Heartland Family Service is working to place the 170 Yale Park Apartments residents -- many of them refugees -- displaced following city inspections on Thursday and Friday.
Here's how you can help support this effort:
Items needed
Families temporarily housed at Adams and Columbus community centers are in need of basic items until they can be relocated to permanent housing. Items can be dropped off at Adams or Columbus community centers or Mission Church, 3401 Patrick Ave.
- Large sized diapers (4, 5, 6)
- Plastic storage bins with lids
- Metal garbage cans
- Monetary donations
FURNITURE: If you would like to donate furniture such as couches/beds, please drop off items at Mission Church. They will store large donations until families move to permanent housing.
BEDDING: If you would like to donate bedding, please drop off items noon-6 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m.-noon Saturday at the Omaha Public Schools Teacher Administration Center, 3215 Cuming St..
- New, unused in-package twin-sized sheets
- Blankets and comforters
OPS Family and Community, we are asking for your support in providing needed assistance to OPS families evacuated from Yale Park Apartments yesterday. Learn how you can help: https://t.co/OfI4izYWZr pic.twitter.com/7CKXW6pD6Q
— Omaha Public Schools (@OmahaPubSchool) September 21, 2018
Help for students
OPS is also collecting monetary donations for 200 students who were impacted. They are hoping to raise $40,000 to give each impacted student a $200 gift card.
Business support
Businesses wishing to make large-scale donations should call Heartland Family Services at 402-553-3000.
Support organizations providing aid
Heartland Family Service can be reached at 402-552-7400; or info@HeartlandFamilyService.org.org. You can also donate to the organization online.
The Salvation Army can be reached at 402-898-7700 or log on to salarmyomaha.org
The Nebraska regional Red Cross can be reached at 402-343-7700. It also accepts donations on its website.
Mission Church works to "unleash unprecedented hope in every inner city around the world." The church has partnered with The Salvation Army to provide culturally appropriate meals. They are also a center for collecting monetary or any other types of donations. To find out how you can help, email Amy at amy@thisismission.org.
Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska programs provide high-quality direct support services for refugees, immigrants, asylees and victims of international human trafficking. Call 402-536-3500 to reach the organization's Community Services for New Populations department; or call the general line at 402-342-7038. You can also submit a request on the LFS website.
Open Door Mission works to break the cycle of homelessness. Donate via their website, or find out how you can assist with the organization's most urgent needs. Call 402-422-1111; or email odm@opendoormission.org.
Restoring Dignity Omaha is a group of people committed to meeting the basic needs of the most impoverished refugees in our city. Check their list of most-needed items, which can be dropped off at the storage facility located behind the Omar Banking Building at 4383 Nicholas St. You can also reach out via email at email@rdomaha.com; call 402-305-8139; or send a check to: Refugee Empowerment Center c/o Restoring Dignity, 3610 Dodge St. #100, Omaha, NE 68131
