True Heat Comes From a Warm Heart

Days ago, in the midst of a cold snap, before closing time I strolled through our lobby and noticed a young man with a specially trained dog. His doctor’s office suggested he visit us for assistance. He heated his tiny efficiency apartment by turning on his oven and opening the door.

A tearful case worker in our office gave him her own space heater. I offered to buy her a new one but she refused, explaining that she too must help in her own way.

Before long I knew most of the man’s story. He recently moved to Lincoln and was struggling with the side effects of his cancer-related treatments. He was wearing two tee shirts over a light jacket. “Father, I’m from Wisconsin and know how to ‘layer up!’” “How are you going to get home?” I asked. “I’ll wait for the next bus and take it home,” he replied. I knew it wasn’t good enough at 2 degrees (and a wind-chill of 20 below) and his labored breathing. After hearing we were there to help he said in a relieved tone, “Thank you! I don’t know what I would have done otherwise!”

Because of some generous donors, I was able to give him a warm winter coat with a hood in his size and, along with some food from our pantry, we loaded up one of our vans and headed to the pharmacy closest to his home. After paying for his medicines, we arrived at his apartment. His possessions included an old sofa, a small stand, a broken frying pan, one pot, three plates, one knife, one fork and several spoons. Because of the small size of his apartment, it didn’t take long for the space heater to do its job.

He was even more relieved when I said, “We’ll be back, with a table and chairs, a dresser and hide-a-bed, bed sheets, blankets and items for the kitchen. We will also help turn your gas on so you will have real heat!”

Needless to say, he was grateful and overwhelmed. I was grateful as well to Almighty God for sending him to us and decided to call his doctor’s office to thank them for their referral.

Lastly, I was grateful to all of our benefactors - for their prayers so we can continue this ministry of loving Jesus Christ who lives in the poor and needy; for their material donations, i.e., furniture, appliances, clothes, coats, house and kitchenware, etc; and for their cash donations which allow us to help with rent, utilities, grants for counseling etc.

I knew that if it wasn’t for our generous donors, this would never have happened.

As I left this young man, I was relieved that he would spend the evening safe and warm, with his needed medicines and a full stomach. Soon he would be able to sit at his own kitchen table and sleep on a mattress with the basic amenities that we all are tempted to take for granted.

Thank you all once again and know that we at Catholic Social Services pray for you every morning at 8:30.

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All Questions are answered by a priest of the Diocese of Lincoln and published on the Southern Nebraska Register.