thatby brings aidoperation, of rent or » Helpline responder » 25 years in and programs theutilities. Support the mission organization linked the May 2019 » Ozanam Outreach worker SVdP »Choice Pantry common our men to togethermission womenofand $30,000 impacted 107financially. people The Society of SVdP is » Special events 12th Annual Strawberry a 501(c)(3) organization, relying through 133 volunteers patron St. Vincent de Paul. growprimary in their spirituality with emergency throughon financial » Food pantry team 11h Annual donations served 11,014 households relief entirely The goal of the Brunch Garden Angels Strawberry Brunch to respond to the» increasing » Society is the spiritual growth through service to neighbors Ozanam Outreach, a program June 2021 June 2019 Our thrift store offered » Thrift store or warehouse sorters community needs. of its members, which allows quality goods at reasonable intoneed.

Omaha for non-conferences areas. » Shop SVdP ThriftSupport Stores. the mission and programs us moreServing fully reflect God’s prices to thousands of SOCIETY OF ST. 21st & Leavenworth love to all the neighbors we neighborhoods since 1868, we patrons.» Over 25 years 4,830in operation, the SVdP of SVdPDEis PAUL 24th & Q St. financially. The SocietyVINCENT encounter; our ultimate call is individualsChoice were assisted are partcommunity. of an international Pantry through807 153Tara Plaza- Papillion OMAHA growing a 501(c)(3) organization, relying with over $86,090 in OUR NEW STORE organization linked by the served assistance volunteers of clothing and 90th and Fort byentirely Baker'son financial donations P.O. Box 241201 household10,156 goods.households common mission of our Omaha NE 68124-5201 to respond to the increasing Our annual coat drive Spread the needs of the 402-779-8499 patron St. Vincent de Paul. » Our equipped 2,380thrift men,store offered quality community needs. svdpomaha.com community through SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT women and children with The primary goal of the goods at reasonable prices to Executive Director: facebook.com/svdpomaha Shop SVdP Thrift Stores. warm necessities.

DE PAUL OMAHA Marty Smith Society is the spiritual growth thousands of patrons. Over 7,168

of its members, which allows

individuals were assisted with

us to more fully reflect God’s

over $86,090 in assistance of

love to all the neighbors we

clothing and household goods.

encounter; our ultimate call is growing community.

» Our annual coat drive equipped 2,380 men, women and children with warm necessities.

2101 & Leavenworth 5037 S. 24th St.

807 Tara Plaza- Papillion 5505 N. 90th St., next to Baker’s Spread the needs of the community.

Follow facebook.com/svdpomaha

P.O. Box 241201 Omaha NE 68124-5201 402.779.8499 svdpomaha.com Executive Director: Marty Smith SEPTEMBER 2020

// 65 //

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum exists to preserve the history of Strategic Air Command, the Cold War and aerospace artifacts and inspire learning through imaginative, innovative, and inspirational programs and exhibits.

Donations to support the following Museum projects: » Winter Camp Scholarships » Replacing Atrium Glass » Artifact Restoration » Entrance Sign » General Operating Fund

UPCOMING EVENTS Monster Mash Trunk or Treat Sat. October 31, 2020 10:00am to 2:00pm Santa Goes To Space Sat. December 05, 2020 10:00am to 2:00pm

BACKGROUND The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum, located between Lincoln and Omaha near Interstate 80, utilizes over 300,000 square feet of exhibit, education, and event space to educate, inspire, and entertain its guests, who come from Nebraska, across the country, and around the world. The museum first opened in 1959 with the mission to commemorate the aircraft of the Strategic Air Command. The museum became well-known by giving the public the opportunity to visit an impressive array of aircraft that helped SAC preserve the peace during the Cold War. In a natural extension of the Omaha community’s civic pride and longstanding support for Offutt Air Force Base, community leaders began a

// 66 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

campaign to develop a new state-ofthe-art facility that would not only house SAC aircraft and artifacts, but also provide a venue for the restoration of aircraft, preservation and display of historical artifacts, and the education of future generations in the areas of history, technology, and science. The museum moved to its current location in 1998 upon completion of an impressive new indoor facility.

The SAC story, however, is about far more than the conflict that simmered between the US and the Soviet Union between the end of World War II and the dissolution of the Soviet regime.

The SAC story is also about scientific exploration, technological innovation, and a genuine commitment to the rigorous education and training of Americans to preserve our nation’s security and enhance its prosperity.

In this regard, the museum is

recommitting itself to building on the significant scientific and technological contributions of those Americans who served in SAC or supported its mission. As part of this commitment to education, the museum has recently established a partnership with the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Office of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Education to provide cutting-edge educational opportunities for students, teachers, families, and adult learners.

Temporary exhibits, permanent exhibits, and a variety of special events will provide additional unique experiences for the museum’s members and visitors.

The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The museum does not receive direct government funding and relies on the generosity of civic minded individuals and corporations to support its programs.

STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND & AEROSPACE MUSEUM 28210 West Park Highway, Ashland, NE 68003 402.944.3100 sacmuseum.org

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

Together’s mission is to prevent and end homelessness in the Omaha community. This is done through strategic partnerships and collaborations. Together envisions a community of prosperity where everyone experiences safe, affordable housing, food security, health, and wellness.

» Monetary donations » Corporate partnerships » Non-perishable food items » Trash cans » Dishes » Can openers » 5 gal buckets / cleaning supplies » Dish towels » Tea towels » Brooms w/dustpans » Mops » Sheets, Full/Queen size » Gas cards » Walmart gift cards » HyVee gift cards » Laundry cards » Toilet brushes » Blankets » Vacuum

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Together was founded following a

From March 2020 to the

Donations, corporate sponsorship,

devastating tornado that happened

beginning of August 2020, the

and volunteering time are always

in the Omaha area in 1975.

Choice Food Pantry served 67,932

appreciated and doing so helps to

Seven faith organizations came

people. This is compared to 42,000 support the thousands of individu-

together to create a centralized

in all of 2019. As of August 2020,

als and families that Together serves

area for people to help one

the Crisis Engagement/Prevention

each year. Together welcomes do-

another with food, shelter, and

team fielded 1,646 phone calls

nations for the Horizons Program

clothing. Together is now in its

that resulted in 1,038 households

that supports Rapid Rehousing

45th year of helping households

prevented from becoming homeless and Crisis Engagement/Prevention

in the community with financial

(due to the COVID-19 pandemic). of homelessness. Donations for

assistance, case management,

This financial assistance was for a

support for the Nourish Program

navigation and referral support,

total of $370,616. In comparison,

provide nutritious food, education,

and nutritious food. Together

Together Crisis Engagement

and SNAP/WIC outreach support.

focuses on hope, dignity,

helped 1,365 households in all of

There are opportunities for volun-

compassion, excellence, and

2019 for $127,000.

teering through the community

diversity when helping households.

garden, Choice Food Pantry, and delivering food pantries.

UPCOMING EVENTS Coming Together Virtual, during the week of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Nov. 15 - 22, 2020

TOGETHER 812 S. 24th St. Omaha, NE 68108 402.345.8047 togetheromaha.org SEPTEMBER 2020

// 67 //

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

The mission of Whispering Roots is to use innovative next-generation agricultural practices to provide nutritious food, hands-on learning, and career pathways that cultivate healthy communities.

» Monetary donations to purchase supplies for student engagement » Monetary donations to purchase supplies, materials and fuel for emergency food deliveries » Cold Storage for Emergency Food » Volunteers » Corporate Partners » Gift Cards to Home Depot, Lowes and Menards

UPCOMING EVENTS Weekly Emergency Food Deliveries Online Student Remote Learning Classes Online Community Culinary and Nutrition Classes

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

With a focus on growing food, minds

The work that Whispering Roots

Donating to Whispering Roots

and communities, Whispering Roots

completes in Omaha has touched

means helping to give their clients

was created to address the health,

the lives of children living in

communities a hand up, not a hand

education, and economic disparities

urban and rural communities, on

out. Donors provide a means for

experienced by children and adults

reservations, in different states, and

these clients to learn how to become

living in poverty. Whispering Roots’

has now reached as far as Haiti and

self-sufficient. These patrons are

approach is to use agriculture and

Madagascar. Hundreds of pounds

truly growing food, minds, and

hands-on experiential learning both

of produce have been grown in

communities.

in the classroom and other settings

schools, thousands of pounds of

to help break the never-ending cycle.

fish have been consumed, and an

They are firm believers that solid roots

organization record of 70,000 baby

form the foundation of any strong

Tilapia are happily swimming in

plant or any strong community.

Whispering Roots’ hatchery site.

Even their kindergarten young farmers were able to complete a full seed-to-table meal cycle in their classroom next generation growing system.

// 68 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

WHISPERING ROOTS 4104 S. 90th St. Omaha , NE 68127 402-614-9492 whisperingroots.org

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

Assisting victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and stalking and their children to achieve safety and empowering them to lead self-determined lives.

» Reusable Bags » Gas Gift Cards » Grocery Gift Cards » Shampoo » Conditioner » Body Wash » Shaving Products » Tampons » Pads » Socks (new) » Underwear (new) » Diapers » Toothbrushes » Toothpaste » Toilet Paper » Monetary Donations » Pre-paid Cellphones and phone cards

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

UPCOMING EVENTS

Since 1893 the WCA, previously

For more than a century, the WCA

No one should have to walk alone.

known as the YWCA, is and

has led Omaha in serving critical

The WCA needs support so they can

will continue to be a premier

needs of domestic violence and

continue to assure that victims have

Domestic Violence Awareness Month October 2020

organization in the Omaha area

sexual assault victims.

everything they need to create a safe

advocating for victims of domestic

» Last year the WCA served over

and strong life for themselves and

violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and stalking. Our free,

38,500 clients and nearly 4,800

their families. 1 in 3 women and 1

were new individual clients.

in 7 men have experienced domestic

» The WCA 24/7 crisis hotline

violence, sexual assault or stalking

clients’ immediate safety needs and

(402.345.7273) totaled over

at some point in their life. It can

help them grow into independence

9,000 phone calls in 2019.

happen to anyone, including you.

high-quality services address our

over time. The WCA assures that no victim will ever walk alone in his or her journey. The WCA also provides

» On average the WCA interacts with about 150 people per day. » WCA services are free and

education for the community at

available to anyone who

large, to raise awareness about issues

needs them.

of power and control, to strengthen support for victims, and to make the Omaha metro a safer place for all.

Tribute to Women November 2020

The goal is for everyone in Omaha to know about the WCA before they need its services, not afterwards.

WOMEN’S CENTER FOR ADVANCEMENT 3801 Harney Street Omaha, NE 68131 402.345.6555 24/7 hotline: 402.345.7273 wcaomaha.org SEPTEMBER 2020

// 69 //

MISSION STATEMENT

UPCOMING EVENTS

The YMCA of Greater Omaha builds healthy minds, bodies, and spirits for all by providing affordable access to health and wellness services and programs, while strengthening the foundations of community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

The YMCA of Greater Omaha relies on membership dues and donations to accomplish its mission, and encourages all interested parties to visit the Y’s website for a complete list of upcoming events, including virtual auctions that help support each branch facility and the services they provide to the community.

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

The YMCA of Greater Omaha’s

This past year, thanks to members,

This past year, in partnership with

cause is to strengthen the

donors and grant funders, the Y

Omaha Public Schools, and in close

foundation of community.

generated and distributed more than

alignment with the Y’s mission

Every day, the Y works alongside

$2.1 million in financial assistance,

to provide access to a healthier

community members to ensure

ensuring everyone has access to health

lifestyle, the YMCA of Greater

that everyone, regardless of age,

and wellness programs, regardless

Omaha launched the Fresh Produce

income or background, has the

of means. 25,000 kids participated

Project, distributing free fresh fruits

opportunity to participate in

in youth sports; nearly 10,000 kids

& vegetables to Omaha families in

services and programs that help

learned swim safety instruction; and

need. In addition, the Y acted on

them learn, grow and thrive. The Y

summer camp participants enjoyed

valuable hand sanitizer shortages in

believes that lasting social change

safe and educational recreation

the COVID shutdown, distributing

can only happen when people work

opportunities. The YMCA of Greater

2,100 gallons of donated hand

together to invest in the health and

Omaha offers its 65,000 members

sanitizer to child care and summer

wellness of their kids, neighbors,

10 branch locations across Eastern

camp facilities in need.

and community. The Y is for a

Nebraska and Western Iowa.

Better Us.

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SEPTEMBER 2020

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA 430 S 20th St, Omaha, NE 68102 402.977.4300 metroymca.org

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

To serve youth experiencing homelessness and near-homelessness by providing critically needed resources that empower them to become self-sufficient.

» Gifts of money » Clothing—all donations of socks and underwear must be new » Home goods » Hygiene products— full size preferred » Cleaning supplies » Prepackaged food, snacks, and drinks » Meals for Street Outreach Center » Bus passes— 1 ride with transfer » Learn more at our Amazon Wish List

UPCOMING EVENTS Giving Tuesday Dec. 1, 2020 (virtual) Omaha Gives!

May 19, 2021 (virtual) Dance for a Chance Aug. 5, 2021

BACKGROUND

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Youth Emergency Services was

In 2019, YES served more than

Youth Emergency Services is always

founded in 1974 by a group of

3,000 youth through its many

in need of financial donations

community volunteers who noticed

programs, including Street

to help fund their multiple

homeless youth hanging around

Outreach, Maternity Group Home,

programs and provide food,

Omaha’s Old Market district.

Transitional Living and Emergency

shelter, and a brighter future for

At first, YES was led strictly by

Shelter. Due to COVID-19 social

youth experiencing homelessness

volunteers who invited youth in

distancing guidelines, they have

and near-homelessness in our

crisis to stay in their homes. One

seen an increase in youth in need,

community. In addition to gifts of

morning, a volunteer woke to her

and found new ways to continue

money, gift cards and bus passes,

kitchen cabinets being painted

to serve those youth, most notably

people can support YES by buying

green, and the volunteers decided

setting up a mobile pantry service.

tickets for, and becoming sponsors

it was time to invest in a home,

YES can always use more meals and

of, YES’ numerous events as well as

which became known as the YES

other items for youth who regularly

making donations to Tip Top Thrift

house. Today, YES serves thousands

visit the Street Outreach Program.

Shop in Benson. Please contact

of youth experiencing homelessness

Director of Development Barb

and near-homelessness in our

Farho at bfarho@yesomaha.org for

community each year through a

more information.

continuum of services.

YOUTH EMERGENCY SERVICES 2679 Farnam St., Suite 205 Omaha, NE 68131 402.345.5187 yesomaha.org SEPTEMBER 2020

// 71 //

MISSION STATEMENT

MISSION STATEMENT

MISSION STATEMENT

Omaha Home for Boys supports and strengthens youth, young adults, and families through services that inspire and equip them to lead independent, productive lives.

Child Saving Institute’s mission is to respond to the cry of a child.

OHB 100 Year Anniversary Celebration

The CUES School System consists of three urban schools: Sacred Heart, All Saints, and Holy Name. CUESsupported schools provide academic excellence, blended learning, and support for students and families beyond the classroom. The CUES Fund raises money through private donations to fully support the schools.

DATE

FEATURED EVENT

September 9, 2021

The Gathering

EVENT DESCRIPTION/THEME

DATE

FEATURED EVENT

OHB is celebrating 100 years of transforming lives and strengthening our community at a luncheon featuring keynote speaker Michael Oher, subject of the movie The Blind Side and NFL Super Bowl Champion.

LOCATION CHI Health Center Omaha

TIME

March 27, 2021

EVENT DESCRIPTION/THEME The Gathering in an annual fundraiser and dinner auction for the CUES School System. Each year, this event is held to raise funds for tuition assistance for all three CUES schools—Sacred Heart, All Saints, and Holy Name.

FEATURED EVENT PurseOnalities

DATE Nov. 5, 2020

EVENT DESCRIPTION/THEME PurseOnalities has become one of the most popular and well-attended events in Omaha. This year marks the first virtual PurseOnalities event featuring guest speaker and adoptive mother Leigh Anne Tuohy. While raising funds to assist children and youth who have been served by Child Saving Institute (CSI), attendees will enjoy a Pretty in Pink themed event with an opportunity to participate in an exclusive silent auction featuring over-the-top designer purse packages. From designer bags to sunglasses and wallets, and everything in between, there is a fabulous find for everyone while supporting a wonderful cause.

11:30 a.m.

LOCATION

TICKET PRICING

CHI Health Center Omaha

Young Professional $75

TIME

Individual $125

5:30 p.m. Cocktails

ATTIRE

7 p.m. Dinner

Online- Please visit childsaving. org for more information or to make reservations today.

TICKET PRICING

TIME

Business casual

CONTACT INFO Lori Bechtold, Chief Development Officer 402.457.7014 giving@ohb.org ohb.org

Individual, $150 Young Professionals, $75

ATTIRE Business Cocktail

CONTACT INFO 2207 Wirt St., Omaha, NE 6811 402.451.5755

LOCATION

11 a.m.

TICKET PRICING $75 and sponsorship opportunities are available

ATTIRE You choose!

CONTACT INFO Child Saving Institute 4545 Dodge St., Omaha, NE 68132 402.553.6000 csiinfo@childsaving.org childsaving.org

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SEPTEMBER 2020

ody Rep to B air Au

MISSION STATEMENT Omaha Public Schools Foundation enriches students’ lives by funding learning experiences that inspire hope, open doors and help students to achieve their dreams.

BACKGROUND

THANK YOU

FOR VOTING US 1ST PLACE 15 STR AIGHT YEARS!

OPSF administers before- and afterschool child care programs in 42 OPS elementary schools, provides parentpaid Early Childhood Classrooms in select OPS elementary schools, and administers funding for teacher grants and student scholarships.

BRAG LINES OPSF works to support the OPS educators. OPSF funded 4,200 face shields for classroom staff in partnership with the OEA; awarded $450,000 in scholarships to OPS high school seniors; and continues to administer fundraisers, connecting educators with donors.

