OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A Tradition of Giving Back
The Open Door Mission proudly continued its 20-year tradition of serving a Christmas Day brunch and dinner for those in need. On this special day, over 270 individuals were provided with meals thanks to the hard work of the Mission’s staff and dedicated volunteers.
Voices of Gratitude
One of the volunteers, Rafael Hernando, a graduate of the new life recovery program at Open Door, shared, ‘Gave me an opportunity to change my life in so many positive ways.’ Rafael reflected on his experience, expressing appreciation for the Mission’s impact on his life.
Rafael, who now works full-time at Omaha Steaks, made the call to give back this Christmas. Chief Community Relations Officer Amy Harvey mentioned, ‘Called yesterday our chef and just asked if he could help out. So our chef went and picked him up earlier this morning and he is here for the day spending Christmas day with us giving back.’
The Importance of Community
From early morning until closing time, Rafael, along with numerous volunteers, worked tirelessly to prepare meals for those in need. ‘Volunteers that on a daily basis, if this place didn’t have the people supporting it from the public, it wouldn’t be able to do what it does,’ he said. “So many people every day, three times a day, today is a special meal but this happens three times a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.”
Open Door Mission is currently witnessing a rise in individuals seeking their services, with nearly 600 guests staying full-time. Amy Harvey elaborated, ‘I would guess economy wise it will continue going up because families in the community are really struggling.’
Celebrating the Spirit of the Holidays
Despite the challenges faced, the Christmas Day meal at the Open Door Mission was filled with joy and support. ‘There are so many people out there that do not have some of the essentials that we have every day,’ Rafael noted. ‘On a day like today, it’s nice to give back.’
Although the total number of volunteers has decreased since pre-Covid, there is hope as numbers are steadily increasing.
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