Creighton University

Creighton's study-abroad program in the Dominican Republic, Encuentro Domnicano, is raising funds for extremely poor communities in the DR who have difficulty accessing medical care. Money goes to a transportation fund set up by Creighton students to allow poor Dominicans to travel to the ILAC Mission for health care. Donations can be sent to ILAC. All checks should be made out to Creighton University/ILAC with the donation earmarked for "Transportation Fund." For more information, e-mail Kyle Woolley at KyleWoolley@creighton.edu.

The center "provides support to pregnant women to choose life for their unborn child in a Catholic residential environment both during and after pregnancy." Special needs include diapers (sizes 2 and 3), baby wipes and Tylenol. Contact: Sister Clarice Korger at 502-9224.

Fr. Paul Strittmatter, S.J., expects to make his annual Santa run in early December to the Rosebud Reservation near Valentine, S.D. Almost new and previously enjoyed gifts including board games, cards, books, stuffed toys, and other treasures will find a warm home in the Christmas stockings of infants and youngsters living on the Reservation. Gifts will be wrapped after they are delivered to Rosebud. If you would like to contribute, bring your donations to the Reinert-Alumni Library before Dec. 3. Questions? Call Arnette Payne x1806.

Project Welcome is working with 30 brand new Burmese refugee families who have just moved into the Creighton neighborhood. We have a desperate need for resources for these families that can be purchased either through cash donations or through gift certificates to Wal-Mart, Bakers or Target. Please contact Dr. Joan Mueller, Theology Department, at 280-5816 for more information.

Serves frail, homebound elderly clients age 60 or older with problems caring for themselves. Most clients are low-income and have very little purchasing power on fixed incomes. Greatest needs are personal hygiene products and home cleaning supplies. To sponsor or for a list of needs, contact Jeff Reinhart at 444-6654.

Furnishes emergency shelter and food to homeless families and single women. Provides transitional living assistance to people when they leave the shelter. Especially in need of canned fruit, canned vegetables, toilet paper, napkins, paper towels,
powder bleach, laundry soap and 30-gallon garbage bags. You can find more online at http://themicahhouse.org. Contact Bobbie Nelson at 323-4416

Serves poor and homeless individuals and families through their food pantry system. They would appreciate receiving new or gently used winter clothing for school children (any/all sizes), babies up to 6 or 7 years, cans of fruit, tuna, jello, baby food, mac & cheese, pantry and toiletry items. In desperate need of canned fruit, peanut butter, canned vegetables and powdered laundry detergent. Contact Debbie or Leigh at 453-7649, e-mail projecthopeomaha.leigh@gmail.com.

Shelters homeless women and children and adult males. Volunteers are needed to cook meals, spend evenings and overnights at the Center, and sponsor families with gifts and food donations. Needs: MAT tickets, coffee, cleaning and paper products, canned food, and new or used blankets and towels. Please, no used clothing. Adopt a family. Contact Cindy Oelke, development director, 715-5476, or Bev Hoschar, volunteer coordinator, 731-0238.

Conducts an annual holiday toy drive for children ages 3-16. Needs food items for pantry and Thanksgiving drive. Also needed: blankets, coats, hats, mittens for all ages and sexes, and diapers of all sizes. Cash donations accepted to purchase food. Contact Angie Remington, 345-8074 x201, aremington@togetheromaha.org.

Families are available for adoption in the family-to-family Christmas program. Canned and boxed foods, as well as paper products, are also needed for their emergency food pantry. Contact Mike McMahon at 731-5413.

Men and women winter gloves, women perfume/cologne sets, hairdryers, curling irons and alarm clocks, children's toys for Christmas morning (please drop off by 12/15)! Phone cards and cards for bus tickets are also welcome gifts during the holidays and throughout the year. Contact Maggie Cope at 829-1554 or visit www.opendoormission.org.

CSI is accepting gifts for children in its emergency shelters and children and families involved in other agency services through its Substitute Santa program. Art supplies and craft kits for junior high age kids would be appreciated. Call 504-3661 for more information on Substitute Santa, or contact the Child Saving Institute at 553-6000.

The Siena/Francis House – located next to Creighton's campus at 17th and Nicholas streets – is Nebraska's largest homeless shelter, providing food, shelter and clothing to homeless men, women and children. Needed items include: canned fruit (large, #10 cans, preferred); canned vegetables (large, #10 cans, preferred); individually wrapped, prepackaged food items to go into sack lunches; powdered laundry detergent; 55-gallon trash bags; bleach and disinfectant cleaner; cold-weather clothing, including coats, sweatshirts, gloves, hats, socks, underwear and blankets; personal-care products, such as toilet paper, "hotel size" soap, shampoo, deodorant, razors, shaving cream, toothpaste and toothbrushes, pain relievers, antiseptic cream, adhesive bandages, foot powder, combs and brushes, disposable diapers, and feminine hygiene products. Contact Tim Sully at 341-1821 or e-mail tsully@sienafrancis.org.

Offers after school programs for youth ages 4-18 in nine elementary schools, two middle schools and three homeless shelters in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area.  Camp Fire provides a safe, structured environment where at-risk kids can receive nourishment and positive adult role models to help them succeed with academic performance, avoid risky behaviors, develop good life-skills and give back to their neighborhoods through community service. Creighton students volunteer at various Camp Fire locations throughout the year, gaining experience in language, physical fitness, education and social work, as well as health care. Camp Fire is in need of gifts such as coloring books and crayons and board games to ensure that each Camp Fire kid receives a gift this holiday season. Gifts will be collected through Dec. 10. For more information, contact Michelle Zych at Camp Fire, 397-5809 ext. 213 or mzych@campfireomaha.org.

The Omaha Street School, founded by Creighton alumnus John Parsons, JD'85, is an alternative high school with a Christian focus that puts at-risk youth on the road to success. Omaha Street School has lower dropout rates than the national average and continues educational and  career goals after graduation. The Omaha Street School is always looking for volunteers. Volunteers provide much-needed support by teaching electives, tutoring  students, and by preparing and serving meals. They help keep costs low while also bringing important skills and talents from the community to meet the needs and interests of students. To learn more, visit www.omahastreetschool.org. This Holiday Season, consider donating items for the school's Cho Store. Students earn "Cho" (a street term for money) as they learn and practice new social/behavioral skills that are taught each week. The students can spend their Cho in the Cho Store to purchase items they want. For more information, contact Tami Saunders, executive assistant at the Omaha Street School, at 451-5234 (ext. 162) or tsaunders@omahastreetschool.org.