PAY IT FORWARD

SETTING A STANDARD IN COLLISION REPAIR 402.558.3500 Corner of 50th & South Saddlecreek

402-502-8757 Southwest Corner of 144th & Industrial Rd

402.502.5511 Southwest corner of 120th & Maple

402.933.9400 Corner of Washington & Lincoln, Papillion

MECHANICAL REPAIR 402.991.2848 / Southwest Corner of 120th & Maple

“We’d Rather Be The Best Than Apologize for Anything Less.”

“Need an estimate? Visit dingmans.com for a contactless online photo estimate.”

Through secure website donation forms, donors can contribute to memorials, scholarships, classroom grants, and student programs. Donations can be made directly by contacting executive director Toba Cohen-Dunning. Follow OPSF on Facebook and Twitter to learn about opportunities to give.

WISH LIST Funding for Programs such as:

» Burke Stadium Renovation » South High Visual and Performing Arts Addition » Kids Club, before and after school childcare » Early Childhood Education programs

Grants and Scholarships for » » » » »

Student lunch assistance Teacher classroom grants Student scholarships Educator professional development Honors and memorials

Thank You For Your Confidence and Voting us Best Hair Salon again in 2020.

Voted #1 Since 1992 Hair Salon

UPCOMING EVENTS vinNEBRASKA April 16-17, 2021

CONTACT INFO 3861 Farnam St. Omaha, NE 68131 402.502.3032 opsfpossible.org

12025 Pacific Street Omaha, Nebraska 68154 Phone (402) 330-5660 . Fax (402) 330-5662 creativehairdesign.com

SEPTEMBER 2020

// 73 //

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// 75 //

From left: Zach Schafer and Zak Courtney

FEATURE // STORY BY KATRINA MARKEL

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN || DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

s g n i r t S o N ttached A THE HEALING POWER OF MUSIC AND STORIES

I

t’s not typical that a college student announces to his roommate, “Zak, it looks like we’re starting a nonprofit,” but that’s how Zak Courtney describes the advent of Band of the Strong.

Courtney and his friend Zach Schafer were seniors at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2016 when they cofounded the charity. The men both experienced loss and trauma at young ages and understood firsthand how isolating that can be, especially for children and teenagers.

Schafer, whose father died when he was 8 years old, was playing guitar one day when he started thinking about ways to make the instrument easier for kids to play. He searched ‘cigar box guitars for kids with cancer’ online and discovered Rulon International, Inc., a wood and acoustical ceiling manufacturer that was making the simple instruments out of spare materials. Even more surprising to Schafer, Rulon was willing to donate the guitars.

“It’s just a little box guitar with two or three strings,” Schafer said. “Really easy to play for a kid.”

Schafer and Courtney sought help from the entrepreneurship and legal clinics at UNL and quickly established Band of the Strong as a nonprofit entity. Initially, they hosted a workshop with the Munroe-Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

The two friends realized they had tapped into something powerful when a young man with profound special needs danced, sang, and responded to their workshop.

77

// FEATURE //

“W

e just wanted to go and give kids an experience,” Schafer said. “We just knew that music was this thing that could help people.”

“Music is a universal language and it’s not cryptic,” Courtney said.

At first the young men said they were “just winging it,” but eventually they developed a curriculum and partnerships with other organizations.

Anica Marcum is the operations coordinator for Grief ’s Journey, an Omahabased nonprofit that partners with Band of the Strong. Courtney and Schafer conduct workshops for Camp Hope, a weekend camp run by Grief ’s Journey for teenagers who have suffered a loss.

Marcum said that Band of the Strong is consistently a favorite part of the weekend for the teens. She believes they have a unique way of connecting with the kids.

“I have personally been super blessed to get to work with them and watch their creativeness flow,” Marcum said. “They’re just very unique and they’re kind and they care. You think when you work with them that they’ve been doing this forever, and they haven’t.”

Courtney, who now runs a business with his father, survived a sexual assault as a teenager. Schafer, an educator, lost a parent. Children who have experienced serious loss or trauma often find it difficult to relate to peers.

“We’re connecting with them because we’re walking our individual grief paths at a different point in our lives,” Courtney said. “We’re not trying to come across as educators, we’re just trying to come across as people.”

“All these teens have been through such traumatic things at such young ages,” Marcum said. She pointed out that meeting two young adults who are honest and open is inspirational for the teens who attend Camp Hope, “They are so vulnerable about their stories.”

Anthony Saunsoci, who turns 17 Sept. 27 and is a senior at Omaha Central, is one of those teens. He immediately connected with Schafer’s story.

“Sometimes with my friends they would say that they understand what was going on in my situation and they really didn’t,” Anthony said. “[Schafer] lost his dad at the same age as me and I really connected with him through that.”

In another sad coincidence, Anthony’s mom, LaToya Saunsoci, was 8 years old when her mother died. Even with that experience, she said it was a struggle to get Anthony to express his grief. She was worried her son wouldn’t learn how to grieve in a healthy way.

“He would shut down, would not speak about it, he would not engage in any type of conversation about losing his dad,” LaToya said. “I noticed when he would come back from those camps how he was able to speak about his dad more so than he had before,” LaToya said.

When Schafer and Courtney work with teens at Camp Hope, they set up three different stations to facilitate storytelling and creativity. Anthony happens to be serious about playing guitar, but there is no requirement that the campers be musical or interested in playing an instrument. There is a visual art station where the teens are encouraged to paint their cigar box guitars; a writing salon where the kids can put their story down in words; and a music station where campers can share a piece of music by another artist that ref lects their experiences or feelings.

Marcum said that Band of the Strong, from the first time the organization participated in Camp Hope, was “right at the top” of the kids’ favorite activities.

At the end of the workshop the group collaborates on a silly song, and Schafer goes around the room and plays it.

“It always brings the mood back up,” she said. “It’s so neat to watch.”

“We just heard a lot of cool stories. Not every kid is going to be a musician,” Schafer said. He recalled a story about a participant who was in foster care. When her 6-year-old foster brother asked about the cigar box guitar she told him, “You don’t play it, it’s to tell stories.” She found an appropriate way to tell her personal story of not living with her biological family to the 6-year-old. His response was, “I’m really happy that you’re part of our family.”

“You don’t really know what the impact of what you’re doing is until you hear their stories,” Courtney said.

Anthony’s story with Band of the Strong continued beyond camp. Last year, LaToya wanted to buy her son a new, higher-end guitar for Christmas as a reward for helping around the house and with his younger siblings. He was also playing music a lot. She said an upgraded instrument was going to be “really

pricey.” It was happenstance that LaToya was searching for an affordable guitar just as Band of the Strong was thinking of Anthony as a worthy recipient of a new instrument.

“Out of the blue they contacted me through Grief ’s Journey and asked me if they could get Anthony a guitar for Christmas,” LaToya said. “I have never seen my son give a full, complete smile.”

“When they give those instruments to kids in need it’s pretty powerful,” Marcum said.

Band of the Strong occasionally has special funds or donations to use on a deserving student. Anthony was committed to music, one reason they thought of him as a possible recipient. As it turned out, “The stars just kind of aligned,” Schafer said.

“I’m still in shock that they could have done something so generous. And the fact that they understand what these children are going through and they can relate,” LaToya said. “I’m so grateful for them.”

Schafer and Courtney are modest about their talents. The two friends describe their work in terms of sharing stories, engaging with others authentically, and meeting young people wherever they are in their grieving process.

Schafer said, “I think that’s what it means to spread love and kindness.”

There is no question the love and kindness have been appreciated in the Saunsoci family.

Visit bandofthestrong.org for more information.

“OUT OF THE BLUE THEY CONTACTED ME THROUGH GRIEF’S JOURNEY AND ASKED ME IF THEY COULD GET ANTHONY A GUITAR FOR CHRISTMAS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN MY SON GIVE A FULL, COMPLETE, SMILE.” —LaToya Saunsoci

79

F E A T U R E // s t o r y b y K a t r i n a M a r k e l

U STEPPING P Omaha’s Nonprofit Sector Rises to the Occasion Metro area nonprofits scrambled in March as the global crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic began to escalate.

“Omaha Community Foundation up a response fund on March said president and CEO of Donna Kush, who started in position 10 days later.

// 80 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

set 13,” OCF the

Donna Kush

photography by Bill Sitzmann design by matt wieczorek SEPTEMBER 2020

// 81 //

F E A T U R E // s t e p p i n g

T

up

he sense of urgency mounted and foundations, human service agencies, and organizations providing support to nonprofits rushed to meet community needs.

“The second half of March everybody’s hair was on fire,” said Marjorie Maas, executive director of SHARE Omaha, which provides an online fundraising and in-kind donation tool for local nonprofits.

“This virus not only entered in public health, but it entered in all facets of life,” said Ramon Calzada, executive director of Centro Latino in Council Bluffs.

According to the Food Bank’s national network, Feeding America, two in five people seeking food assistance are doing so for the first time in their lives.

In mid-March, SHARE sent out a survey to its members in an attempt to assess immediate needs.

“I would say the greatest underserved areas, and it is the biggest struggle for us and our partners, would be those who are seniors and those who are disabled, who do not have an ability to go to a brick-and-mortar pantry or mobile pantry to receive food assistance,” Barks said. He added that undocumented immigrants are also among the the most vulnerable.

“It was shocking how much things had changed,” Maas said.

“Everything sounded dire.”

As April arrived, Maas said it was like a “switch flipped on our team” and they went from feeling loss to taking action. She, along with other nonprofit leaders, used the word “ pivot” to describe the sudden adjustments required to meet the moment. Staffs adapted to working from home and Congress passed the CARES Act, which provided small businesses with Paycheck Protection Program loans.

Nonprofits began to marshal resources and collaborate.

“We’ve really had to quickly ramp up relationships in all corners of our business because I have never been a part of something in which the landscape changes so fast and so frequently,” said Brian Barks, president and CEO of Food Bank for the Heartland.

One of the earliest priorities that emerged was the need to address food insecurity.

“Many foundations in the area have been partners with funding the Food Bank because the Food Bank has a regional distribution system,” said Pete Tulipana, president and CEO of Iowa West Foundation.

Barks said that his agency has roughly 600 partners— including pantries, shelters, schools, and after-school programs—to which it distributes supplies.

“We’re estimating that the need that we’ve been seeing is in the ballpark of about a 40 percent increase from what it has been pre-COVID,” Barks said.

Leaders in Council Bluffs are also prioritizing those vulnerable populations. The Iowa West Foundation partnered with Council Bluffs Public Schools and the Pottawattamie County Community Foundation to establish a fund specifically to address needs in Southwest Iowa related to COVID-19. While the foundation does provide grants to Omaha, the decision was made to limit the COVID-19 response to western Iowa.

“In Council Bluffs, the Boys & Girls Club [was] traditionally a source of food for kids who were home in the summer, and they were concerned about some of their population not having access to food, so we gave them a grant to do some distribution of lunch—sandwiches and that kind of thing—everyday,” Tulipana said.

Iowa West is a private organization that receives financial support from gaming in Pottawattamie County. The casino industry is considered to have deep pockets, but took a revenue hit because of closures during quarantine, so the foundation didn’t receive new funds during those closures. The combination of no new financial resources, stock market instability, and an increase in need created unique challenges.

“I think our board was adamant about ‘this is the time for philanthropy to step up and do what we need to do for the community,’” Tulipana said.

He noted that the board of directors has been savvy with investing its corpus (endowment) and they are weathering the storm. Among the early recipients of COVID-19 funds from Iowa West was Centro Latino.

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SEPTEMBER 2020

“We were also concerned about our Latino population, particularly, frankly, the undocumented population is less likely to go to traditional sources and ask for help,” Tulipana said.

The Latino population in Council Bluffs proper has grown from an estimated 4.5% to more than 10% in 20 years.

Similar growth has happened throughout Pottawattamie County. Calzada said that the population can be broken into three basic categories: American citizens and permanent residents—some of whom have been here for multiple generations, people who have work permits (including DACA recipients), and undocumented workers. The latter group caused Calzada the most concern.

“They’re the ones who won’t get the [stimulus] check, don’t get unemployment.

They work [for] cash…construction, they work in landscaping, they work as day laborers,” he said.

Iowa West, The Omaha Community Foundation, The Peter Kiewit Foundation, and the Pottawattamie County Community Foundation partnered with Centro Latino to provide its clients with up to $500 of emergency assistance for necessities such as rent and utility payments.

“It’s our stimulus package, the nonprofit way. We had to create our own stimulus,” Calzada said.

He explained that many families didn’t understand that the moratorium on rent and utilities only deferred payments and that they would still owe the entire amount when it was lifted.

“We realized that we need to centralize how we communicate and how people ask for help,” Calzada said. “We even give them a class about budgeting.”

Other factors also have Calzada worried.

Many immigrants and refugees work in meat-packing plants, which have been hotspots for COVID-19 outbreaks. He points out that packing plant employees perform back-breaking labor, toil in close proximity to one another, and sign up for long hours. New immigrants especially like overtime hours, Calzada explained.

Their health was compromised before the pandemic due the physical demands of the job.

“They’re not unionized, so they don’t have workers’ education,” Calzada said. “That would be one of the things from COVID that I learned, is that we need to do more workers’ education.”

Packing plant employees speak an array of languages. As a result, immigrant advocates were concerned that those groups weren’t aware of necessary public health information, partly because daily briefings from the State of Iowa were given only in English. Calzada said he initially spent too much time translating updates from the state.

“You’re giving me all this stuff in English, what do you want me to do? Translate it? That should come from you. That should be from your budget. This is a public health issue,” Calzada said.

After receiving some pressure, public broadcasters in the state started providing simultaneous Spanish translations of the governor’s updates. The state of Iowa also developed educational resources in several languages.

Tulipana and Calzada, along with other area leaders, mentioned that one silver lining during these extraordinary times is that they’ve seen an increase in cooperation and coordination among nonprofits as well as the city government.

“We’ve really had to quickly ramp up relationships in all corners of our business because I have never been a part of something in which the landscape changes so fast and so frequently.”

-Brian Barks

“One of the things I’m always impressed with, with Council Bluffs, is that we’re a smaller community and Southwest Iowa as a whole organizes and coordinates really well,” Tulipana said.

Anne Hindery, CEO of Nonprofit Association of the Midlands, said her organization is part of the National Council of Nonprofits, and she sees collaboration happening on a national level.

“I’m really seeing the generosity of people sharing their lessons learned so we don’t have to reinvent the wheel, and we can really focus on what we need to focus on,” Hindery said.

She said that NAM is able to provide member organizations with tools for staying afloat thanks to the generosity of counterparts in other states. She mentioned that nonprofits can access guidelines for reopening an office safely that were developed in Oklahoma and attend affordable webinars from counterparts in Washington state and Montana.

NAM developed a crisis toolkit with a consulting partner that is available to members and nonmembers throughout the country.

SEPTEMBER 2020

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F E A T U R E // s t e p p i n g

up

“What that [toolkit] does is, it takes you through six or seven areas—[such as] leadership, strategic visioning—and it puts categories in a timeframe. So you know, ‘OK, this is what I need to deal with in the next three months, this is what can wait until December,’” Hindery said.

Barks had high praise for the way the Food Bank staff met the moment, and for the metro area as a whole.

“I am so proud of our community,” Barks said. “We have been extremely blessed by support from the Omaha philanthropic community and the community at large.

That has allowed us to do what we are able to do to help families that are in crisis right now. When people talk about Midwestern values it sounds so trite. I’m telling ya’, it’s true.”

Kush said that, as of June, the Omaha Community Foundation had raised $1.2 million for its COVID-19 response fund.

“We’ve distributed almost every penny of that one-point-two million. We’re actually in the process of auditing to make sure we spend it down to the last penny,” Kush said.

In May, OCF hosted Omaha Gives—its annual, online, multi-organization fundraiser. They reduced the minimum donation to $1 and extended the timeframe in which participants could donate.

“We made that decision to make giving and engaging with our nonprofits even more accessible to more people. A lot of our nonprofits that participate in Omaha Gives are very small,” Kush said, noting that there were more than 23,000 individual donors compared to the previous high of 18,000 donors.

“Our dollar amount from Omaha Gives was actually the third highest in the eight years we’ve done Omaha Gives,” Kush said. “So we were very, very pleased and humbled, to be honest, that our community really came together that way.”

“I’ve always said that Omaha is a town with big hearts and deep pockets, and I think that’s still true,” Hindery said.

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SEPTEMBER 2020

“I’ve always said that Omaha is a town with big hearts and deep pockets, and I think t h a t ’ s s t i l l t r u e .”

-Anne Hindery Several leaders, including Hindery, expressed concern that, because funding and attention is understandably focused on the most urgent community needs, other nonprofits will suffer, especially those that have been closed to patrons.

Arts organizations aren’t receiving revenue from ticket sales; others depend on fees for services.

Micah House, a shelter in Council Bluffs that provides housing to families and single women, reduced its volunteer opportunities.

Executive director Jaymes Sime said it’s still possible for supporters to organize supply drives for items like hygiene products and new bras and underwear for residents, but the shelter has had to decrease some critical programming that relied on volunteers.

“Consider supporting those organizations that you always have supported,” Maas said. “They still need people that care about their mission to show up for them.”

He said the shelter had to suspend its Trauma-Informed Play program, a type of therapy for the youngest residents in the shelter that relies heavily on volunteers.

Maas also mentioned that cultural institutions such as the Durham Museum and Fontenelle Forest have found ways to pivot during this time.

“We were already seeing a significant portion of our children who were experiencing these developmental delays, specifically those young children, so the fact that we don’t have our Trauma-Informed Play program and some of our traditional programming—we’re still doing the assessments— yet we’re not getting to work with those kids in a meaningful way,” Sime said.

Almost every nonprofit can use cash donations and leaders often say it’s the most efficient way to help, but many are happy to have in-kind donations and volunteer hours. The SHARE Omaha website provides a safe and simple method for donating items on a charity’s wishlist.

As the COVID-19 crisis began to escalate, SHARE Omaha partnered with KETV on its “Giving Wednesday” campaign in April.

