21 Omaha Area Charities and Organizations To Support This Year
21 Omaha Area Charities and Organizations to Support This Year!
Click on a category to jump ahead and find out how you can help:
Community & Housing | Arts & Culture | Food & Shelter | Health | Animals | The Environment | Youth | Veterans
Community & Housing
Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity of Omaha
Habitat for Humanity of Omaha
Since its founding in 1976, Habitat for Humanity has been committed to ending poverty housing worldwide. Using volunteers and donations, they help provide homes and build communities for those in need. Habitat for Humanity of Omaha, which has been growing strong since 1984, has helped over 1,500 families in our community, providing opportunities for homeownership, home repairs and neighborhood revitalization.
You can help by volunteering or donating, or visiting the Habitat for Humanity ReStore and purchasing some second-hand items for your home!
Project Houseworks
Project Houseworks serves low-income, elderly homeowners in Omaha and the surrounding areas by providing free home repairs and modifications that allow seniors to age in a safe and healthy home. Modifications like tub-to-shower conversions, grab bars, ramps and flooring repairs give disabled homeowners the ability to stay in their home longer. Find information on how to get involved here.
Family Housing Advisory Services
Established in 1968, Family Housing Advisory Services’ mission is to improve the quality of life and eliminate poverty by helping people achieve housing stability and financial security. They provide education on home buying, foreclosure prevention, fair housing, finances and taxes to help improve the quality of life in our community. You can donate to this organization here.
Arts & Culture
Omaha Children’s Museum
Omaha’s Children Museum is a place where children can challenge themselves, discover how the world works and learn through play. They provide a variety of hands-on exhibits, workshops, programs, presentations and special events such as field trips, summer camps and overnight presentations to put children in touch with their ever-changing world.
You can help by volunteering or interning at the museum or by donating!
Arts For All
This nonprofit makes the arts available and affordable for all. They offer public classes for just $10 an hour, enrichment classes for local schools, and workshops for the public and community organizations. Find information on how you can help here.
Food & Shelter
Photo courtesy of Stephen Center featuring Physicians Mutual
Open Door Mission
For over 63 years, Open Door Mission has been welcoming people with open arms and meeting the needs of individuals and families, while inspiring hope for lasting change. Every day of the year, they provide safe shelter, meals, clothing, recover and life-changing programs, and services to the hungry and homeless of Omaha and Southwest Iowa.
You can help by giving financially, volunteering, hosting a drive or donating items in need!
Stephen Center
Stephen Center is a safe haven, providing emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing, transitional living, addiction recovery for adults and juveniles, and life skills education to help those struggling with addiction or homelessness. Find out how you can help here.
Food Bank for the Heartland
One in five children under the age of 18 is at-risk for hunger and Food Bank for the Heartland wants to change that. They provide emergency and supplemental food to the people in need in Nebraska and western Iowa with a goal to eliminate hunger in our community.
You can help by donating food, giving financially or volunteering!
Health
Community Health Charities of Nebraska
212 South 74th Street, Suite 205
For more than four decades, Community Health Charities of Nebraska (CHC-NE), formerly and soon to be known again as CHAD, has been raising funds for innovative research that improves lives, critical client services, and education and prevention programs that support our community. Since 1972, they’ve raised over 54 million dollars for health charities such as the ALS Association, the Nebraska Community Blood Bank, and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Giving to CHC-NE means giving to over 22 Nebraska charities, which you can do here.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Omaha
The Ronald McDonald House Charities provide support and resources to help keep families together in the event of illness or an accident. They also help provide easier access to healthcare when children need it most all while allowing caregivers to rally alongside other families fighting the same fight.
You can learn how to support this organization here!
Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance
This organization excels at helping families make connections between health and housing issues. They improve children’s lives by assessing homes, educating families and connecting them to home repair services to reduce health and safety risks all while focusing on policy issues and advocacy around the community.
You can help the Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance by donating or volunteering.
Animals
Photo courtesy of the Nebraska Humane Society
Nebraska Humane Society
The Nebraska Humane Society is the fifth oldest humane society in the nation and one of the largest. They offer shelter to animals who have no place to call home and provide vital services to them. Every year, over 30,000 animals, including wildlife, find their way to the humane society. By donating, you can help provide sanctuary to animals and pet ownership education to Nebraska residents.
Muddy Paws Second Chance Rescue
No Physical Location
This no-kill organization was founded in 2015 by a small group of animals lovers. They work with dogs of any breed, physical condition or age, and is completely volunteer-based. They also provide unique supportive services like education and training to owners considering putting their dog up for adoption and offer education and placement assistance to those trying to rehome their pet on social media.
Get information on how to get involved here!
Heartland Cats
No Physical Location
Heartland Cats takes in older cats that might otherwise be running out of options due to age, medical problems and/or loss of home. While they don’t have cats available for adoption, older cats that are in good health are placed in the Senior Companion Program, where they can help lower blood pressure, fight depression and help seniors stick to a regular routine.
Learn how to donate or sponsor here!
The Environment
Keep Omaha Beautiful
Keep Omaha Beautiful offers a wide range of programs, events and educational services that promote litter reduction, community beautification and environmental knowledge. From community park cleanups to recycling projects with area schools — their efforts focus on promoting environmental stewardship and fostering a thriving and beautiful city.
You can learn more about how to volunteer or donate here!
Green Omaha Coalition
No Physical Location
For over 10 years, The Green Omaha Coalition has been promoting a greener Omaha through collaboration, education and advocacy. They host several events every month that promote environmental health and enrich our community. You or your business can become a member and become a new voice in the coalition.
Youth
YES: Youth Emergency Services
Hundreds of youth in the Omaha metro area are homeless, have been abused, or are suffering from health, mental health or substance abuse issues. The Youth Emergency Services of Omaha is here to help them turn their lives around. They provide local youth with food, shelter, clothing and safety before creating a support system to help them flourish.
You can get involved with YES here!
Grief’s Journey
Grief’s Journey is a place to find help, understanding and comfort after suffering a loss. They serve youth from ages 3-18 who are grieving a death or serious illness/injury. They also offer a variety of training programs and workshops to further educate grief facilitators, community professionals and other caring adults on the aspects of grief support.
There are a lot of opportunities to help Grief’s Journey, find out more about them here.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace
No Physical Location
While there are many amazing charities that provide clothing, meals and toys for families in need, there aren’t many that provide physical beds or bedding to children. Sleep in Heavenly Peace builds and delivers beds to children that don’t currently have the luxury of sleeping on a bed every night.
Find out how you can help here.
Veterans
Moving Veterans Forward
Moving Veterans Forward helps homeless veterans in Iowa and Nebraska find homes and gives them the boost they need to readjust back into civilian life. They collect furniture, clothing and other household items for veterans to help them set up a home and become more self-sufficient. You can donate anything from a bed to paper towels, learn how here.
Paralyzed Veterans of America Great Plains Chapter
This non-profit organization has dedicated over 47 years to helping veterans with spinal cord injuries, as well as other individuals living with disabilities across Nebraska, Western Iowa and Kansas. They are dedicated to advocating for effective healthcare, providing education, promoting equal opportunities, encouraging independence, and enhancing lifetime health and fitness.
You can learn how to help here!
Original article: http://www.npdodge.com/blog/2019/01/21-omaha-area-charities-organizations-support/#more-42362