OPPD employees from across the district worked together to provide food, gifts and other assistance to those in need during this year’s holiday season. Their efforts included collecting new, unwrapped toys for the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program; volunteering with Heartland Hope Mission, Open Door Mission, Completely Kids and Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership; joining the Angel Tree Project in Nebraska City to bring a holiday meal and toys to a family; and helping build a safe enclosure for dogs at the Bark Park in Peru.
Toys for Tots
Employees show off their long toy receipt at Walgreens, left, and carts at Target carry toys to be donated to Toys for Tots.OPPD employees with some of the toys they helped collect for Toys for Tots.Just some of the toys purchased by OPPD employees for the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program.
Heartland Hope Mission
Employees volunteer at Heartland Hope Mission, which helps families in need with basic staples and various types of assistance. At Christmas, the mission’s Hope-Filled Christmas helps families with clothing, shoes an gifts for children.Volunteers helped Heartland Hope Mission with its Hope-Filled Christmas efforts.
Open Door Mission
Employees pause for a photo while volunteering at Open Door Mission, which helps people experiencing homelessness by providing access to safe shelter, meals, health and wellness services, and more.Employees help serve a meal while volunteering at Open Door Mission.
Completely Kids
Completely Kids provides a variety of services for kids and teens, including a weekend food program and a teen employment program.OPPD employees spent some time volunteering with Completely Kids.
Angel Tree Project
Employees again participated in the Angel Tree Project, in partnership with the First Lutheran Church of Nebraska City. The team adopted a family of 7 this year, with 5 kids ranging from 4-13. Each family receives gifts for every child as well as gift certificates for groceries, pizza, and board games and books.
Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership
Employees volunteered with Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership (ENCAP), where they built six pallets holding individual grocery bags to be delivered to more than 2,000 people in need.
Bark Park
OPPD employees from Syracuse stand in front of the enclosure they built for the Bark Park in Peru.OPPD employees set posts, secured nearly 300 feet of fence, and ensured the Bark Park was safe from debris and ready for pooches in the community to have a place to run.
Julie Wasson is the brand journalism strategist at Omaha Public Power District and the editor of The Wire. She has more than 25 years of print journalism and social media experience, including two stints at the Omaha World-Herald.
In honor of Veterans Day, we talked to a few OPPD team members who have served our country. We asked them to share what inspired them to serve, what the day means to them, and more.