Maas said that while they would normally get 300 to 400 volunteer inquiries through their website in a month, they received around 700 inquiries for that month.

Even with social distancing, there are volunteer opportunities around the metro area.

Barks said the Food Bank had to reduce the number of volunteers at any given time from 60 to 30 in order to maintain safety standards, but they have been able to keep their schedule full.

He’s also worried for the school-aged children who come through the shelter. Sime points out that children are resilient if the trauma they experience is short-term, but if it’s prolonged there can be lasting effects.

“That impact is going to be real, but it’s going to be more impactful when you think about the 5-year-old that might be entering school for the first time in the midst of this. It’s going to be a disaster,” Sime said, noting that the demands of distance learning are untenable for much of the population Micah House serves.

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“None of [the school districts] were really considering individual families’ capacity to execute,” Sime said. “We tried our best with my child program specialists at Micah House to support the families, but if you have a single mom with three or four kids and maybe one of them is 3 [years old] and the other three are school-aged—maybe different grades, different schools, different expectations—forget about it. In a shelter that’s not even realistic to expect that.”

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The uncertainty going into the fall is something that weighs on nearly every nonprofit leader. Questions still loom.

What if schools are closed again? Will there be adequate childcare? How are housing and food security affecting people now that the supplemental, federal unemployment funds disappeared?

“My concern is what happens when that money runs out,” Hindery said. “Are we going to see more mergers and acquisitions [of nonprofits]? We saw closures and mergers and acquisitions during the Great Recession.

I think that will happen at this point. This is obviously much more widespread. It’s three crises at one time, not just one. ” Despite the uncertainty ahead, most of the nonprofit leaders expressed hope about the sector’s ability to innovate. Doing more with less is part of the job.

Kush said that the success of Omaha Gives demonstrated that the community shared a sense of urgency and, so far at least, the philanthropic community has recognized that it needs to step up even if stock market returns are down.

“I think a lot of people, too, are thinking that the markets will rebound even if they haven’t completely yet,” Kush said. “But they see this as this extraordinary, unprecedented time. That they really need to step up and take part because the community needs it.”

Regardless of the dollar amount, metro area nonprofits need donations of time, talent, and treasure more than ever. It’s time for Omaha to dig deep because it may literally save lives.

Visit omahafoundation.com, shareomaha.org, foodbankheartland.org, and iowawestfoundation.org for more information.

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“ I S E E M Y S E L F A LWAY S D O I N G S O M E K I N D O F VOLUNTEER WORK WITH ANIMALS. IT GIVES ME A C H A N C E T O G E T AWAY F R O M I T A L L , A N D A L S O G I V E B A C K T O T H E C O M M U N I T Y. ” - J A C K S O N H E L L E R // 86 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

G E N O / / S T O R Y B Y J E N N A G A B R I A L G A L L A G H E R / / P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y B I L L S I T Z M A N N / / D E S I G N B Y M AT T W I E C Z O R E K

AWARD-WINNING SERVICE AND SANCTUARY M o u n t M i c h a e l S e n i o r Honored for Scatter Joy Acres Volunteerism

T

his past May, Tim Heller planned to pick up his son Jackson’s belongings from school by himself, and was a bit surprised when head of Mount Michael Benedictine High School David Peters, Ed.D., casually requested Jackson come along.

What shocked them was receiving a letter signed with an illegible scrawl bearing a gold seal and the words “The White House.”

The younger Heller, a senior at Mount Michael, was awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Points of Light Award, which honors individuals who have given more than 100 hours of service that positively impacts communities and inspires others to serve. Heller was given this in conjunction with the Prudential Spirit of Community Certificate of Excellence, which recognizes youth volunteers (grades 5-12) in each state. Prudential recognizes 450 students nationwide with this certificate.

“It was a total surprise,” Tim said. “We submitted the applications last fall and never heard anything back.”

The Hellers were not the only people surprised by this.

“I’ve been here nine years, and I can’t remember another kid in that time who’s gotten [a Prudential Award],” Peters said. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mount Michael, like most schools, was not able to hold a recognition ceremony to honor their students’ achievements at the end of the 2019-2020 school year, so Heller’s awards were not met with the fanfare they traditionally merit.

Heller, who was referred to as “humble” by Peters, accepted the certificate and then continued the service he performed to qualify for the certificate—volunteering at Scatter Joy Acres, a nonprofit ranch for homeless animals.

“Fun fact about camels,” noted Heller, who has volunteered at Scatter Joy since age 13.

“They enjoy Cheetos and Gatorade.”

It’s one of the things Heller likes to tell people when he helps escort Zebediah, the ranch’s dromedary camel, around Omaha for ambassador visits—or Hump Day Walkabouts, as they’re called at Scatter Joy Acres.

It’s the inspiring others part that resonates the most with Heller. “Jackson has always been very helpful to his teachers and other students,” Peters said, adding that Heller embodies the Benedictine commitment to serving others. “We expect our students to do a certain amount of service each year, but Jackson is one of our many students who go above and beyond. He’s a kid who thinks of others.”

On the ranch, one of Heller’s favorite responsibilities is taking Scatter Joy’s younger visitors for tractor rides around the property and telling them about the animals that live there. In fact, his niece and nephew have already caught the volunteering spirit from him. “They love it out here. The older ones like to help out with the goats and puppies.”

The ranch has been the site of a lot of generational bonding for the Heller family. The camel barn was named in honor of Jackson’s grandmother, who had a special affection for the humped animals, and Tim acts as the ranch’s PR director and is often onsite, helping to educate people about the animals and the farm. Father and son even have a pet name for one of Scatter Joy’s more unusual species, the bashful, herbivorous Patagonian mara. “We call it the ROUS, because it looks like a Rodent of Unusual Size from the movie The Princess Bride,” Jackson said.

second home there. “It’s a place of rescue for the animals, but also a place where volunteers can find peace,” said Bartling, who grew up on a farm and often sought solace among animals herself. “There’s always plenty to do here and I can’t be everywhere, so I delegate jobs to the volunteers who can do them as well as I can. People take that to heart and it’s empowering for them.”

As a high school student, Heller has certainly faced some resilience-testing life events: first the 2019 floods that had a serious impact on the Mount Michael community; then the current COVID19 pandemic that resulted in prolonged school closures last spring and uncertainty about this academic year. As Peters pointed out, “After March, we just never got back together for the school year. We weren’t even able to hold graduation until July,” Peters explained.

Regardless of so many things changing, Heller’s commitment to Scatter Joy Acres, four hours a day, three days a week, has been a constant. Although he’s switched his future career goal from wildlife zoologist to criminal justice lawyer—and has many other interests including playing piano, performing in plays, and volunteering in local political campaigns—he plans to keep it that way.

“I see myself always doing some kind of volunteer work with animals. It gives me a chance to get away from it all, and also give back to the community,” Heller said, adding, “It makes me feel hopeful.”

Visit mountmichael .com and scatterjoyacres.org for more information.

Joy Bartling, who founded Scatter Joy Acres 14 years ago (the ranch moved to its current location in 2014), said it’s not unusual for teens and volunteers of all ages to find a

SEPTEMBER 2020

// 87 //

PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTED BY THE DURHAM // DESIGN

BY MATT WIECZOREK

= Women's Suffrage Empowered Voters, Defended Democracy // 88 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

OUT OF

HISTORY // story by Kara Schweiss

I

t has been a century since Aug. 18, 1920, when the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified

by Tennessee, guaranteeing women the right to vote.

The Omaha area had support for suffrage before Nebraska became a state. Notable suffragist Amelia Jenks Bloomer lived in Council Bluffs from 1855 until her death in 1894 (she is buried in Fairview Cemetery) and spoke in favor of suffrage at the Douglas House hotel in Omaha on July 4, 1855. Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton first came to speak on behalf of suffrage in 1867, and spoke in the area several more times afterwards. The National Woman Suffrage Association and the American Woman Suffrage Association held conventions in Omaha in 1882.

Nebraska became the 15th state to ratify the 19th Amendment in July 1919. The League of Women Voters was founded by Carrie Chapman Catt on Feb. 14, 1920, under the expectation of imminent passage of the 19th Amendment. The new organization was born from the membership of the National American Woman Suffrage Association with an objective to support women’s new voting rights and advocate for their involvement in the political system. A Nebraska chapter soon afterwards formed from the Nebraska Women’s Suffrage Association during its final convention (June 13-15, 1920) at the Blackstone Hotel in Omaha. National LWV chairman Maude Wood Park, and most of the board, who were traveling between political conventions, attended this conference.

=

The Omaha league was officially created on Aug. 16, 1920, after a council meeting of the new Nebraska LWV. The first chairwoman was Mrs. Charles J. Hubbard, as she was named in historical documents according to the custom of the time; her first name is lost to history.

One hundred years later, at a time when all women who are U.S. citizens have grown up with the right to vote, LW V continues to be relevant with a simple mission: “Empowering voters.

Defending democracy.”

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LWV has more than half a million members in chapters in all 50 states and approximately 700 communities, including around 450 in Nebraska and 280 in the greater Omaha area.

“We’ve stood the test of time,” said Krystal Fox, copresident of LWV of Greater Omaha. “I think you can see the need for a focused organization that is nonpartisan and really just cares about the bigger picture of democracy. It’s very important, especially now when everybody is taking sides.”

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Vice president MaryLee Moulton agreed. “‘Defending democracy,’ generally—for us—has always been making sure they don’t have restrictive voter laws and things like that. But ‘defending democracy’ has taken on a whole new context for us [lately] because democracy is truly under attack.

We really have to be out there defending the democratic system of government and how democracy works and getting the facts out there, because there is a lot of misinformation. That’s one of the things the league really stands for as a nonpartisan organization; we have so much kind of gravitas in this area, we really hope that we can build a bridge with education.”

Locally, the LWV of Greater Omaha focuses on activities such as voter registration, hosting candidate forums and educational presentations, and publishing nonpartisan voter guides near election times.

LWV does not support or oppose political candidates, appointed or elected officeholders, or political parties at any level of government. However, through lobbying and other activism, LWV does support public policy positions in areas like criminal justice, education, human rights, health care, immigration, juvenile justice, sex trafficking, and natural resources.

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“Even though the league is nonpartisan, we’re still political, because we do have carefully developed policy positions,” Moulton said. “We study issues on the state, local, and national level and we vote on policy issues.”

BEST OF OMAHA WINNER FOR 17 YEARS LWV has around 450 members in Nebraska and 280 in the greater Omaha area. Men have been able to join since 1973, and membership can begin as young as 16 with full organization voting rights at 18.

“Most volunteers come to us because they want to help with voter registration,” Fox said, adding that individuals can support the volunteer-driven organization through a variety of ways.

Fox emphasized that an intense time commitment is not necessary to be involved with LWV. “We have so many different levels…Enter and exit at will, always stay connected.”

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Fox and Moulton said LWV works to overcome a longstanding stereotype of a homogenous membership of older, Caucasian, affluent homemakers—an image that doesn’t reflect the organization’s current makeup.

“We’re not your grandmother’s League of Women Voters,” Moulton said.

“That [traditional] voice is still appreciated and valued but we also want to add additional voices,” Fox said. “All voices are valued…We’re really trying to focus on and improve our diversity…women and men as well can come from any walk of life and really coalesce around an idea that equalizes and tries to raise all voices.”

Moulton said LWV makes a special effort to reach youth, people of color, people of limited economic means, and anyone who may have barriers to registering or voting.

“Our target really is the underrepresented,” she said.

Fox said the organization’s evolution over time includes adding more channels like lwvnebraska.org, lwvgo.org (greater Omaha) and social media to reach more citizens. VOTE411.org launched in 2006 as a comprehensive election resource.

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“The league is always willing to look around and say, what’s best for democracy?” Fox said.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

SEPTEMBER 2020

// 92 //

STORY BY CHRIS HATCH // SPORTS

A SIGN TO HELP OTHERS THE KEYS FOUNDATION RUNS THE GIVE AND GO FOR OMAHA YOUTH

HISTORY HAS A WAY OF REPEATING ITSELF.

Except when someone doesn’t let it, such as when that old, dusty, chalkboard cliché gets wiped clean and suddenly someone new is at the head of the class; or when that carnival tilt-a-whirl of cyclical sameness shuts down because someone raised their hand and dared to author a new page.

Marquis “Keys” Haynes has never been one to bow to the status quo—she doesn’t believe in heedlessly doing things the way they’ve always been done.

When Haynes was just a girl playing street ball at her aunt’s house, during games where fouls were only called when blood was spilled—that dark red badge of honor splattering somewhere around the cracked free-throw lines on the outdoor court—she learned that sometimes rules currently in existence don’t mean a hell of a lot in the real world.

“Growing up we didn’t have the funds for me to participate in organized basketball clubs, so I could only participate with a team for a little bit, before I would have to eventually quit,” Haynes said. “So I played a lot of street ball, I played with all the boys. I fell so in love with basketball that it literally became my therapy, my peace.”

When she was finally able to make the transition from driveway to hardwood, her game began to take off.

“I didn’t play consistent organized basketball until I got to the seventh grade, when it was provided by the school. I was really behind because all I did was watch, and I played basketball outside where there weren’t many rules.”

As her game progressed, she started to study the ins and outs of basketball.

She would read it. Breathe it. Absorb it through the osmosis of constant saturation. She watched NBA games and came to idolize Allen “The Answer” Iverson, mentally hitting CTRL C any time he played b-ball on TV, so that she could one day hit CTRL V. She still needed help, and she knew it.

That’s when she learned exactly what can happen when all that raw passion, that rocket fuel of youthful enthusiasm, is channeled by a pilot who knows how to get the ship off the ground.

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SEPTEMBER 2020

“As I got to high school, I noticed I still was behind,” Haynes said. “However, I had an assistant coach that saw my potential named Coach Dell Gines. He worked with me before and after practices. I was truly grateful for him. I noticed my true potential when I played my junior year and saw how much my performance improved. I think that’s when the lightbulb went on for me and it truly made me want to grind even harder.”

The Omaha North grad excelled enough to be offered a scholarship to play in college, and she realized that this invaluable mentorship needed to be passed on.

That’s when she made the most popular play of all true point guards: Haynes started her own give and go.

“When The Keys Foundation started, I envisioned implementing the programs I didn’t have an opportunity to have growing up,” Haynes said. “[A place to find] a mentor, funds to be on a basketball team, or participating in basketball camps/ clinics. My focus was geared towards providing those services, especially to our young ladies and women.”

She started by making sure that the next generation of girls were literally balling out, had a chance to move their games into a place where a gusting Midwest breeze wouldn’t cause an airball and organization would allow talent to flourish.

“When we started it was just the Women’s Basketball League,” Haynes said. “I always wanted to provide that service for the women that still played basketball, whether it’s for fun or for competitive play. Since the sixth grade, I’ve always been the one that spoke out for equality when it came to women’s sports. I never

liked how we were placed on the back burner when it came to men’s and boys’ sports. The very first session we had nine teams sign up. It was amazing.”

Haynes suddenly found herself, and her foundation, running a three-woman weave, quickly, accurately passing between all the different options it was providing—a clinic, a basketball league, a girls basketball team, and a mentorship program focused on helping young women with their self esteem.

The Keys Foundation started on the court but, much like its founder, has continued to evolve.

“It really is about reaching out and helping those girls that look like us,” said Chequetta Jackson, vice president of the Confidently Me Mentorship program.

“Maybe they don’t have a mentor, and we really wanted to be intentional and purposeful. So, we started thinking about our experience with the girls we coached and what’s the number one thing we see young women struggle with?…Confidence. We need a program that really hones in on that.”

FROM THERE, THREE MENTORS AND 14 GIRLS STARTED A JOURNEY TOGETHER, RECENTLY FINISHING THE PILOT YEAR OF THE PROGRAM. “Some of their behavior [was amazing] from the beginning of the program, where a girl that never talked would end up getting in front of the group and make a speech, and had progressed so far, could make eye contact and could talk about her journey and present and talk about herself confidently,” Jackson said.

Ball is life for Haynes, and life is a ball.

From the metal-net street balling days of yelling “and one!” when fouled and watching the And 1 Mixtape, to the front lines of the battle for self-confidence, one thing is clear: When she shoots her shot?

She’s not going to miss.

Visit thekeysfoundation.com for more information.

SPORTS

HAYNES SUDDENLY FOUND HERSELF, AND HER FOUNDATION, RUNNING A THREEWOMAN WEAVE WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS IT WAS PROVIDING SEPTEMBER 2020

// 95 //

PROFILE // STORY BY SEAN ROBINSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

from the

P f l a H ipe Warrior >to full social>

, Mike Smith s Wild Ride

A s k at e b oa r d i n g h,o t d o g i s something most don t see every d ay —o r e v e r , f o r t, h at m at t e r .

M i ke S m i t h i s n t m o s t.

SEPTEMBER

// 97 //

2020

// PROFILE //

A

M I D A S E A O F O T H E R TAT T O O S A C R O S S H I S B O D Y, T H I S W H E E L I N G W E E N I E L I V E S O N H I S T H I G H A N D H A S Q U I T E T H E B A C K S T O R Y. S M I T H , F O U N D E R O F T H E N O N P R O F I T P R O G R A M S K AT E F O R C H A N G E , J O I N E D F O R C E S W I T H J . R .

G A L A R D I O F N AT I O N A L H O T D O G C O M PA N Y W I E N E R S C H N I T Z E L O N A M O N T H LONG RV FUNDRAISING TOUR FOR HOT DOGS FOR HOMELESS IN 2015, WITH A G O A L O F R A I S I N G $ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 . T H AT G O A L W A S M E T B Y M O R E T H A N D O U B L E , A N D T O C E L E B R AT E , T H E T O N Y H AW K O F F R A N K F U R T E R S W A S P E R M A N E N T LY INKED ON SMITH’S LEG.

The fact that they exceeded the goal was no surprise to Andrew Norman, Smith’s co-founder and co-executive director at Rabble Mill, the umbrella organization for Skate for Change.

