Want Your Heart Warmed? This Wheelchair Story Will Do It!
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Barbara had been homeless since early June 2022, sleeping in a churchyard near our Leavenworth Street Pantry. Having a prosthetic leg – a result of being backed over by a semi-truck – Barbara is wheelchair-dependent.
In July, Barbara showed up to our pantry, asking if St. Vincent de Paul had a functioning wheelchair; her very old, rickety chair had lost much of its tread and the brakes were nearly non-functional. As the Society didn’t have any wheelchairs in stock, Pantry Manager, Gillian Cromwell, sprang into action. Although she was unable to track down a wheelchair through local non-profit connections and resources, Gillian eventually found a nearly-new one for sale on Craigslist. The cost? $75. Gillian contacted the husband and wife sellers – Omahans Jim and Peg Schneider – and explained Barbara’s situation. The Schneiders immediately waved their asking price, instead donating their pristine wheelchair to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Gillian picked up the chair from the Schnieders and presented it to Barbara (with the two of them pictured together). As she slid into this “new-to-her” chair for the first time, Barbara’s gratitude was overflowing. Trying (unsuccessfully) to hold back her tears, Barbara shared: “I’ll tell you what. Living outside, there’s not a lot of positive things going on. This chair is such a blessing to me. I am VERY grateful to St. Vincent de Paul and to Gillian and to the donors. This chair means so much to me. Today, I definitely have an attitude of gratitude.” Will you please consider making a gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha right now to help us serve people from our community who are most in need, like Barbara? You can make your gift using our secure donation page, found HERE. Or, you can send a check to SVdP at 1715 Izard Street, Omaha, NE – 68102. Your support makes a real and meaningful difference to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha, and especially to the people to whom we provide assistance. Nearly all of the contributions to our organization come from compassionate members of our community, like you. Thank you and God bless you! |
Gifts to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha are used to care for the people who turn to us during their hour of need and are greatly appreciated. All of our services are provided at no cost. All gifts made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Our donor information is kept in strict confidence. Our donor lists are never rented, shared or exchanged with other organizations. The stories in our letters are real. Identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy and therapeutic interests of those we serve. For more information about the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha, or to include us in your estate planning, please contact Development Director, Tim Sully, at (402) 779-8499 or at development@svdpomaha.com.
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