Stories
Some call it stories. Others call it a blog. But here you'll find nuggets of goodness to use and -- you guessed it -- SHARE!

Pumpkin spice lattes are here, let’s volunteer!

Written by Katie Fourney    on October 2, 2019    in
Get in the Fall spirit and warm your heart with these easy volunteer opportunities in the Omaha metro.  

 
Volunteer a few hours at a Fall or Halloween Event
Smores, trunk-or-treats and a “haunted” train, these are signs Fall has arrived! These upcoming events need volunteers to offer just a few hours of their time. Sign up below. Ghoul have a spooky good time.

                Hummel Harvest Nights – 10/11/19 and 10/18/19
                Neighboorhood Tour: Bensonhurst - 10/12/19 and 10/13/19

Beer sampling volunteers needed: BLOCKtober Fest

Written by Katie Fourney    on September 26, 2019    in
The 712 Initiative has a fun-packed day planned for Saturday, October 5: BIKEtober and BLOCKtober Fest in Council Bluffs. The extravaganza includes BIKEtober's 22-mile fall bike ride (which supports the Pottawattamie County Trails Association) and BLOCKtober Fest's Bavarian Festival, complete with pretzel necklaces. 

'Wait, tell me more about the beer sampling volunteers needed,' you say. In order to pull off this over the top party for Council Bluffs, The 712 Initiative needs volunteers to help with the events.

EVENT SET UP VOLUNTEERS - 2 more needed
Saturday, October 5th from 10am-12pm

The first ever Don't Go Hungry Games!

Written by Katie Fourney    on September 13, 2019    in

Mouth-watering BBQ, exclusive raffle prizes and a unique volunteer opportunity: You don't want to miss the first-ever Don't Go Hungry Games!

Heartland Hope Mission invites you to join them at their Feed a Family Dinner on Thursday, October 10th to fight hunger together. This year's theme is the Don’t Go Hungry Games! Volunteers will lead guests into a game full of twists and turns, competition and prizes. Attendees will gain a new understanding of the challenges Heartland Hope Mission clients face in their day to day lives. 

To play the game, buy your tickets now for the Don't Go Hungry Games.

AFSP Volunteers are Lifesavers

Written by Katie Fourney    on September 9, 2019    in
Every volunteer comes to American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Nebraska with a deeply personal reason for becoming involved. Often, these lifesavers are propelled to spread suicide prevention awareness because of their own pain.

AFSP is working to prevent the second leading cause of death for Nebraskans age 15-34 and ninth leading cause of death for all age groups. Their work saves lives and brings hope to those affected by suicide through suicide prevention trainings, community outreach and mental health advocacy.

Volunteers like Mark and Jenn make every hour count because of a desire to let others know that they are not alone.



Volunteer stories: Omaha Rapid Response

Written by Katie Fourney    on August 27, 2019    in

The Internet is an amazing thing.

Every year, a group of Northwest Arkansas churches partner together for a mission trip and volunteer for a week. Early this summer they asked Google, ‘Where should we go? Who needs our help?’

They discovered this posting on SHARE Omaha. They were drawn to Omaha Rapid Response’s need for flood relief volunteers. Their 50 student and 20 adult volunteers could make a big difference in King Lake.
 


Turning fashion into action: Humble Lily

Written by Katie Fourney    on August 13, 2019    in
  
The Humble Lily is an Omaha gem that is becoming not-so-secret. The Humble Lily is an immaculate boutique at 10730 Pacific Street, Suite 114 in Shaker Place that sells lightly used women’s clothing. The proceeds from The Humble Lily support Bethlehem house, a 12-bedroom maternity home for pregnant women in crisis.

Last year Humble Lily funds accounted for 30% of operating income for Bethlehem House. Volunteers are a key part of keeping overhead low. One of these valued volunteers is Kaye.



Kaye is a retired nurse who couldn’t retire from helping others. She first came to Humble Lily as a shopper and was drawn to the mission.

“I’m an organized person and I wanted to help with the back room,” said Kaye.

SHARE Omaha offering cross-river office hours

Written by Katie Fourney    on August 7, 2019    in
 
As a connector of the metropolitan area’s nonprofit organizations and public supporters, SHARE Omaha is happily spreading the word that it is leasing physical space in both Omaha and Council Bluffs. SHARE Omaha will spend half the week at the Scott Technology Center in Omaha’s centralized Aksarben Village (6825 Pine Street) and the balance of time in Council Bluffs subleasing from The 712 Initiative (1228 S. Main Street).
 
“We are a common ground for nonprofit organizations’ needs being met across a wide geographic area. What better physical and symbolic message to try officing amongst the nonprofit community and having dedicated time in both states of our service territory? It greatly excites our team to pilot this cross-river effort,” said Marjorie Maas, executive director of SHARE Omaha.
 

25 Nonprofits in 45 Seconds

Written by Katie Fourney    on August 6, 2019    in

We asked local nonprofits to share photos and videos of their mission in action. We received hundreds of visual representations of the amazing work local organizations are doing in the Omaha/Council Bluffs metro. Our partners at Frost Media Group selected as many of these photos as possible and hit the streets to film volunteers doing good in the metro. The result? These three commercials that you may see on KETV this month!  

Watch all 45 seconds, see how many organizations you can identify and then read on below to learn more about them and see how you can help.

Volunteer highlight: A ride-along with the Truck Brigade

Written by Katie Fourney    on July 30, 2019    in
Partnership 4 Hope's Youth Mart, a donation center for former foster youth, needs new Truck Brigade volunteers! Sign up to join the Truck Brigade here.
 
Overheard during a ride-along with the Truck Brigade, as a team of volunteers delivered a couch, bed frame and mattress to a recipient of donation items:
“You got enough truck straps for that couch?”
“The apartment’s up there? It’s has to be. Our deliveries are never on the first floor.”
“There’s another door, right? I don’t think it’s coming in this way...”
“Vvvv-room,” said a little boy in Spiderman pajamas as he drove his toy car under the couch being carried back out door number one.
“Look out, the kitty is trying to escape!”

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We have so much great news to share from our nonprofit partners about their amazing work. But, we'd love to hear from you. Let us know if you have stories you'd like to tell and we'll make you a guest blogger!!