“People who hear about [Skate for Change] from Mike understand that the core motivation for these programs is to help people,” Norman said. “I think the fact that he has spoken to more high school kids than just about anyone else also helps. He just has the ability to get the word out, and really get it to all corners of the country.”

Smith’s name may be generic enough to yield a quarter billion Google results, but there’s no other Mike Smith quite like this one, even without that tattoo. As the founder of Skate for Change, an international nonprofit that empowers skateboarders to support the homeless, he’s giving back by rolling forward—and hoping to take as many with him for the ride as he can.

“I feel like I personally sacrificed everything I can for this cause, and I still have a long way to go as a leader and as a human,” Smith said.

“I’ve worked hard like I never thought possible, but there’s a whole community behind this who could say the same thing.”

That now-global community all started with a skateboard and a backpack. In 2011, Smith, then a 25-year-old social worker, would roll through downtown Lincoln to street corners and under bridges to give homeless people supplies such as hygiene kits, water, food, and socks. Kids saw him and wanted to join.

“It was never a, ‘Hey! Let’s start a nonprofit’ sort of thing. It just grew organically,” Smith said. Within a year of starting, a participant in Lincoln moved to Kansas City and started his own chapter. A Seattle chapter began soon afterwards. A chapter started in Germany after Smith spoke to an Omaha school at which an exchange student who was also a skater was present. The student later started a German chapter.

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SEPTEMBER 2020

“Our teams were so synergized it was a true one-plus-one-equals-three situation,” Smith said. “Together, our programs create a more connected community through skateboarding, music, and art.”

Today, more than 3,000 individuals—or “misfits” as Smith lovingly calls them—across 117 cities and 11 countries have participated in Skate for Change. These individual networks are managed by appointed “city leaders,” young skateboarders who coordinate their local efforts through Skate for Change director Alex Ruybalid.

Of course, for someone who confesses to drinking an “insane amount” of coffee each day, Smith’s to-do list still isn’t long enough.

So, he also wrote a book titled Legacy vs.

Likes, hosts an interview-style video series with guests like famed skateboarder Ryan Sheckler, and speaks across the world about the importance of living a purposeful life.

“Mike’s goal is pretty clear. He wants to provide the initial step for young people, or anyone really, who wants to give back,” Ruybalid said.

Between sips of coffee and a busy schedule, Smith still finds time to complete stunts that raise funds for his programs. He’s skateboarded across the state of Nebraska three times and slept under a bridge for 27 days.

“What excites me is an opportunity for kids to do something meaningful to them,” Norman said. “It’s so simple. Look at your community, identify problems in your community, and find a plan of attack to solve them. It encourages kids to hop on their skateboards and go do something.”

A year prior to the start of Skate for Change, Smith also founded The Bay in 2010. First located in a mall and now a 30,000-squarefoot warehouse, The Bay is an indoor skatepark and youth outreach center in Lincoln.

Music, art, and coffee are as prevalent there as kids attempting their first wheelies and ollies.

Smith calls it a healthy blend of social work and after-school programming, but its impact goes far beyond that.

The Bay knows no bounds. It acts as a distribution site for the Food Bank of Lincoln, welcomes other nonprofits there to hold events, and has hosted more than 3,000 hours of safe space to the Lincoln community.

“Kids need somewhere to go, something to do, and people who care,” Smith said. “When you can do those three things well, you really inspire and teach important life lessons. I’m so driven to create this army of kids with awesome skills, upward mobility, and talent.”

Serving as founder of two major nonprofits kept Smith busy enough, but in 2018, he joined Norman as the co-founder and co-executive director of Rabble Mill. This serves as the umbrella organization of The Bay and Hear Nebraska, along with Skate for Change.

“Mike just lives and breathes what he believes,” Ruybalid said.

Not even a global pandemic or civil unrest slows his roll. To minimize in-person contact during the COVID-19 pandemic, Skate for Change asked volunteers to assemble virus defense kits and leave them on corners populated by those experiencing homelessness. Meanwhile, The Bay has transitioned to temporary virtual programming.

“We want to continue to innovate, grow deep, and elevate voices,” Smith said. “We’re asking, ‘how can we use skateboarding for change and to amplify communities?’ It’s about programing for the moment, for what’s important, and for providing equity and inclusivity.”

Spoken like a true rock star of social change.

From growing up in Imperial, a small Nebraska town with more cows than people, his impact is now felt worldwide. But Smith is proof all things are possible when you’re a man with a mission—and a skateboard.

“I’ll always keep fighting for Nebraska kids,” Smith said, “fighting for this next generation to put people first.”

People—and skateboarding hot dogs, of course.

Visit skateforchange.org for more information.

T o d ay , m o r e t h a n 3,000 individuals— or "misfits" as S m i t h l o v i n g ly c a l l s t h e m —ac r o s s 117 cities and 11 c o u n t r i e s h av e p a r t i c i p at e d i n S k at e f o r C h a n g e .

SEPTEMBER 2020

// 99 //

ADVENTURE // STORY BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

V

iewing fields that appear to be bombed and seeing houses with trees that have crashed right onto them is nothing new to Scott Brown. The former Army colonel served a total of 32 years in disaster areas and war zones, including being deployed for 2 1/2 years in Afghanistan.

“You get used to a chaotic experience,” Brown said. “To the extent that I miss some of that about Afghanistan.”

Brown retired in 2012 from Offutt Air Force Base, and within a couple of years, he was traveling—to a river search and rescue where he assisted first responders, and to a fire that ravaged a local business where he delivered drinks and snacks, among other places.

CATERING TO CHAOS SCOTT BROWN TACKLES TREES, IGUANAS, AND MORE Team Rubicon is a group of veterans who have found the sense of purpose and community they knew in the military through disaster recovery. They were helping Habitat for Humanity that day, gutting houses as a training exercise. Brown knew he wanted to join that team, and within a couple of months, he had trained as a “swamper,” hauling away branches from disaster sites.

As a healthy middle-aged man, he could have gone into the civilian work force, made a separate pension, and retired in another 20 years. That isn’t Brown’s philosophy. He leaves the working world up to those in need of a job while toiling as hard, if not harder, than any 9-to-5 worker.

He was destined for bigger things. Brown next trained to become a sawyer felling downed and damaged trees, and as a sawyer, he discovered a way to assist doing a job that he loves. He has taught other volunteers to saw down trees, from Kansas City to Texas, and has helped the team’s state administration.

He first volunteered with the Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services Team, performing the aforementioned jobs along with serving on the Night Watch and helping with other response efforts by driving a canteen truck.

“I like Scott,” said William “Bobby” Smith, Nebraska State Administrator of Team Rubicon. “He’s just a generally good guy.

He doesn’t need attention. He just does it because he wants to. He has a drive to help others in need—plus he likes to use a chainsaw.”

It was while driving the canteen truck that he found a second group of volunteers with whom he could spend his time—and this group shared a common bond of service. He began talking to a group of onsite volunteers he was feeding in Omaha for a Habitat for Humanity event, and he noticed these volunteers were veterans. This intrigued him.

It helped that he knew at least one of the volunteers.

“It just happened [that] in North Omaha there is a Salvation Army in the midst of our rehab organizations,” said Mark Coffin, veterans outreach coordinator for Habitat for Humanity. He also volunteers with Team Rubicon, and he knew Brown as a fellow officer in Afghanistan. “We coordinated with that Salvation Army for Team Rubicon. Scott was a volunteer helping to feed [people]. He said ‘who are these people and what do they do?’”

When the call comes, Brown often says he can help. He’s cut down trees from an ice storm in Kansas and a tornado in Missouri; but seeing the devastation from a hurricane blew him away.

In the immediate aftermath of 2017’s Hurricane Maria, Team Rubicon provided medical services and debris removal. When they asked for volunteers that November, Brown packed a duffle bag and a sleeping bag, then boarded an airplane for an island 2,400 miles away from Omaha.

“The utter devastation was…wow,” Brown said. “A tornado is a lot of damage in a concentrated area. This was destruction over the entire island.”

The organization picked up the cost of the flight, along with food and housing for all the volunteers during their stay. Housing, however, was a loose term.

“We were in a place with no electricity or running water. The shelter had a leaky roof,” Brown said nonchalantly of his living conditions in Puerto Rico. “The electricity would come on intermittently. Sometimes someone would come through and say ‘hey, the water is working again.’ That’s when we could get a shower, otherwise we had a tanker truck we rinsed off with.”

The lack of electricity is why Brown appreciated a small gesture by a local family.

As he and his teammates went to a house to take down trees one day, they discovered the homeowners were not at the residence, and policy said the volunteers must wait until the homeowners returned so they could work.

“The neighbors brought us some chairs, and the next thing you know, they were bringing us cold drinks,” Brown said. “Where they got them, I have no idea.” continued on page 108

WHEN THE CALL COMES, BROWN OFTEN SAYS HE CAN HELP. HE’S CUT DOWN TREES FROM AN ICE STORM IN KANSAS AND A TORNADO IN MISSOURI; BUT SEEING THE DEVASTATION FROM A HURRICANE BLEW HIM AWAY.

SEPTEMBER 2020

// 101 //

GIVING PROFILE PROFILE //// STORY STORY BY

BY BRYAN BRYAN VOMACKA VOMACKA GIVING

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

ennessee resident Tara Maco-Guillen gave birth to twin girls Katerina and Emma in December 2015. While bringing any child into the world has its share of stress and challenges, Katerina’s birth was especially complicated. She developed necrotizing enterocolitis, a condition in which part of the bowel dies, and after emergency surgery was left with eight centimeters of her small intestine and a low chance of survival.

T

Fortunately, one of Katerina’s surgeons helped Tara connect with the University of Nebraska Medical Center, who accepted Katerina into their Intestinal Rehabilitation Program.

While there was hope on the horizon, Tara was now faced with the daunting task of traveling to a new hospital in an unfamiliar city and state, and leaving her husband, son, and her other newborn daughter at home in Memphis, Tennessee.

“It was a scary time because I didn’t know how things were going to go for my daughter,” she said.

Then she discovered the Ronald McDonald House.

“I found out I would be staying at the Ronald McDonald house a few days before I arrived,” Tara said. “At the time I didn’t know what that would entail but I just knew that I was willing to do whatever I needed to for my daughter and to be with her and support her.”

A Ronald McDonald House provides families a place to stay when they have to travel away from home for hospital care. A family can stay in a room for no charge, or for a small donation of $25 or less. They also receive food and access to laundry services.

Katerina received care for short bowel syndrome at UNMC for two months. Tara stayed at Ronald McDonald House for the entire two months—a long time to be away from family, especially another newborn daughter.

Mother and daughter then returned home down south and Tara, a member of the Navy, began work to secure a transfer to Omaha. Katerina would continue to need hospital care and she wanted it to be with the same doctors who had been with her since she was a few weeks old.

The family moved to Omaha in December 2016. While Katerina continued her hospital care, Tara transformed her role at Ronald

McDonald House. Once in need of a place to stay, she now assists families living at the house by donating “Meals That Heal,” a program where members of the community can donate food to those currently living at the Ronald McDonald House.

“Ever since I stayed there I just felt really passionate about the charity,” Tara said. “I figured it’s the least I could do.”

Hunter Samuels, the stewardship and communications manager at Ronald McDonald House Omaha, said that Tara brings more than food to the families staying at the house.

“All of our Meals That Heal volunteers can sit and talk with the families and hear their stories, but Tara understands those stories in a way others don’t because she’s been where those other parents are sitting,” Samuels said.

Her time staying at Ronald McDonald House adds a layer of meaning to her charitable giving.

“Interacting with the people who stay at the house is always very moving because I understand how all of these people feel,” Tara said.

Ronald McDonald House knows how significant it is that someone who received a place to stay decided to give back to the organization. Samuels said they are beyond grateful for Tara’s continued involvement.

SEPTEMBER

// 103 //

2020

RONALD McDONALD HOUSE RESIDENT GIVES BACK “She knows firsthand how important it is to have a hot meal waiting for you when you get back from a long day at the hospital, and I know all the families in the house truly appreciate what Tara does for them,” Samuels said.

Ronald McDonald House was there for Tara throughout one of the most difficult periods of her life, and because of that, she said, it will always have a special place in her heart.

Donating meals every month is her way of returning the favor.

“You just never know when people are going to need that little bit of help and it makes a big difference in people’s lives,” she said.

No one knows that better than her, and that’s why people staying at Ronald McDonald House on the third Tuesday of the month look forward to seeing Tara coming in the door with pizzas from Little Caesars.

Initially, she made a variety of meals for the program, but these days she buys the families at Ronald McDonald House pizza to make her life easier. Katerina is doing much better now, but like most kids with short bowel syndrome, her health can be a bit of a rollercoaster.

“We just try and take things one day at a time,” Tara said.

Visit rmhcomaha.org for more information.

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Sept. 2 GOLF CLASSIC Benefitting: Omaha Home for Boys Location: Tiburon Golf Club —ohb.org

Sept. 11 LIGHT UP THE NIGHT (VIRTUAL) Benefitting: Ronald McDonald House Location: online —rmhcomaha.com

Sept. 15-Oct. 15 LATINO FESTIVAL (VIRTUAL) Benefitting; Centro Latino Location: online —sucentrolatino.org

Sept. 2 INSPIRING HOPE: AN UNGALA (VIRTUAL) Benefitting: Fresh Hope Location: online —freshhopeungala.com

Sept. 11 FIRST RESPONDER 9/11 LUNCHEON (VIRTUAL) Benefitting: First Responders Foundation Location: online —firstrespondersomaha.org

Sept. 17 LINKS TO A CURE GALA (VIRTUAL) Benefitting: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Location: online —events.cff.org

Sept. 9 SOIREE Benefitting :Christ Child Society Location: Happy Hollow Club —christchildomaha.com

Sept. 11 BROADWAY BALL 2020 (VIRTUAL) Benefitting; Omaha Performing Arts Location: online —o-pa.org

Sept. 17 BOOTS & BUCKETS (VIRTUAL) Benefitting: Dreamweaver Foundation Location: online —dreamweaver.org

Sept. 10 RESTORED WINGS GALA Benefitting: Rejuvenating Women Location: Embassy Suites-La Vista —rejuvenatingwomen.com

Sept. 11, Sept. 18 MIDLANDS HUMANE SOCIETY GALA (VIRTUAL) Benefitting: Midlands Humane Society Location: online —midlandshumanesociety.org

Sept. 18 2020 VISION GALA (VIRTUAL) Benefitting: Midlands Humane Society Location: Online —midlandshumanesociety.org/events

Sept. 11 GOLF TOURNAMENT Benefitting: Connections Area Agency on Aging Location: Dodge Riverside Golf Club —connectionsaaa.org

Sept. 12 OMAHA OUT OF DARKNESS EXPERIENCE (VIRTUAL) Benefitting; American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Location: online —afsp.org/omaha

Sept. 18 CHARITY CLASSIC GOLF TOURNAMENT Benefitting: Crossroads of Western Iowa Location: Bent Tree Golf Course in Council Bluffs —explorecrossroads.com

// 104 //

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SEPTEMBER 2020

// 105 //

// GIVING CALENDAR //

Sept. 18 HALFWAY TO ST. PATRICK’S DAY (VIRTUAL) Benefitting: Project Harmony Location: online —projectharmony.com

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Sept. 20 SUPERHERO HEART RUN (VIRTUAL) Benefitting: Heart Heroes Inc. Lcoation: online —superheroheartrun.com/omaha Sept. 20 OMAHA MARATHON AND P4K 5K Benefitting: Partnership 4 Kids Location: TD Ameritrade Park —p4k.org Sept. 21 27TH ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC Benefiting: Keep Omaha Beautiful Location: The Players Club at Deer Creek —keepomahabeautiful.org Sept. 24 BILL ELLETT GOLF CLASSIC Benefitting: Release, Inc. Location: Iron Horse Golf Club—Ashland —releaseinc.org Sept. 25-27 2020 METRO SHOOT-OUT WEEKEND Benefiting: Mid-America Boy Scouts Location: Camp Cedars, Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska —mac.bsa.org/shootout Sept. 26 WALK TO END ALZHEIMERS Benefitting: Alzheimer’s Association of Council Bluffs Location: Walker’s choice —act.alz.org/CBWalk Sept. 26 PURPLE RIBBON STOCK SHOW RECEPTION (VIRTUAL VIA NET.ORG) Benefiting: Aksarben Foundation Location: Online —aksarbenstockshow.com Event times and details may change.

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// 107 //

// ADVENTURE //

continued from page 101

BROWN WORKED MAINLY WITH THE TREES, CUTTING DOWN IMPAIRED ARBORS IN ORDER TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE TO PEOPLE OR THEIR HOMES. THE CRITTERS LIVING ON THE TREES OFTEN WANTED TO STAY WHERE THEY WERE.

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Brown also recalled a spiritual experience. One day, when the group was sawing trees at a park, they took a lunch break at a pavilion, and at a table nearby was a group holding a bible study. The bible study group came up to the volunteers and asked if they could pray for them.

“It was possibly the only English they knew,” said Brown, who attends Steadfast Bible Fellowship in Omaha with his wife.

Vein Care

Brown worked mainly with the trees, cutting down impaired arbors in order to prevent further damage to people or their homes. The critters living on the trees often wanted to stay where they were.

“The iguanas were fearless,” Brown said.

“You’d be working on a tree trunk and they’d hang on until it fell over. You’d sit on a stump to rest for a moment, and it would be sitting there, watching you.”

Although Brown did not know it, he was an original part of the cleanup in Puerto Rico that has since started new initiatives, sending other teams to the area to provide roofs and, eventually, hiring contractors to rebuild homes.

Brown’s part of clearing trees paved the way for 1,350 people to be placed back in their homes.

“That he wanted to serve his community instead of chasing a paycheck is admirable,” Coffin said. “Scott decided he wanted to do something different.”

Visit teamrubiconusa.org for more information.

