Powerful Life

Retirees give back for the holidays

Many OPPD retirees recall finding purpose and joy working at the utility during the holidays. They found great satisfaction in knowing that the electricity they were generating and delivering lit colorful holiday lights, helped warm people’s homes and kept businesses buzzing.

Sometimes that meant extra effort and off-hours sacrifices, especially when frosty winter storms blew through.  Through all that, they formed lasting friendships and strong bonds.

So it’s not surprising that a group of retirees showed up in force recently after DJ Clarke put out a call for help. Clarke, who retired from OPPD in 2016 after nearly 36 years, serves as administrator of Royale Oaks and House of Hope assisted living communities in Omaha.

She asked some of her retiree friends if they could help provide gifts for residents who would not be getting much – or anything – for Christmas.

‘A calling’

A personal experience helping her mother-in-law navigate through the senior living continuum of care prompted Clarke to obtain her assisted living administrator’s license and a certification in dementia training. She has spent the past eight years as an administrator in this industry, and she describes her second career “as a calling.”

Clarke traces her leadership and people skills back to her days at OPPD. She spent the majority of her OPPD career leading the Corporate Marketing & Communications team. She also worked as the executive communication manager for the CEO and served on several non-profit boards.

Last year was Clarke’s first year at Royale Oaks and House of Hope. She recalled scrambling days before Christmas to make sure everyone would have a gift. Many of the residents don’t have family, or their families don’t have resources to help.

“Patti Quinn McGovern hosts an annual holiday gathering with many women who retired from OPPD,” Clarke said. “I asked her what she thought about getting the ladies to help provide gifts this year.”

Without hesitation, Quinn McGovern agreed. She enlisted fellow retirees Angie Garfield and Mary Finley to help organize the effort. They met with Clarke, devised the plan and set it into action. Quinn McGovern retired in 2012 after 33 years of service, Garfield retired in 2014 after 37 years, and Finley retired in 2011 after 36 years.

Rather than hosting the annual party, Quinn McGovern reserved a big party room at DJ’s Dugout in Aksarben Village and sent out a Facebook message to those who usually attend. The post explained that the group was adopting 26 residents and also was collecting items that residents always need, such as personal care items, socks, bath towels, sheets, pillows and blankets.

Gathering gifts

Word spread, and a number of other retired women hopped on the message thread that ended up with 47 members, who have more than 1,500 combined years of service to OPPD. The “adoption” process did not take long.

The wish lists were simple: a hat and gloves; a large coffee mug and hair accessories; sweatpants; nightgowns; a Nebraska shirt; a scarf, gloves and a lap blanket; paint by numbers;  a scrapbook and stuff to go with it; and oatmeal cookies and other snacks.

The retirees gathered for lunch Dec. 11, then loaded a van with dozens of packages and gift bags. There were far more packages than requests, and Clarke expressed her gratitude for all who took part.

“As we were unloading the gifts, several staff members and residents were amazed at all of the packages,” Clarke told the group. “It’s going to be a very nice Christmas for the residents thanks to all of you.”

Holiday tunes

A few days later, retiree Alison Rider kept the cheer going at Clarke’s community. For the second straight year, Rider brought a church choir to the assisted living facility to sing Christmas carols. This year, the singers came from Rider’s church, Church of the Resurrections on Belvedere Boulevard in North Omaha, and St. Andrews Episcopal Church on 84^th and Pacific streets. Rider retired in 2010 after 30 years at OPPD.

There are other retiree groups that also continue carrying out OPPD’s values of having a passion to serve, honoring the community and caring for each other. The High Voltage Club, made up of retired employees who meet monthly for lunch and fellowship, has collected food for the Sienna Francis House and for decades.