Diana Share's Her Gratitude
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Sometimes, the hardest step a mother can take is also the most courageous one.
For Diana, that step was leaving a life of fear and abuse so she and her young son, Dominic, could finally be safe. For years, Diana endured a marriage filled with fear, uncertainty, and abuse. She worked hard to protect her son and hoped things would somehow get better. After several attempts to leave, Diana finally made the courageous decision to walk away. She knew starting over would not be easy. But she knew keeping herself and Dominic safe had to come first. What she could not have known was how difficult rebuilding their lives would be. After Diana left, her husband took nearly everything of value from their home. There was not much to begin with, but whatever belongings they had were either taken or sold, keeping the proceeds for himself. Suddenly, Diana was left with almost nothing. She had escaped an unsafe situation – but she was now facing another frightening reality: how would she provide for her son? How would she keep a roof over their heads? Today, Diana works hard at a local food production facility to provide for Dominic. They now live in a small rental house in one of Omaha’s tougher neighborhoods. While Diana is grateful to have a place to call home, she worries about raising her son in an area where she doesn’t always feel safe. She dreams of moving to a better neighborhood someday, but for now, it simply isn’t financially possible. Between caring for Dominic, paying the rent, and stretching every paycheck as far as it will go, Diana lives with the constant fear that one unexpected expense could leave them without a home. That fear became a reality when she fell behind on rent and received an eviction notice. She also had an unpaid utility bill and no resources to catch up. With nowhere else to turn, Diana called the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha. Because of generous friends like you, our Vincentian volunteers and staff were able to answer that call. The Society provided financial assistance to help pay Diana’s past-due rent and utility bill, allowing her and Dominic to remain in their home. Your kindness helped prevent another devastating setback and gave this mother the stability she desperately needed. “I was so afraid I was going to lose everything,” Diana shared. “I had finally gotten away, but I didn’t know how I was going to make it. The Society showed me that someone cared and that we were not alone.” Diana is deeply grateful for the support she has received from the Society. She is thankful for the resources that help her provide for Dominic and continue moving forward. Someday, she hopes to move her son to a safer neighborhood, but for now, she is grateful that they have a home and a place where they can continue rebuilding their lives. Stories like Diana’s are why the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha exists. Every day, neighbors throughout our community face unexpected hardships – a lost job, a medical emergency, domestic violence, or an unexpected bill they simply cannot pay. No parent should have to choose between escaping abuse and keeping a roof over their child’s head. Yet every day, families in our community face impossible choices like these. Will you please consider making a gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha so we can continue providing a hand up to families facing a crisis, like Diana’s? While summer is often our slowest season for charitable gifts, the people who turn to the Society for help do not have a season for their struggles. Rent is still due. Utility bills still arrive. Families still need food, clothing, and a helping hand when unexpected hardships arise. Your support helps families remain in their homes, keep essential services connected, put food on the table, and begin rebuilding their lives with dignity and hope. Because of compassionate friends like you, neighbors facing a crisis have a place to turn and the opportunity for a brighter future. Please consider making your gift today. You can also donate securely online HERE. We have kept in touch with Diana who often tells us how grateful she is for the kindness she and Dominic received from the Society. But her gratitude truly belongs to caring supporters like you. Today, Diana is working hard, raising Dominic, and looking toward a brighter future. She still dreams of the day she can move her son to a safer neighborhood, but because of your generosity, they have something they once feared losing – a home, hope, and the reassurance that they are not alone. Thank you for helping SSVP Omaha serve neighbors like Diana and Dominic when they have nowhere else to turn. Our work is only possible because of compassionate people like you. Your generosity reminds families in crisis that even during life's darkest moments, they are not forgotten. Thank you, and God bless you for your generosity. |
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 [email protected].
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