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// 108 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

60 OMAHA s u l p

September 2020

Phil Perrone SEPTEMBER 2020 • 60 PLUS

// 109 //

60+ ACTIVE LIVING // STORY BY RYAN BORCHERS // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY DEREK JOY

s d l o r a e y 3 1 w o n k “I didn't

t ’ n e r we osed p p su run." to Iron Phil’s 4,378 miles and counting

P

hil Perrone

ran his first marathon at age 13, completing the event in Falls City, Nebraska, with his dad in under four hours.

“In those days, [running a marathon at that age] was kind of unheard of,” he said. “I didn’t know you weren’t supposed to. I mean, my dad just said, ‘Let’s do it,’ and we did it.

“I guess I didn’t know 13-year-olds weren’t supposed to run.”

An Omaha native and graduate of Westside High School, Perrone, who turns 60 in early 2021, has always been athletic, but he had a special reason to take up running at such a young age.

“I wanted to spend time with my dad,” he said.

Perrone and his father, Frank, continued running marathons together, of which their “most recent” was in 2001.

Frank took up running around the age of 35 and has run nearly 45 marathons.

Perrone, though, has participated in 167 marathons, which equals a little over 4,378 miles. That’s a bit longer than the driving distance from Juneau, Alaska, to West Palm Beach, Florida. Although he has not run that literal route, he has run through all manner of temperatures and terrains.

One memorable marathon was held in Kansas City on Oct. 25, 1997.

“It started out 40 degrees and freezing rain and ended up a blizzard,” he said. “It was so cold I didn’t want to walk, so I just kept running and I did a real fast time.”

Across the Midwest, a snowstorm that day created havoc.

In Omaha, the memorable storm dumped 9.2 inches of snow on Omaha and caused widespread power outages.

Perrone also ran a marathon in Las Vegas, aptly called “Run with the Devil,” where the temperature was 93 degrees at the beginning of the race and 112 at the end.

“As far as a marathon goes, every one you finish, to me, is the best.”

-Phil Perrone

SEPTEMBER 2020 • 60 PLUS

// 111 //

// 60+ ACTIVE LIVING //

P

errone

served with the Army National guard in Nebraska for 36 years and ran for the military marathon team for approximately 15 years. Running helped him stay healthy and avoid bad habits.

Other memorable runs include completing three marathons in three days around Lake Tahoe—which he has done on two separate occasions—and a 1983 marathon from Minneapolis to St. Paul, Minnesota, in which he ran his personal best time of 2 hours, 58 minutes.

“It was 6,000 runners out there, and the problem with that is…there’s so many runners, nobody that I knew could be there to appreciate it with me,” he said.

“You couldn’t communicate with your family, so you were kind of finishing on your own.”

Participating in marathons, Perrone said, has been good for his life. He did not let a 2017 knee replacement stop him from his preferred form of exercise. He has been told he’s a “bad quitter.”

“For probably the first 38 or 40 years of my running, I almost never was injured,” Perrone said. “But through the years of the military, and all the training that I did and all the activity I did, my knee just…wore out.

“That was a tough time,” he said. “I knew that my running was over.”

Running had been a way for Perrone to relax. It was good for his physical health, but more importantly, it was good for his mental health. It helped him escape from all the stress he experienced in the military.

“There are a lot of people who have a goal of running a marathon, and if they are uncertain about whether they’re going to be able to make the cutoff, yeah, we do get probably one or two of those kinds of requests each year,” Eickman said.

Less common, though, is encountering someone in Perrone’s position.

“He wanted to know if it would be OK if he went over the time limit,” Eickman said, which is about six and a half hours before the course has to start opening up again. “Anybody…who wants to do a marathon after full knee replacement surgery deserves our respect, our humble respect.”

Many people, Eickman said, include running a marathon on their bucket lists.

They may finish one, maybe a few others.

But completing 167 marathons, especially at Perrone’s age, is a rare feat.

“That was a tough time.

I knew that my running was over.”

-Phil Perrone

Perrone, though, isn’t one to let something like that make the experience any less special.

“As far as a marathon goes, every one you finish, to me, is the best,” he said.

At age 16, Perrone, Frank, and Perrone’s two brothers ran the 1977 Omaha Marathon together and were the subjects of an article that appeared in the Omaha Sun. A young girl by the name of Lisa saw his picture in the paper, after which they were set up on a blind date.

Lisa eventually married Perrone, and, during a half-marathon they walked in Las Vegas in September 2019, the couple renewed their wedding vows on the course.

“It’s called a Run-Thru Wedding,” he said.

“About four miles into the race you get in there with 250 of your closest friends in about a 30-square foot area and they marry you.”

// 112 //

60 PLUS • SEPTEMBER 2020

This development was not a complete surprise. One of Perrone’s brothers had a knee replacement earlier, even though he didn’t run to the same extent Perrone did, and his mother had two knee replacements. However, Perrone’s doctor told him he could one day walk in a marathon.

“You just have to re-evaluate and readjust your goals,” he said. “My running’s over, but I can still be out there on the course.”

He walks 20-25 miles a week, often at his favorite spot, Lake Zorinsky.

Perrone has walked two marathons, and he plans on walking the Omaha Marathon this month.

Walking large portions of a marathon isn’t unheard of, said John Eickman, vice president of HITS Endurance, which organizes the Omaha Marathon and works with the Omaha nonprofit Partnership 4 Kids, which helps at-risk kids finish high school and set life goals.

HITS Endurance makes sure to accommodate people who are determined to complete the race and think they may finish after the race officially ends.

“I’m not aware of too many people that have done as many marathons as Phil,” Eickman said. “He’s top percentile in my mind.”

Perrone insists he isn’t a superman.

He’s just a hard worker, someone who can hopefully inspire others to work hard, too.

“For me...it’s a self-confidence builder,” he said. “Every time I finish a race, I mean I just feel that much stronger and determined to go on with life and to move forward.”

Visit omahamarathon.com for more information about the Omaha Marathon, hitsendurance.com for HITS Endurance and p4k.org for Partnership 4 Kids. To see a list of all the marathons Perrone has run, visit marathonmaniacs.com/Maniacs/ MyRaces/1396.

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// 114 //

60 PLUS • SEPTEMBER 2020

W

60+ Nostalgia | story by James Vnuk | design & illustration by Derek Joy

hen it comes to traveling these days, it’s a wonder anybody can tolerate flying. Between the endless delays, transfers, itineraries that range from unbearably long layovers to impossibly short windows to change gates, and spending hours navigating security, flying has become as exciting as a root canal for most people. How did such a miracle like this, the ability to soar through the air to anywhere in the world, become so dull and burdensome?

There was a time when flying still carried a luster that befitted the experience.

The “golden age” of commercial flight between the 1950s and 1960s, though still largely the domain of the elite and privileged, opened to the average person and offered them a taste of glamour and luxury. However, the memory of that time has begun to fade, and knowledge that survives often comes from film, television, and literature of dubious accuracy. Flight in the golden age was exquisite, exclusive, and expensive.

To me, the appeal is strong, and when I think about the ordeal of flying today, starting with flight attendants funneling passengers through the jetway like a hose of sardines fired into a tin can, my imagination abounds: can I blunt the vagaries of modern flight with a daydream back to the golden age? Could we, just today, imagine it’s 1960 again? Let’s take a step into the past and the air.

I envision leaving the jetway into a vintage Boeing 707. I pass rows of gentlemen in smart, starched suits and ties (just a single Windsor; we’re flying casual, after all). A whole rainbow of gray patterns: herringbone, madras, pinstripe, and more. Right away I regret my choice of ratty sweatpants and a cheap T-shirt. Nobody else seems to mind, though, and once I’m situated deep into coach I do my best to ignore the punches to the back of my seat reclined back a full inch.

We begin to taxi. There’s no announcement to put away our cell phones and set them to airplane mode, because in the 1960s nobody’s heard of either. A stewardess in a pink lemonade skirt and blazer, sporting a smashing beehive updo, addresses the cabin. In the event of cabin depressurization, the liquor cart will arrive promptly for another round.

The plane lifts off and, I imagine, the lighters come out. For a moment, the spell is broken, and I think about rummaging through my carry-on bag for some kind of diversion. I resist their temptations, and pull myself back to the mystique of the golden age, trying my best to envision a cabin hazy with cigarette smoke (I was also never a smoker, so it’s an approximation somewhere between being back at parties in college and hanging out after rock concerts). I decide to blame it for the mild headache I’ve started to run.

I take a moment to consider the ethics of this imaginative exercise and the merits of the present. Flying in the 1950s and 1960s was considerably more dangerous than today—a bit of turbulence could cause whiplash or worse. Travelers were probably smarter to avoid using the lavatories mid-flight. And, the excesses and exclusivity of travel-by-air had a dark side, too—one which reflected the prejudices of the era. Further, while I lamented the need to bake an extra hour into my trip to deal with the vagaries of security, I was grateful they existed and that I was asked to present an ID at all. At this point I observe the tiniest hint of drool emerging from my slumbering neighbor’s lip, and I immediately put my imagination to work creating an era-appropriate alternative scenario.

“Do you want pretzels or trail mix?”

The daydream bursts.

Nonetheless, the atmosphere feels glamourous. The attendants move elegantly through the spacious cabin passing out heated towels and crystal snifters, bantering with passengers and wearing coquettish smirks. The PA announces that the in-flight meal will include sous vide prime rib with your choice of Burgundy or Moselle.

Momentarily I feel like a spy in the house of the idle rich, rubbing shoulders with men of mystery, wandering dowagers, captains of industry, and the intelligentsia of days gone by. The tinkle of ice on glass flits through the hazy air.

There was a time, though, when flying still carried a luster that befitted the experience.

“Do you want pretzels or trail mix?” The daydream bursts. I clumsily choose the pretzels, and briefly consider if a dram of tomato juice tossed with bottom shelf vodka is worth the $15 the airline is asking for it. I settle on a ginger ale. The attendant tries to get the attention of the man sitting next to me, passed out against the window, and decides not to interrupt his snoring. The pretzels are a disappointment, and I debate flagging the attendant back down for the overpriced bloody Mary.

Instead, he’s puffing away at a pipe carved from fine mahogany, with the Saturday Evening Post in the other hand. “Hell of a way the nation’s going,” he says to me world-wearily. He puts down the paper to take a swig of neat bourbon. We talk, and he makes conspiratorial remarks about communists in the government and plots abroad, as if he has encountered them all firsthand. I consider making an airline food joke but pull back, reminding myself we’re supposed to be in a pre-Seinfeld world.

After a bit, he orders a second drink for me, and we toast to nothing in particular. I can sense the cabin beginning to spin when the stewardess from before approaches us with a rotary phone on a silver, glimmering platter. “Sir, it’s urgent,” she says, and I mistakenly assume she means me while he reaches across and picks up the receiver. He nods and says yes, Mr. Kennedy, he’ll meet him at the terminal. He passes the receiver to me, asks if I want to say hello to Mr. Kennedy. I take the receiver. I have no idea what to say.

The seatbelt sign flashes, and the tone for a PA announcement snaps me out of the haze.

We’re landing. It’s a rainy, dreary day when we hit the strip.

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D ottie Deines

has kept remarkably busy since retiring from a 42-year teaching career in 2013. She’s in a book club; she participates in educator organization Alpha Delta Kappa; she’s active with First United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women; and she’s volunteered for organizations such as Food Bank for the Heartland, Siena Francis House, and the historic Prospect Hill Cemetery. She’s even done some traveling and golfing.

Five years ago, friend Sherry Houston told Deines of an opportunity to return to teaching. Instead of children as her pupils, however, she’d be teaching other seniors. Instead of elementary-level language arts, she’d be teaching English as a Second Language classes at the nonprofit Intercultural Senior Center.

Deines was determined to find room in her schedule.

“I thought it sounded very interesting, so I decided ‘let’s go for it.’ And we’ve been a team for five years,” Deines said. Not only does she welcome the “exciting new challenge,” she added, “I wanted to help our immigrant seniors feel welcome in the United States and know that they are valued individuals.”

ISC was founded in 2009 by Carolina Padilla to serve elderly immigrants in the community. ISC’s clientele has branched out from primarily Latino seniors to seniors from many other countries including Sudan, Somalia, Bhutan, Nepal, and Burma. It also is open to native English speakers. With bilingual staff members and interpreters, and door-to-door van transportation available, ISC helps individuals overcome barriers to participating in its classes and activities. And while ISC primarily functions as a community center, the organization also assists struggling seniors with support services like a food pantry and meal delivery.

“Here they have a safe place to meet people, eat, exercise, dance, and learn new skills. I really do believe that does bring joy and a purpose to their lives… they have so much to offer and they have years of experience to share,” Deines said.

“I really think being together expands their horizons outside of their home and family, and I think they’re happier and healthier when they’re interacting with their peers. I have seen all of this while I’ve been here, and it makes me happy to be a part of all of this.”

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Back to School

60+ PROFILE STORY BY KARA SCHWEISS PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN BY DEREK JOY

Former Elementary Teacher Now Educates Other Seniors

Padilla praised Deines’ enthusiasm and commitment as a volunteer ESL teacher, calling her a “very creative communicator.” She’s seen Deines’ students grow from knowing no English words to being able to have basic conversations.

“Our seniors love her. Her interactions with them have enabled them to have more confidence in their English,” Padilla said. “I think this makes learning a positive experience for our seniors, who come from different backgrounds. Dottie has accomplished a lot, and we’re so lucky to have her.”

Deines said she respects the life experience and perspective of her students, which enhances their ability to learn new skills at any age. “They’re willing to take risks that will surprise us.”

“Everybody is able to learn,” Padilla said in agreement. Because they’re not rushed or pushed through curriculum, she explained, the senior ESL students at ISC learn at a pace that’s comfortable for them. Student feedback reports that not only does Deines make class fun, “She teaches in a way that everybody ‘gets it’…

People are paying attention and appreciate what she does.”

Her decades of teaching elementary school have served Deines well in teaching adult learners, certainly in engaging students in group instruction, but also in such tasks as developing lesson plans and creating teaching aids.

“And it did instill in me a love of helping others,” she said. “An added bonus is getting the hugs.”

The volunteer work is rewarding, Deines said, because she knows she’s “making a positive impact” on the lives of her students. Plus, as a senior herself, she and her pupils can relate to each other.

“I think seniors like myself should volunteer because we all have gifts and talents to share. There is no better feeling than knowing you are helping someone else and contributing in positive ways,” she said, adding that her students teach her in return. “Learning about customs and cultural difference reminds me how much I can learn from them.”

With seniors being a population particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, the pandemic has necessitated the temporary suspension of most of ISC’s center-based services, although some have been converted to virtual platforms. Padilla said clients miss the in-person social interaction—so do staff and volunteers—and the recent separation has emphasized the importance of ISC to the community.

Deines, who has reached out to students with lovingly handmade greeting cards, said she’s eager to return to her classes and the students who have become her friends.

“I do think, although these times are difficult, that we’ll all be back together,” she said. “We’ll get through it.”

Visit interculturalseniorcenter.org, for more information on Intercultural Senior Center.

"Our seniors love her. Deines' interactions with them have enabled them to have more confidence in their English."

-Carolina Padilla

Dottie Deines

“i was down in the dumps, so i adopted a red miniature dachshund named schotzie. i took him to a puppy class where i met a woman who said schotzie would be a good therapy dog and told me to contact nancy.�

-pam egger

From left: Nancy Ethington and Pam Egger

60+ feature // story by Tamsen Butler

FourLegged Therapy

Dogs Help Young Humans At Children's Hospital & Medical Center

pam egger

hesitated to guess the number of hours she has volunteered at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center’s pet therapy program. “I don’t suppose it’s up to a thousand hours yet,” she demured.

The actual number surpassed her wildest dreams. Angela Loyd, who oversees Volunteer Services at the hospital, said Egger has volunteered 2,163 hours. After a shocked pause, Egger quickly mentioned that others in the program have volunteered far more hours than she has.

She started serving as a pet therapy volunteer more than 20 years ago. Her husband passed away in 1998, which was then followed by a back surgery for her.

“I was down in the dumps, so I adopted a red miniature dachshund named Schotzie,” Egger said. “I took him to a puppy class where I met a woman who said Schotzie would be a good therapy dog and told me to contact Nancy.”

photography by Bill Sitzmann // design by Derek Joy Nancy Ethington is one of the pioneers of the pet therapy program in Omaha. She began her journey in 1994. “I was sitting at home watching the news on TV and a story came on about dogs going to facilities to provide comfort, and there’s my golden retriever Zoe with her head on my lap. I decided I wanted to share her with others, so I reached out to the lady featured in the news story. In the beginning we were only in senior care facilities, but when we started at the hospital they were thrilled. Initially there were only three of us. We coordinated with the volunteer office to develop the program initially—this was when Children’s was floors five and six at Methodist Hospital. The staff used to take us around to the shared rooms that were two patients to a room.

We used our own dogs. The dogs earned certification through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs in Cheyenne, Wyoming, which improved the credibility of the dogs and the program.”

Therapy dog certification is a requirement for all dogs participating in the pet therapy program who are examined annually by veterinarians to meet strict guidelines. “There’s a difference between our dogs and service dogs,” Ethington explained. “Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks to ease the handler’s disabilities. Therapy dogs are easygoing and love to have people pet them, bringing smiles to everyone they encounter.” Ethington said it’s a common misunderstanding that the dogs in the program are service dogs, but the furry friends in this program are therapy dogs.

»

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// 60+ feature //

" Our purpose is to benefit the

kids. We're there to assist this is not a dog show."

-nancy ethington

A lot has changed

since the program’s inception in the 1990s. “I love how it’s grown,” Ethington said. “Initially there was pushback because pet therapy was in its infancy.

The veterinarians had to assure the physicians and staff that nothing bad can be transferred from the dogs to the kids.

One doctor in particular was doubtful and didn’t understand the benefits of the dogs, so I went in with him to a room where the patient was screaming, but once the little boy saw the dog he stopped screaming and just wanted to pet the dog. That doctor became one of our biggest advocates.”

“We don’t really experience pushback anymore,” Ethington added.

Ethington explained a typical therapy dog visit to a patient’s room: “Typically I’ll walk into a room and I always ask the patient, ‘Do you want to see my dog?’ and the patient will smile; it’s the best ‘thank-you.’ The dog will then go and put their head on the bed. The kid will usually say, ‘He likes me!’.

“Our purpose is to benefit the kids. We’re there to assist—this is not a dog show,” Ethington said.

Therapy dogs need a specific temperament, one reason why there are only five in the program. “The dogs have to be mindful of the hospital environment without impacting medical treatments,” said Nikki Walker, supervisor of Child Life Services. Dogs that are startled or distracted easily aren’t the best choice for the program.

The program is not suitable for all volunteers. Therapy dog handlers sometimes find themselves in sensitive situations and must learn to face patients who are nearing death. “I think the dogs can sometimes tell when we enter the room of an end-of-life patient,” Egger said. “I think they sense, ‘something’s not right here’. It’s tough at times, but parents will sometimes later say of the child, ‘They sure did love seeing the dogs’.”

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“We see kids in a variety of situations that vary greatly,” Ethington said. “Accidents, cancer—the unconditional love and acceptance of the dogs helps in every situation. Sometimes I’ll go into a patient’s room and the patient’s unresponsive. The child’s not moving, but the parents will put the child’s hand onto the dog’s head and the child will smile or open their eyes.”

Egger’s therapy dog Roxie, a black and tan dachshund, was a bit of a celebrity at Children’s during her working years of 2006-2019. “Roxie was one of the best pet therapy dogs I ever had,” Egger said. “She was very dressy. I painted her toenails. She had tutus, Husker clothes, holiday outfits—and her nails always matched her outfits. She was better looking than I am.”

“Roxie was the best-dressed dog,” Loyd said. “Staff and family all wanted to see what she was wearing every day.”

Walker describes Ethington as “dedicated, compassionate, and empathetic” and Egger as “outgoing, empathetic, and sweet.” “They really are a part of our team,” Walker added. “If they’re on vacation, everyone asks where they are.

Without Nancy and Pam’s passion for the program’s plan, it wouldn’t be what it is.”

Egger’s third therapy dog was named Dollie, a rescue from the Humane Society. “She was an older dog and was missing a leg. She couldn’t walk so I bought her a little umbrella stroller that I would decorate with feather boas. I put a sign on the stroller to let everyone know Dollie wasn’t lazy or spoiled—she just couldn’t walk.”

“They’re always willing to do something outside of the box. There was a request by an end-of-life patient to see a dog outside of normal hours. It meant a lot to the kid and their family that they did the visit.”

“Just bringing a pet in can make such a difference,” Ethington said. “I love that I’m given the opportunity to share the love. The dogs know why they’re there.

It’s not about tooting our own horns, and that’s why it’s been so successful.”

Loyd agreed. “When college volunteers wanted someone to come to their class to talk about the dogs and the program, Nancy and Pam went outside their normal hours.”

Ethington, Egger, and their dogs are loved by not only the patients, but staff and families as well. “Some of the staff look for them in the lobby and on their floors,” said Kristen Beat, marketing coordinator at Children’s. Loyd added, “The dogs can be a stress reliever for the medical students as well.”

“The patients are all so special,” Egger said. “They all know that when Thursday comes around we’re going to be there.

The nurses tell us the kids get so excited.

Even the parents, doctors, and nurses look forward to our visits.”

Ethington said that although the dogs are trained, they’re still dogs. “We always have to move stuffed animals from the patients’ beds because my golden retrievers have always loved stuffed animals.

Once someone was pushing a bin full of stuffed animals down the hall for the patients and I had to drag my dog Gracie away—she wanted those toys. Someone grabbed a stuffed owl from the bin and gave it to Gracie and she was happy and stopped trying to get to the bins.”

She continued, “The commitment and dedication the pet therapy volunteers have creates a long lasting, highly respected program. We visit these children and families to, hopefully, provide a distraction, relieve stress and bring a smile to their faces.”

RN Sarah Chantry said it’s the normalcy of visiting with a dog that’s beneficial for the young patients. “There is something about petting the dogs that takes the stress out of hospital life. It just makes the day better, and the smiles from the kids are priceless. Their overall mood is lifted and it spreads to their family and even to the staff.”

“It’s such a great feeling,” Egger said.

“They’re so glad we came. Volunteering just makes me feel really good. I’m glad I can do this for people.”

Ethington and Egger don’t seem to mind the anonymity that comes with playing second fiddle to a furry volunteer. “They all know the dogs—they don’t know us,” Egger said. “And that’s fine.”

Visit childrensomaha.org for more information.

OBVIOUSLY OMAHA // STORY BY KAMRIN BAKER // PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTED

AN ANIMAL LOVER’S GUIDE TO NEBRASKA’S WILD SIDE

01

We have seen the sad commercials.

The ones with tear-inducing tunes that trigger that animal instinct in people to change the channel immediately. There’s good news and bad news. The bad news: there are plenty of animals in the world that need help. The good news: You don’t need to see their sad little faces to meet the organizations that take care of them. The Nebraska Humane Society is particularly good at spreading their message of animal welfare, with active (and often hilarious) social media channels that bring smiles and hope to the faces of animal lovers everywhere.

02

They are not the only one in the area. These six other local animal rescue and rehab organizations will send animal lovers searching for a pen to fill out the adoption papers.

01. HEARTS UNITED FOR ANIMALS 73418 638 AVE., AUBURN, NE 68305 402.274.3679 | HUA.ORG

Hearts United for Animals is a no-kill sanctuary and animal welfare center with a variety of programs that bring dogs and cats to safety—or to fur-ever homes. HUA has rescued over 10,000 dogs from puppy mills and provided over 13,000 low-cost spay and neuter services, according to their website. In addition to the standard shelter and adoption procedures, HUA also provides temporary housing for animals of families fleeing domestic violence and assists with vet expenses. Helping animals and the people who care for them, HUA works tirelessly to unleash love.

02. HERON HAVEN

11809 OLD MAPLE ROAD, OMAHA, NE 68164 402.493.4303 | HERONHAVEN.ORG

Snuggled behind the buzzing intersection of 120th Street and West Maple Road, Heron Haven is a spring-fed wetland sanctuary for birds and wildlife within Omaha city limits. With community programs like a camera club and a wetland program, and spacious education center, Heron Haven invites the community to study native species of plants, birds, and aquatic animals under the mission of conservation and natural history. Folks can also flock to a small nature museum and reference library curated by the Friends of Heron Haven.

03. NEBRASKA WILDLIFE REHAB INC.

16215 NE-50, LOUISVILLE, NE 68037 402.234.2473 | NEBRASKAWILDLIFEREHAB.ORG

While most people are used to domesticated pets like kittens and hamsters, the call of the wild echoes throughout Nebraska. Nebraska Wildlife Rehab works to rehabilitate native Nebraska wildlife and migratory birds for return to the wild, while preserving native habitats and executing educational efforts to inspire people to become leaders in environmental conservation, according to the NWRI website. With projects like Bats Over Omaha and the Prairie Dog Relocation Project, college internships and high school science academies, NWRI completes specialized projects with opportunity for public education.

04. SCATTER JOY ACRES

4966 NEWPORT AVE., OMAHA, NE 402.709.9401 | SCATTERJOYACRES.ORG Scatter Joy Acres provides a peaceful inner-city sanctuary for humans and animals with therapy programs specialized for developmentally disabled and autistic children, seniors, veterans, and at-risk youth.

Owner Joy Bartling rescues and cares for over 100 animals, including alpacas, sheep, rabbits, dogs, goats, horses, cows, pigs, and a variety of fowl. In addition to animalassisted therapy, SJA is also an ideal location for events, with ample area for fun and games, including hayrack rides and bonfires.

03

05. TAKE FLIGHT FARMS

1004 FARNAM ST., SUITE 400 402.930.3037 | TAKEFLIGHTFARMS.ORG

Therapy dogs and cats have seemingly become commonplace in apartments and airplanes, but Take Flight Farms works to help clients through equine-assisted psychotherapy. Specializing in ground activities involving horses, each of Take Flight Farms’ programs is facilitated by a team of licensed mental health professionals, certified equine specialists, and horses who have passed intensive training, allowing individuals, families, and groups suffering from mental health conditions to gallop towards a brighter future.

04 05

06. TOWN & COUNTRY HUMANE SOCIETY 14110 S. 84TH ST., PAPILLION, NE 68046 402.339.5355 TOWNANDCOUNTRYHUMANESOCIETY.ORG

This nonprofit, no-time-limit shelter run entirely by volunteers serves eastern Nebraska and beyond. The best part is that it is not far from the city limits, down 84th Street near Platteview Road.

The shelter frequently houses dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and rabbits. In addition to rescuing and rehoming animals, this shelter also offers boarding and grooming services to the community, and money raised from those services help continue the organization’s mission.

06 SEPTEMBER

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Oasis’ quarantine soup and salad kit includes a Greek salad with balsamic dressing, pita bread, and hummus.

DINING REVIEW

AN OASiS OF CHiCKPEAS // 122 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

V E G E TA R I A N S , VEGANS, M E AT - E AT E R S R E J O I C E S T O R Y B Y D A I S Y H U T Z E L L- R O D M A N

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN D E S I G N B Y M AT T W I E C Z O R E K

SEPTEMBER 2020

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DINING REVIEW

I

n the early 2010s, walking on N. Linn Street toward childhood favorite “the ’Burg” in Iowa City, I became distracted by a scent of garlic-eggplant-olive oil-parsley that had nothing to do with the veggie burger and home fries that I was planning for dinner that night. Instead, it came from the restaurant two doors south, and it smelled so good I returned the next day for lunch.

That restaurant was Oasis Falafel, and a lovely respite it was. The falafel was crunchy and the pita was soft and warm, but the hummus should actually have been called heaven. I ate every last gram of the serving, finishing the garbanzo-bean dip with a spoon after running out of pita.

A couple of years ago, I opened the staff fridge at Omaha Magazine and my heart nearly stopped. Chilling out like it was no big deal was a tub of hummus bearing a label on it that read “Oasis” in a familiar font. It turned out, a young couple named Mike and Kellie Osler enjoyed eating at Oasis as college students at the University of Iowa, and a few years after graduating, they made the decision to return home to the Omaha metro to raise their family. They brought a taste of the Hawkeye state with them, partnering with Oasis Iowa City owners Naftaly Stramer and Ofer Sivan to create Oasis Omaha.

The restaurant originally opened in summer 2018 for the downtown lunch crowd.

Saturday, then evening, hours followed as the restaurant became busier. However, it seems one has to know the hours of the restaurant, situated at 16th and Harney streets next to comedy club The Backline, as the restaurant is not prominent from the street.

Tomato-cilantro soup is included in the kit. // 124 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

THE CHICKPEA F L AV O R D O M I N AT E S AND ALLOWS FOR A DINER TO ENHANCE IT WITH ANY OF THE SAUCES AND CONDIMENTS OFFERED ON THE CONDIMENT B A R : TA H I N I , MANGO CURRY SAUCE, JALAPEÑO RELISH, PEPPERONCINI, AND RED C A B B A G E S L AW.

The team at Oasis Falafel has this year helped hospital workers who have been toiling around the clock to combat COVID-19. They began by donating food weekly to a variety of hospitals and doctors' offices.

When policies changed in July, banning outside food and drink at hospitals, they changed tactics. At presstime, the restaurant was looking into ways of creating free meals for people on the front lines.

The restaurant caters to vegetarians and vegans, but also has kebabs and gyros to satisfy meat eaters. Vegetarian and gluten-free items are clearly marked on the menu, a difference from the Iowa City menu for which Kellie advocated.

Those who eat gluten-free can take note that they have a dedicated fryer for the falafel that is gluten-free. If they are not busy, they might be able to cook fries in it for a gluten-free option, but always check with them as that fryer is used for falafel all day.

I first ate there in person in December 2019, chomping down an order of falafel as a sandwich, made into a combo with a side of za’atar fries and a drink, a side of Moroccan eggplant, and hummus.

The falafel is served as small fried balls, which are easier to eat than a big burgershaped patty, and comes with tomatocucumber salad and hummus—stuffed in the pita if you order it as a sandwich, served on the side if you order a plate.

The falafel itself is traditional, with fewer herbs than Omahans may be used to. The chickpea flavor dominates and allows for a diner to enhance it with any of the sauces and condiments offered on the condiment bar: tahini, mango curry sauce, jalapeño relish, pepperoncini, and red cabbage slaw. The za’atar fries are thick-cut and served sprinkled with za’atar, a spice blend made of oregano or thyme, cumin, coriander, and sumac. The za’atar tasted pleasingly of citrus from the sumac and the fries were crisp. The Moroccan eggplant is a side dish of eggplant that has been fried with seasoned onions, tomatoes, and cilantro and served cold.

The shining star, however, is that hummus. I have eaten a lot of hummus since I was introduced to it as a teenager, and I have never eaten anything like this. Sometimes hummus can be grainy or used to ward off vampires. This hummus is smooth as silk, garlicky without being overpowering, and topped with a liberal sprinkle of paprika.

In mid-June I ate Oasis Falafel again, this time ordering pickup as the restaurant was closed to dining in. I ordered a Quarantine Cuddle Kit containing hummus, baba ganoush, falafel, and house-made pita crisps, and a soup and salad pack containing Greek salad, tomato-cilantro soup, hummus, and a six-pack of pita.

Sauces and sides are available.

Visit oasisomaha.com for more information.

The Greek salad was outstanding.

Other restaurants serve iceberg lettuce, a tomato wedge, a couple of cucumbers, a ring of onion, a hunk of feta cheese, and an olive. Oasis gave us a pile of varied salad greens, several slices of tomato and cucumber, sufficient red onion, what appeared to be an entire 8-oz. package of feta cheese, and a pile of kalamata olives.

The dressing tasted of oregano, olive oil, and quality balsamic vinegar, thick enough to coat the salad without being syrupy.

Oasis Omaha is what its name purports, a peaceful area in the midst of busy downtown Omaha and a healthy haven for all food lovers.

OASIS FALAFEL

1620 HARNEY ST. | 402.504.3102

FOOD SERVICE AMBIANCE PRICE OVERALL

$ 5 STARS POSSIBLE

The soup tasted like tomatoes and cilantro. As my husband said, “we could reduce this and put it over pasta.” Because I was at home, I sprinkled in a bit of salt, pepper, oregano, and a 1/4 teaspoon of garlic after a couple of bites.

SEPTEMBER 2020

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

Elizabeth Wallace

Bringing Food and Hope to Omahans in Need

Dining Feature

Story by Sarah Wengert

SOMETIMES A LITTLE MAGIC HAPPENS

W H E N Y O U N E E D I T M O S T.

Elizabeth Wallace, general manager at 801 Chophouse, said that’s what occurred when Dandelion Pop-up and Over Easy proprietor Nick Bartholomew had a little idea that ended up making a big impact.

In March 2020, as the nation quickly shuttered restaurants, schools, and offices, leaving many Omahans unemployed and quarantined, Bartholomew and others in the local restaurant industry moved quickly to coordinate an effort to avoid food waste and feed folks in need.

SEPTEMBER

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2020

“This could not have worked without them at all. The way these people came together is special. These strangers just showed up and we all meshed together perfectly. It was one of those magical moments in time.�

-Elizabeth Wallace

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SEPTEMBER 2020

Dining Feature

A

fter 801 Chophouse closed on March 16, Wallace spoke with Bartholomew, who was in an early stage of the yet-to-be-defined effort. Wallace offered kitchen space at 801 Chophouse, and food that would otherwise have gone unused. The next thing she knew, other helpers dispatched by Bartholomew came knocking on her door. Together, over the course of 12 weeks, they formulated meal plans, prepped, cooked, created an ordering system, and distributed approximately 4,000 meals plus additional groceries to individuals and organizations.

“A few strangers just showed up one day and we didn’t quite know what we were doing at first,” Wallace said. “It was kind of like an episode of Chopped and Survivor all at once, except it wasn’t a competition and nobody got booted off.”

While Wallace noted that the effort “had a lot of different hands involved at different points,” she said the core culinary group behind the effort included herself, chef Bryce Coulton (formerly of The French Bulldog), 801’s executive chef Ivan Dondiego, Spencer’s executive chef Glenn Wheeler, and two Metro Community College culinary students, Emma Osentoski and Witney Stanley.

“This could not have worked without them at all,” Wallace said. “The way these people came together is special. These strangers just showed up and we all meshed together perfectly. It was one of those magical moments in time.”

Wallace said the effort was never officially named, but volunteers dubbed it the Dandelion Meal Project, to distinguish it from Dandelion Pop-Up’s regular model of rotating notable chefs each week in warmer months. The team quickly got in a groove of gathering supplies on Thursdays, planning and prepping meals on Fridays, and distributing on Saturdays. Wheeler also provided space at Spencer’s to help with social distancing, but the majority of planning, prep, and packing occurred at 801 Chophouse.

“We had plenty of space at 801, so we could properly social distance while prepping,” Wallace said. “Once we established our crew, we just kind of created this little restaurant out of nothing.”

In addition to Bartholomew and the rest of the core group, Wallace was quick to thank the many supplementary volunteers, donors, and distributors, including Kristina Lee, Katy Jo Rose, Nick Holloway, Deven Rieck, Michael Anderson, Sarah Xiong, Ryan Gillespie, Brandy Rettele, Kane Adkisson, Lindy Pearson, Sara Cerasoli, Julia Tatten, Omaha Steaks, Sysco, Reinhart, Karlsberger, Morgan Ranch, Culprit Cafe, Farine + Four, individual donors, and many others.

“This couldn’t have worked without every single piece of the machine and it’s really cool how it all came together,” Wallace said.

After a couple weeks distributing meals at the Dandelion Pop-up “shack,” as Wallace affectionately called the kiosk at 1300 Howard St., distribution moved to Archetype Coffee’s Little Bohemia location and Montessori Children’s Room. As supplies and monetary donations continued to come in, the team also had bandwidth to give meals and groceries to local organizations such as Child Saving Institute, Victory Apartments (military veteran housing), Table Grace Cafe, and Santa Monica House (a women’s recovery home).

The team also did ingredient swaps with neighboring restaurant Kitchen Table, and Wallace said nothing went to waste.

“Sometimes our math skills weren’t totally accurate. Each week we tried to get better at portioning and buying supplies with donation money, but it was almost like a loaves and fishes situation, where you always ended up with more so you had more to give somewhere else,” she said.

Although the project began by doling out grocery bags, it quickly moved to prepared meals such as lasagna, meatloaf, dirty rice, Wagyu beef and mushroom stroganoff, egg and veggie frittatas with overnight oats, gnocchi with roasted veggies and herb-pesto sauce, smoked pork chops, and more. Bread pudding was a common dessert item. The goal was to have a main dish, salad, and a vegetable side or something sweet. Fresh fruit and snacks were also incorporated.

Wallace said the project originally focused on suddenly out-of-work restaurant workers, with “kind of a family meal vibe.”

She explained the family meal tradition in restaurants where, prior to service, front and back of house employees sit down and eat together before opening their doors to customers. She noted they wanted to “make everybody who was displaced feel like they were still part of the family.” Quickly, the effort transitioned to include families of any kind who were out of work, kids who depended on school for hot meals, and others.

Wallace, who said the project gave her purpose during her furlough from 801 Chophouse, was deeply touched by meal recipients’ gratitude.

“It was very emotional to see all this gratitude come in. I had moments where it overwhelmed me a bit,” Wallace said. “I felt

very lucky to happen upon this opportunity and then to see this incredible impact…I feel honored to have been a part of this small thing we did that had such an impact.”

Indeed, while volunteers worked to give to their fellow Omahans, their lives were also enriched through their involvement.

Coulton said the effort helped keep him healthy and allowed him to get out of the house and use his skills for the greater good.

“I’m grateful beyond words to have participated in this with this specific group of people,” Coulton said. “It’s an especially unique person who shows up every week in the way they all did to work towards this singular goal of feeding others. That was it. No egos, no hierarchy, just an inherent understanding to do what we could to provide the most out of what we had at hand.”

Osentoski, who’s midway through MCC’s culinary program, got involved to keep busy and get back in the kitchen.

“This was different for me because I’m not used to preparing food in bulk. In my first week we made about 300 meals, so it was different seeing what goes into making that much food as opposed to preparing one meal at a time for a person at a table,” Osentoski said. “Towards the end, Witney and I went with Elizabeth and Bryce to hand out food and it was really nice to see the people we were helping and connect faces with all the thank-yous and comments they entered when they requested bags.”

Even though the Dandelion Meal Project started off as the culinary equivalent of a jazz ensemble playing it by ear, the group became well practiced. The project came to a close in early June as many of its contributors were called back to their everyday posts.

“Honestly, part of me wishes that we could still do it, but everybody had to go their separate ways because restaurants were reopening,” Wallace said. “But I feel like if we ever needed to assemble again, we’d be ready to go—we’re like The Avengers.”

Visit 801chophouse.com, dandelionpopup.com, and spencersomaha.com for more information.

— DINING PROFILE // STORY BY SARA LOCKE —

ENSURING NO ONE FAC E S H U N G E R A L O N E

T

ogether Omaha is a haven for those struggling to find equal footing within our community. From at-risk families to those experiencing homelessness, the organization often serves as the human touch that keeps people holding on.

“One of the first pantries I ever used as a single mom was Together," Strode said.

"They showed me so much respect, and that’s how I want to make clients feel.”

Stephanie Strode, former client and current operations manager for Together Omaha, knows what it takes to pull yourself up when life gets hard; a community that cares. That’s exactly what she found at Together and why she opted to become part of the solution.

“Our primary focus year-round is ending and preventing homelessness. We are a 100 percent choice pantry. Our clients can walk in and walk through, choosing exactly what they want for their families,” she said. “We see a lot of food allergies, vegetarians, families avoiding pork or processed foods, and we are so happy to accommodate.”

Strode thinks it is just as important to see that families are met with dignity as it is to end their immediate hunger.

“There is this fear among those who find themselves in need that they will take what they’re given. That’s not how we operate,” she said. “When someone starts to make progress and they show up in their car with [in-transit] tags still on, there’s almost this shame about continuing to accept help. We want them to know that they deserve this assistance and we’re happy providing it.

If our help made it so that you were able to get that last bit together to buy a car, that means it’s working. Now you’re able to take those next steps, and before long we’ll be saying goodbye and missing you.”

Helping create a level playing field and seeing the relief Together brings to the community keeps the nonprofit’s employees and volunteers motivated and excited to provide for their neighbors every day. Since COVID-19 officially hit Omaha, however, Together has had to change their approach.

“We’ve had to cut back on how many people we can have on hand to help, so right away we lost all of our volunteers.

And we can’t allow people to come in and make their own selections, so we started pre-packing boxes and delivering them to cars,” Strode said.

And while the pandemic continues to deal blow after blow, the team at Together has become adept at rolling with the punches.

“The need for services like ours has been great in Omaha, but these last few months have been completely new,” Strode said. “There was a lot of the community right on the bubble, just making it. Then there were families who wouldn’t have ever imagined they would need to ask for assistance. And then overnight, so many people lost their income, their free school lunches, their access to a lot of programs that were keeping them on their feet.”

According to Tina Murray, Together Omaha’s crisis engagement program manager, the organization helped more families between March and June than in all of 2019.

“A N D T H E N O V E R N I G H T, S O M A N Y PEOPLE LOST THEIR INCOME, THEIR FREE SCHOOL LUNCHES, THEIR ACCESS T O A L O T O F P RO G R A M S T H AT W E R E K E E P I N G T H E M O N T H E I R F E E T. ” // 130 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

As the line of cars curls around the neighborhood and police arrive to manage and direct traffic, Strode reminds herself that these aren’t cars, but families. She isn’t helping the 150 people waiting in the heat, mask on and more than a little afraid the food will run out. She’s helping the family in the car in front of her. As she catches the eye of the sleepy, hot, cranky child in the back seat of this car, she smiles behind her mask. She knows the child can’t see her smile, but the eyes are a giveaway. She disappears to fetch the pantry items and is sure to throw in any extra treat she can find to thank the little one for their bravery.

Together, s d e e c c u S a ah Om

Stephanie Strode

And as the car pulls away, she meets the next with renewed purpose.

It’s easy to view Strode, and every member of the Together team, as heroic.

They’re quick to demure and redirect credit to the supporting organizations that keep them moving.

were spending hours trying to pull these together. Now, we have these amazing 25-pound boxes of meat, produce, just everything. Each one makes a difference, and that’s all we can focus on right now.

We have the short game covered, so these families have a chance to put together a plan for the future.”

“We are completely backed by the Food Bank for the Heartland. We wouldn’t know what to do without them,” Strode said. “The National Guard has been boxing our food...which has taken off so much of the load for us. Without our volunteers and without being able to let families pack their own bags, we

Volunteer turned Inclusive Community Health Vista Touki Phommakhanh echoed this sentiment. “Everyone works together,” she said. “They come out and interact directly with each person coming through the line. I’m so grateful for being present for this work, learning names, hearing their stories and seeing

those smiles. We have this common goal of removing whatever burden we can, and for each family we see, we know we are taking away one of their most pressing needs.”

As we each find our way to the other side of this crisis, Strode, Phommakhanh, and the team want Omahans to know they don’t have to do it alone. We all succeed better, together.

Visit togetheromaha.org to learn more, donate, or volunteer.

SEPTEMBER 2020

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- Sponsored Content -

Omaha

DINING GUIDE AMERICAN CHARLESTON’S - $$$

140th and Dodge streets - 402.431.0023 76th and Dodge streets - 402.991.0055 Charleston’s is a casual, upbeat restaurant with a menu filled with dishes prepared from scratch daily. We focus on providing our guests with excellent prices and selecting the highest quality ingredients. Whether you are new to Charleston’s or a long-standing guest, we look forward to seeing you soon!

—charlestons.com/locations

DJ’S DUGOUT - $

636 N. 114th St. - 402.498.8855 1003 Capitol Ave. - 402.763.9974 10308 S. 23rd St. - 402.292.9096 2102 S. 67th St. - 402.933.3533 180th and Q streets - 402.292.9096 192nd & West Maple St. - 402.315.1985 HWY 75 & Oak Hill Road - 402.298.4166 Catch all the action at DJ Dugout Sports Bar’s seven Omaha-area locations. DJ’s Dugout features delicious wings, burgers, wraps, salads, appetizers, and an impressive drink menu. Plus, DJ’s Dugout Sports Bar has huge media walls full of HD TVs and projectors. Dig In at the Dugout!

—djsdugout.com

JAMS- $$

7814 Dodge St. - 402.399.8300 17070 Wright Plz, Ste. 100 - 402.810.9600 1101 Harney St. in the OldMarket - 402.614.9333

Jams is an Omaha restaurant legacy, an “American Grill” that offers a melting pot of different styles and varieties. The dishes are made with high-quality ingredients that pair well with award-winning wines or creative cocktails.

—jamseats.com

LE PEEP - $

69th & Pacific - 402.933.2776 177th and Center streets - 402.934.9914 156th Street & W. Dodge Road - 402.408.1728 120th and Blondo streets - 402.991.8222 Le Peep puts a wholesome perspective on your favorite neighborhood breakfast and lunch spot. Fresh. Simple. Elegant. Inviting. We put the emphasis on people, both patrons and staff.

We focus on providing each of our guests the fresh food and friendly service that they have come to expect. Open daily 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

—lepeepomaha.coms

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SEPTEMBER 2020

LISA’S RADIAL CAFE - $

817 N. 40th St. - 402-551-2176

American. Cafe. Diner. Vegetarian-friendly.

Gluten-free options. This old-school diner serves hearty portions of American comfort classics for breakfast and lunch. Family-owned and operated. This business is a must if you’re in the area. People rave about our chickenfried steak, stuffed French toast, coffee, and friendly staff. Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m.-2 p.m

OLD MATTRESS FACTORY - $ 501 N 13th St. - 402.346.9116

Keepin' it real in a renovated mattress factory built in 1883, remodeled in 2007 within walking distance to Omaha's major entertainment venues. Three private dining rooms for your own events, or stop in before or after any downtown Omaha event. Open daily at 11am-1am.

—themattomaha.com

STELLA’S - $

106 S. Galvin Road, Bellevue 402.291.6088 Since 1936, we’ve been making our worldfamous Stella’s hamburgers the same way.

The family secrets have been handed down to each owner, ensuring that your burger is the same as the one you fell in love with the first time you tried Stella’s. And if it’s your first time, we know you’ll be back! MondaySaturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., closed Sunday.

—stellasbarandgrill.com

TED AND WALLY’S - $

1120 Jackson St. - 402.341.5827 Come experience the true taste of homemade ice cream in the Old Market. Since 1986, we’ve created gourmet ice cream flavors in small batches using rock salt and ice. We offer your favorites, plus unique flavors like margarita, green tea, Guinness, and French toast. Special orders available.

Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.- Sat. 11 a.m.11 p.m., Sunday. Noon-10 p.m., —tedandwallys.com

ek Dining Gre

Greek Islands Restaurant Omaha, NE

Family Owned Since 1983 CATERING / PARTY ROOM AVAILABLE HOMEMADE, FRESH FOOD, ALWAYS.

3821 Center St. / 402.346.1528 GreekIslandsOmaha.com

• Private Parties & Events, Full & Partial Venue Buyout • Serving Burgers, Beers, Salads & Cocktails

402.502.9902 6209 MAPLE ST. • BENSON GM@BARCHENBEER.COM BARCHEN BEER.COM

BEER GARDEN & BEER HALL

Omaha

DINING GUIDE

I TA L I A N LA CASA PIZZARIA - $$

Get a Little Saucy. CHANGE WOOD FIRE STEAKS & SEAFOOD INNOVATIVE PASTA—RISOTTO—GNOCCHI FRESH SALMON DAILY

Open 7 Days a Week for Lunch & Dinner

Catering

Patio Dining, Take Out, & Curbside Pickup Available!

. Private Party Rooms . Walk-Ins Welcome 3125 South 72 nd Street

(Easy access off I-80, take 72nd Street Exit)

402.391.2950 . Call today to make your reservation Sports Bar

La Casa Pizzaria has been serving Omaha its legendary Neapolitan-style pizza and pasta for 60 years. We offer dine-in, carry-out, party facilities, catering, and now pizza shipments to the 48 contiguous states. Open Tuesday-Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

—lacasapizzaria.ne

LO SOLE MIO RISTORANTE ITALIANO - $$

3001 S. 32nd Ave. - 402.345.5656

SPEZIA SPECIALTIES

NO CASH VALUE. EXPIRES 9/30/2020 Not Valid with Happy Hour or Any Other Promotions.

One Per Check.

45th and Leavenworth streets 402.556.6464

Sports Bar

2016 First Place KETV 7 • Baxter Arena

OMAHA’S #1 SPORTS BAR!

The restaurant is located in a residential neighborhood, surrounded by charming homes. Everyone is greeted with homemade bread, a bowl of fresh tomatoes and basil, a bowl of oven-roasted garlic cloves, specially seasoned olive oil, and (at night) a jug of Chianti! The menu includes a large variety of pasta, chicken, veal, seafood, and even a delicious New York steak. Traditional dishes such as lasagna, tortellini, and eggplant parmigiana are also available. Lunch offerings include panini, salads, and one of the best pizzas in town. Patio seating, full bar, and a great wine list complete the atmosphere. No reservations, except for private rooms.

—losolemio.com

PASTA AMORE - $$

11027 Prairie Brook Road - 402.391.2585 Pastas are made fresh daily, including tortellini, fettuccine, and capellini. Daily specials and menu items include a variety of fresh seafood and regional Italian dishes, such as linguini amore and calamari steak, penne Florentine, gnocchi, spaghetti puttanesca, and osso buco. Filet mignon is also offered for those who appreciate nationally renowned Nebraska beef. To complement your dining experience, the restaurant offers a full bar and extensive wine list. Be sure to leave room for homemade desserts, like the tiramisu and cannoli. Monday-Thursday 9 p.m. and FridaySaturday 10 p.m. Reservations recommended.

—pastaamore.com

DJSDUGOUT.COM

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+

SEPTEMBER 2020

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J

R ot d d a ust

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nd twist loaf a s k c i t s d a lla bre

rotellasbakery.com

Omaha

DINING GUIDE Breakfast

SPEZIA - $$$

3125 S. 72nd St. - 402.391.2950

156th & Dodge • 408-1728 177th & Center • 934-9914 120th & Blondo • 991-8222 69th & Pacific • 933-2776

Thanks for Voting Us # BREAKFAST YEARS in a Row!

12

1

Drive-Thru Open (Center St. Only) Open Daily 6:30am-2:00pm Serving Breakfast & Lunch All Day!

LEPEEPOMAHA.COM | @LEPEEPOMAHA

Choose Spezia for lunch or dinner, where you’ll find a casual elegance that’s perfect for business guests, get-togethers, or any special occasion. Exceptional food, wine, and service, with a delectable menu: fresh seafood, certified Angus steaks, innovative pasta, risotto, gnocchi, cioppino, lamb, entrée salads, Mediterranean chicken, flatbreads, and fresh salmon daily. Enjoy a full bar, Italian and California wines, Anniversary/Lovers’ Booth (call to reserve), private dining rooms, and wood-fired grill. Open Monday-Sunday.

Cocktail hour 4-6 p.m., when all cocktails, glasses of wine, and beers are half price.

Evening reservations recommended.

—speziarestaurant.com

MEXICAN FERNANDO’S - $

7555 Pacific St. - 402.339.8006.

380 N. 114th St. - 402.330.5707 Featuring Sonoran -st yle cooking made fresh daily. C atering and par t y rooms also available. M onday-Thursday 11 a . m .-1 0 p. m ., Friday-Saturday 11 a . m .-11 p. m . , Sunday 4 -9 p. m . —fernandosomaha .com

LA MESA - $$

158th St. and W. Maple Road - 402.557.6130 156th and Q streets - 402.763.2555 110th St. and W. Maple Road - 402.496.1101 Fort Crook Road and Hwy 370 - 402.733.8754 84th Street and Tara Plaza - 402.593.0983 Lake Manawa Exit - 712.256.2762 Enjoy awesome enchiladas, fabulous fajitas, seafood specialties, mouth-watering margaritas, and more at La Mesa. Come see why La Mesa has been voted Omaha’s No. 1 Mexican restaurant 16 years in a row. SundayThursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. —lamesaomaha.com

ROMEO’S MEXICAN FOOD AND PIZZA - $

90th and Blondo streets - 402.391.8870 146th St. and W. Center Road - 402.330.4160 96th and L streets - 402.331.5656 Galvin and Avery roads - 402.292.2028 29th and Farnam streets - 4402.346.1110

@OmahaMagazine

Romeo’s is your friendly, family Mexican food and pizza restaurant.We take real pride in serving our guests generous portions of the freshest, most flavorful dishes made with the finest ingredients available. Zesty seasonings and the freshest ingredients combine to ensure the ultimate in flavor. Our savory taco meat is prepared every morning at each location. Make sure to try our chimichangas; they’re the best in town. —romeosomaha.com

SEPTEMBER 2020

// 135 //

STEAKS • CHOPS • SEAFOOD ITALIAN SPECIALTIES 7 private party rooms Seating up to 400 Lots of parking

1620 S. 10th Street

402-345-8313

www.casciossteakhouse.com

Bringing Italy to Omaha Since 1919

Take a Taste of Italy Home Today!

HAPPY HOUR:

Tues–Sat 3-6pm & All Day Sunday

Tues-Thurs: 8:30am-8pm Friday: 8:30am-8:30pm Saturday: 7:30am-8pm Sunday: 7:30am-6pm

REVERSE HAPPY HOUR:

Friday & Saturday 9-11pm $1 OFF TACOS, $3 MEX BEERS, $5.50 MARGS 735 N 14th St. Omaha, NE 68102 402.933.4222 | hookandlime.com

An Omaha favorite for over 100 years (1919-2019)

402.345.3438 621 Pacific St, Omaha NE orsibakery.com

WALKING DISTANCE TO

CHI HEALTH CENTER OMAHA & TD AMERITRADE PARK CLEAR BAG POLICY IS IN EFFECT. 402.346.9116 | 501 N. 13th Street | theMattOmaha.com /the old mattress factory omaha

@Matt_factory

Seafood - Mexican - Sushi

5101 S 36 th St, Omaha, NE 68107 - 402-213-5723 - Daily Food & Drink Specials Home of the

h Steak ouse

FAMOUS WHISKEY STEAK

@The Drover Restaurant & Lounge | Gift Cards Available 2121 S. 73 St. | (402) 391-7440 | DroverRestaurant.com Open Monday - Friday 11am - 2pm | Dinner nightly from 5pm

// 136 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

Omaha’s Riverfront Entertainment Venue

Omaha

DINING GUIDE

SPECIAL DINING

JAMS OLD MARKET • 1101 Harney St • Happy Hour M-F 3pm-6pm

BÄRCHEN BEER GARDEN - $

6209 Maple St. - 402.502.9902

JAMS MIDTOWN • 7814 West Dodge Road • Sunday Brunch 10am-2pm

JAMS LEGACY • 17070 Wright Plaza • Party Rooms & Patios • jamseats.com

BOOK NOW!

151 FREEDOM PARK ROAD OMAHA www.rivercitystar.com

Located in Benson, Bärchen is a modern American beer garden and beer hall influenced by German communal drinking culture. Indoor seating for approximately 125 people and outdoor seating in our beer garden for approximately 125-150 people.

The laid-back atmosphere pairs well with our 30 rotating taps, international beer list, unique sausage & sandwich menu, and locally made pretzels. We are family and dog friendly—all are welcome. Hours: TuesThurs 3 p.m.-11 p.m.; Fri & Sat 11 a.m.-1 a.m.; Sun 11 a.m.-10 p.m. For more information or to host an event, please email gm@barchenbeer.com —barchenbeer.com

CRESCENT MOON ALE HOUSE - $

3578 Farnam St. - 402.345.1708

Founded in 1996, we’ve grown into Beer Corner USA with the additions of The Huber Haus German Beer Hall, Max and Joe’s Belgian Beer Tavern, and Beertopia—Omaha’s Ultimate Beer Store. With more than 60 beers on tap and Omaha’s best Reuben sandwich, we are a Midtown beer-lover’s destination. Hours: MondaySaturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Kitchen hours: MondayWednesday 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m.-midnight. Closed Sunday.

—beercornerusa.com

FIRST WATCH - $

1222 S. 71st St. - 402.932.5691 2855 S. 168th St. - 402.330.3444 3605 N. 147th St. - 402.965.3444 304 Olson Drive - 402.965.3444 18101 Chicago St. - 402.916.4109 2015 Pratt Ave., Bellevue - 402.991.3448 We begin each morning at the crack of dawn, slicing fresh fruits and vegetables, baking muffins, and whipping up our French toast batter from scratch. Everything is made to-order here at First Watch. We use only the finest ingredients possible for the freshest taste around.

—firstwatch.com

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+

SEPTEMBER 2020

// 137 //

Omaha

DINING GUIDE GREEK ISLANDS - $

3821 Center St. - 402.346.1528 Greek cuisine with specials every day at reasonable prices. We are well-known for our gyro sandwiches and salads. We cater and can accommodate a party for 65 guests.

Carry-out and delivery available. MondayThursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.- 7 p.m.

—greekislandsomaha.com

STEAKHOUSES Thank You, Thank You,

CASCIO’S - $$

1620 S. 10th St. - 402-345-8313 Cascio’s is Omaha’s No. 1 steakhouse. We have been serving Omaha for 69 years. We feature steaks, chops, seafood, and Italian specialties. We have seven private party rooms, seating for up to 400 people, and plenty of parking.

—casciossteakhouse.com

Thank You

an Dining Itali

For Continually Voting For Us!

Serving Lunch & Dinner Mon-Sat 3001 S. 32nd Ave / Omaha, NE 402.345.5656

n Sandwi ube ch Re

PARADISE BAKERY - $

17305 Davenport St. - 402.934.5757 120 Regency Parkway - 402.991.3000 Paradise Bakery offers freshly prepared baked goods made from scratch every morning with the finest ingredients available. Offering a variety of meals including soups, salads, and sandwiches.

Our associates are extremely proud of the reputation Paradise has earned for providing exceptional service and producing the finest-quality products.

—paradisebakery.com

THE DROVER RESTAURANT & LOUNGE - $$$

Try Omaha’s Favorite Reuben!

2121 S. 73rd St. - 402-391-7440

Famous for the original Whiskey Steak. Truly a one-of-a-kind Midwestern experience. Excellent food, wine, service, and value. Rare... and very well done. Lunch Monday­- Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m., cocktail hour 3-6 p.m., dinner nightly 5 p.m.

—droverrestaurant.com

Omaha’s largest selection of craft beers.

3578 Farnam St • 402-345-1708 www.beercornerusa.com

Dine-in / TakeouT / CurbsiDe / ouTsiDe available Pasta

xican Dining Me

Rockbrook Village (108th & Center) 402.391.2585 www.pastaamore.com

THANK YOU FOR VOTING OUR PASTA #1

We can accommodate parties of 30 or more, by reservation only

Mon.-Thurs.: 4:30-9 PM // Fri.-Sat.: 4:30-10 PM // Closed Sunday

Like Us on Facebook

Hamburger

Catering Available

thanks to our customers for voting us the “BEST BURGER

IN OMAHA www.romeosOMAHA.com

// 138 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

“Serving World Famous Hamburgers Since 1936” 106 Galvin Rd., Bellevue, NE • 402-291-6088 • Open Monday-Saturday, 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Reopening

August 15!

500 S. 20th Street

402-342-6164

is proud to recognize many black-owned restaurants in Omaha.

Visit OmahaMagazine.com to see our list.

Did we miss anyone? Email

editor@omahapublications.com and let us know.

SEPTEMBER 2020

// 139 //

// EXPLORE CALENDAR //

LEGACY OF THE PL AINS HARVES T FES TIVA L Sept. 19-20 at Legacy of the

NEBRASK A

20 TH ANNUA L POLISHFES T Sept. 13 at Polish Heritage Center Museum and St. Francis Community Hall, Ashton. This event will feature the music of Sheelytown, tours of the museum, pre-sales of pierogi, and soups—sauerkraut and sausage, chicken noodle, and czarnina—a silent auction, quilt and money raffle, and a Polish mass. 308.750.6439.

— facebook.com/Polish-Heritage-Center-Inc ANNUA L S TEELE CIT Y FLE A M ARK E T AND ANTIQUE FARM M ACHINERY SHOW Sept. 19-20 in Steele City. With

Plains Museum, Gering. For the 23rd year, the annual Harvest Festival attracts thousands of visitors for food vendors and activities such as a corn maze, livestock viewing, and more. 308.436.1989.

—legacyoftheplains.org

RICHARDSON COUNT Y FREE FAIR Sept. 19 at

Richardson County Ag Society, Humboldt. Starting off each morning with a parade, the entertainment this year will be limited to one day. There will still be vendors, concessions, and live music from High Heel. Other activities include exhibits and animal shows. 402.245.4324.

—facebook.com/richardsoncountyfair

HARVES T FAIR Sept. 13 at Stuhr Museum, Grand Island. This popular fall event celebrates harvest time with live music, pumpkin activities, and a medicine show. 308.385 .5316.

—stuhrmuseum.org

// 140 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

25-26

OGA LL A L A INDIAN SUMMER RENDEZ VOUS Sept. 17-19 at

food, demonstrations, an antique tractor show, and spaces for vendors selling everything from crafts to antiques, this event attracts many. 402.729.5131.

— fairbury.com/events/steele-city-flea-market

NORFOLK OK TOBERFES T Sept. 25-26 in downtown Norfolk. During this two-day festival, Northeast Nebraska celebrates the area’s German heritage and fall harvest with a beer garden, SEPT. live music, German food, and family entertainment. Attendees can also count on a Husker tailgate, teen dance, and free rides home anywhere in Norfolk from 12:30-2 a.m. 402.371.4862.

—norfolkareachamber.com

Rendezvous Square, Ogallala. Going on their 35th year, downtown Ogallala offers a celebration of their past with bands, entertainment, dancing, and local talent. Food will also be available, including a chili cook-off and bloody Mary competition 308.284.4066.

—ogallalaindiansummerrendezvous.com

APPLE JACK FES TIVA L Sept. 18-20

various locations, Nebraska City. To kick off the apple harvest, this historic festival—with a turnout of 60,000 to 80,000 people—consists of apple pie, apple cider, caramel apples, and all other things apple. The weekend has over six craft fairs, a car show, live music, and has been named a USA Today Top 10 Fall Harvest Festival. 402.873.6654.

—gonebraskacity.com

SEPT.

19

HARVES T FES TIVA L Sept. 17-20 in Gothenburg. The three-day event is the town’s 105th annual festival, full of ar ts and crafts as well as a large parade. 308 .537.3505 .

—gothenburgdelivers.com

LINCOLN ART S FES TIVA L WEEK END Sept. 21-22 in downtown

Lincoln. Moving to downtown Lincoln for its 20th year, this festival will feature artists from across the country.

The event offers activities such as the Creative Zone, as well as live music from Lincoln’s largest music festival, Lincoln Calling. 402. 434 .2787.

—artscene.org

WA K EFIELD BA LLOONS DAYS Sept.

25-26 in Wakefield. For the 16th year, Wakefield will host hot air pilots, a Legion steak feed, and the BBQ Bash.

The event will also offer a color run, omelet feed, craft and food vendors, a classic rock and countr y band, and more. 402 .287.2080.

—visitdixoncounty.org PUMPKIN PATCH AND VINTAGE M ARK E TPL ACE Sept. 19-Oct. 31, Bloom

Where You’re Planted Farm, Avoca. The pumpkin patch season calls for a visit to the Avoca farm. Locally grown pumpkins of all shapes and colors are for sale, and guests can find activities such as hay rides on the farm. 402.267.4104.

—bloompumpkinpatch.com

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SEPTEMBER 2020

// 141 //

// EXPLORE CALENDAR //

IOWA

ARTAPA LOOZ A Sept. 12 at Cedar

Falls Community Main Street, Cedar Falls. Children and adults can participate in hands-on art activities, and view work from over 40 participating artists.

319.277.0213.

—communitymainstreet.org

WORLD FOOD & MUSIC FES TIVA L Sept. 18-20 in downtown

K ANSAS

DANCEFES TOPIA Sept. 10-13 at Emerald City, La Cygne. These four days pair a w ild dance par t y w ith outdoor activ ities . This year features per for mers Freddy Todd , Blanke, Paz , and many more. 87 7.9 87.6 4 87.

— dancefestopia .com

// 142 //

SEPTEMBER 2020

L AURIE HILLBILLY FAIR Sept. 11-12 at 269 Fairgrounds Drive, Laurie. Craf ts , food , music, and car nival r ides make for an enjoyable weekend in Laur ie.

573 .374 . 87 76 .

— cit yof laur ie.com S TATE OF THE OZ ARK FES TIVA L Sept.

12 at Historic Downing Street, Hollister. A var iet y of activ ities are offered at this festival, including dancing, shopping, yoga sessions , street actors , and craf ts . 417.335 .1371 .

— explorebranson .com

17-19 in downtown Branson. This free event features live music, homemade craf ts , and a sidewalk sale.

417.33 4 .15 4 8 .

— explorebranson .com

HARVES T HOOTENANNY Sept. 18-19 at Mark Twain Cave, Hannibal. Featur ing many activ ities for kids and adults , the t wo-day event celebrates the tow n’s histor y and scener y. Pony r ides , pumpkin painting, and wall climbing are just some of the activ ities offered . 573 . 221 . 2 47 7.

—v isithannibal.com

SEPT.

25-27

FA LL FES TIVA L OF ART S AND CR AF T S Sept. 25-27 at Main

BLUEGR AS S BAT T LES HUNGER Sept. 25-26 at

Coleman Hawkins Park, St. Joseph. Proceeds from this concer t go toward suppor ting hunger relief effor ts through Second Har vest Communit y Food Bank . Guests can look for ward to food-tr uck cuisine and vendor wares .

Email info@bluegrassbattleshunger. com for more infor mation .

—bluegrassbattleshunger.com

25-26

ANNUA L AUTUMN DA ZE ART S, CR AF T S, AND MUSIC FES TIVA L Sept.

at Kansas State Fairgrounds, Hutchinson. In the spir it of tradition , the K ansas State Fair w ill host special edition livestock shows star ting Labor Day weekend . They w ill have 4-H and FFA youth livestock competitions , plus open class livestock ex hibitions in September. 620.669 .3 60 0.

—kansasstatefair.com

2020 VIRTUA L L AFES TIVA L Sept, 1-30 at KS Avenue of Murals, Kansas City. This event prov ides an oppor tunit y for local Latino ar tists to showcase their work to the communit y. The ar tists w ill show pieces that inf luence, infor m , and celebrate Latino culture. 913 .9 40. 413 6 . — latinoar tsfoundationkc.com

SEPT.

MISSOURI

Des Moines. Named “Best Food and Beverage Program” by the International Festivals and Events Association, this weekend offers international food, live music, dancing, cooking, wine and craft beers, and an exciting atmosphere. 515 .286. 4915 .

—dsmpartnership.com

K ANSAS S TATE FAIR LIVES TOCK SHOW Sept. 3-20, weekends only

CIDERFES T Sept. 26-27 and Oct. 3-4 at the Louisburg Cider Mill, Louisburg. Activ ities such as pony r ides and donutmaking can be found at this annual fall festival. Visitors can also count on live music and a ten-acre cor n maze. 913 . 837.5202 .

—louisburgcider mill.com

Street, Washington. The histor ic tow n attracts many ar tists to sell their unique products . Live music and a food cour t also come w ith the event. 63 6 . 239 .174 3 .

—v isitmo.com

OVERL AND PARK FA LL FES TIVA L Sept. 26 at Santa Fe

Commons Park, Overland Park. This communit y-or iented celebration features high school bands , local businesses , dance troupes , and a parade through dow ntow n O verland Park . 913 .3 4 4 . 8656 .

— opkansas .org

Event times and details may change.

Visit omahamagazine.com for complete listings.

Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.

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SEPTEMBER 2020

// 143 //

NOT FUNNY // COLUMN BY OTIS TWELVE // PHOTOGRAPH BY BILL SITZMANN

EMOT IO NAL SUPPO RT

P

eople say that when times get tough, the tough get going.

My high school coach used to say that all the time, but then he retired mid-season.

I guess he just “got going.”

Nowadays, times are really tough, and even the tough have a tough time going anywhere, so many people have begun to use emotional support animals to help them on their way.

Now, I like dogs, and I do get a lot of emotional support from them, but I’ve had a hard time really accepting the whole “emotional support animal thing.” I try to be empathic, but…

In 2014, a woman brought along her 80-pound “emotional support pig” on a Delta Airways flight. She got kicked off the plane when the pig, instead of being supportive became scatologically disruptive. Soon the news channels were all ridiculing the idea of pork-flavored support animals. Leaping to the defense of pigs on planes, the American Mini Pig Association joined the controversy by arguing that the woman had simply chosen the wrong breed of pig, and that there were many appropriately sized porcine companions more suitable for air travel. This surprised me, not because I didn’t know about small pigs, but because I would have never guessed that there was an American Mini Pig Association. In fact, they have an online store, and FYI, they sell T-shirts, hats, and tote bags. They do not sell mini pigs.

There was more trouble on the tarmac when a Frontier Airlines flight was greeted by police at Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport after a passenger’s “emotional support marmoset” got loose during the trip from Columbus, Ohio. Even after an exhaustive search the police and airline staff were unable to find the little primate and it apparently…you guessed it… stayed in Las Vegas. I love it when advertising slogans come true.

People even bring horses on board airplanes. Miniature horses were specifically given the green light to keep flying the friendly skies. Which makes me wonder if the owners have to bring along “emotional support” shovels and buckets.

OK, people love horses, I get that…As for goats? Not so much…“emotional support goats” had become so common that Alaska Airlines banned them from coming aboard their planes.

Common? Were people smuggling goats into Alaska? Or were goats attempting to escape?

I haven’t solved that mystery.

A Colorado State University student studying clinical/counseling psychology had an “emotional support” sugar glider. I don’t know if that’s good or not. I have no idea what a sugar glider is. It could have talons and a thirty-foot wingspan, or it could fit into your fanny pack. I don’t know.

Some people have even traveled with “emotional support” goldfish—I assume on short flights.

I have seen stories about monkeys as support animals, though vets advise against this. One article on Yahoo! read, ”As non-domesticated animals, monkeys may be nice as babies but once they reach maturity, they usually become aggressive and very difficult to keep. They also have a tendency to bite, scratch, and throw feces.” That certainly, is not emotionally supportive behavior, at least not when traveling. And, please, don’t get me started about “emotional support tarantulas.”

I know, I sound cynical, but after examining the entire concept, I have finally come around. I now have my own “emotional support,” though it’s not an animal. I find great comfort, and stability in my choice. I look forward to years of stability…Yes, I now have an “Emotional Support Athlete.” He is really good. My team will always win. And I will be OK. Yes, my mental health, in fact the sanity of this senior citizen, rests entirely on a 24-year-old kid from Texas.

Much better than a sugar glider or a marmoset, my emotional support athlete: Patrick Mahomes. I’d take him on an airplane, but he’s already in first class.

Editor’s Note: A sugar glider is a nocturnal gliding possum with a taste for sweet foods.

Otis Twelve hosts the radio program Early Morning Classics with Otis Twelve on 90.7 KVNO, weekday mornings from 6-10 a.m. Visit kvno.org for more information.

SEPTEMBER

// 144 //

2020

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