December 21, 2025 • 30 mins
This week’s show featured Salvation Army Western Division communications director Todd Andrews discussing what their annual bell-ringing campaign funds in the area throughout the year, Nebraska Diaper Bank executive director Tegan Reed responding to the needs of new mothers and how listeners can help meet those needs, and Sheepgate regional president Michael Hunsberger detailing how vehicle donations help their mission to assist those with addiction issues.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
This is Community Matters, a weekly public affairs program to
inform and entertain you with some of the great people, organizations,
and events in and around Omaha. Now here's the host
of the program from news radio eleven ten kfab. It's
Scott for Heats.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Thank you so much for being with us here on
Community Matters and Happy holidays, Merry Christmas to you. I
am Scott Vorhees. I have here the communications director with
your Salvation Army round these parts officially the Western Division, Yes, sir, exactly,
it's very important division. That's our Salvation Army. And that's
Todd Andrews. Hey Todd, welcome back to the show.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Scott, thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
All right, So, bell ringing certainly going on here. We're
just a few days out from Christmas. Sometimes it goes
into overtime. How are we doing here with bell ringing
and trying to reach a goal which is not just like, hey,
we want to get to this number. It's it's a
number of people that you know you're going to need
(01:03):
to help now and throughout the next year. How's it going?
Speaker 3 (01:06):
For sure? The Tree Lights campaign is what you're speaking to.
Of course, the ringing at the bell is the suba
Shammy red keills are a subset of that campaign. The
campaign is going very very well. I don't have the exact,
you know, up to the minute amount on that, but
we've got great momentum and we're looking forward to achieving
our three point three million dollar goal in the near future.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
When you're talking about three point three million, what are
some of the things that you're either looking to fund
now or speculating as what might be the need here
in the next year based on what's happened this past year.
What is the real life impact of what three plus
million dollars can do in this area? For sure?
Speaker 3 (01:42):
So the Tree Alights donations feed into what we do
both at the Christmas time part of the year and
also throughout the year to come. Just as you mentioned
in the open, I appreciate that very much because a
lot of people think, oh, it's just a Christmas time thing. Well,
it is a Christmas time fundraiser that helps both then
and throughout the following year. So here in Omaha we
have eight main pro services and that ranges from everything
from basic needs like food and shelter all the way
(02:05):
to behavioral health. And then also we do older adult
services and youth programming, and so those programs get fed
by the Tree Alites campaign, and it's the driving force
for all of the good that we do during the
Christmas season into the next year. So they're extremely important
to us. Is it all the money you're raising the
given year. No, it's not, but it is a big
substantial chunk that helps us a bunch.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
There is certainly a difference in holiday shopping trends by
the American public now, Whereas it used to be you
go out there and you kind of have fun with
the hustle and bustle and the crowds. I'm putting a
nice spin on that. Maybe the reality is what has
led to this current trend, which is I'm not going
to go out there and do any of that. I'm
(02:47):
just gonna beep up boop on my phone and next thing,
you know, ding dong, here's some stuff right here on
my porch. And unless there's a Salvation Army bell ringer
on your porch, you're not having that kind of constant
interaction with the bell ringers, with the red kettles. So,
thank goodness, there's a great way to be able to
donate virtually, right.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
And neither is omaharedkel dot org. You can use that
year round. We focus on it during the Christmas season
for obvious reasons, but omaharedkell dot org is the place
where you can give any time to the Salvation Army
of Omaha. You ordinations, just like with kettles and everything else,
stay local and help those most in need.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Certainly, they're with the weather this week and a it's
not what people want as a traditional white Christmas, but
it's going to be really great weather and people will
be going out and doing stuff grocery shopping, Christmas shopping.
And there are still opportunities to ring. If you want
to volunteer your time to be a bell ringer, this
is a great week to do it.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Yeah, we will have our kettles out until December twenty fourth,
and if people want to registered ring, they can go
to register ring dot com to sign up. We have
convenient shifts two hours a piece. Just ringing for two
hours at one particular kettle anywhere in town can make
a big difference for people in need.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Yeah, bring the kids out there them ring the bells. Yes,
it saves you know, your carpal tunnel. They're on your
wrist and the kids love being a part of it.
And I love it when I see the bell ringers
and it's some kids that also have like an instrument.
There's some kid blowing a two bath something like that
as you're walking into a grocery store, and it's great
(04:18):
to see that. It's really such a part. It's the
fabric of the holiday season.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
So it is it is, and if I'm a Scott,
that's a great point. When people volunteer. One of the
things we absolutely love is when they bring family with
as you just alluded to, when they bring kiddos with,
when if they bring an instrument and they play it.
That as you know, we've all seen it many times
at kettles across America, because it's not just here in
Nebraska that we do kettles, it's all over America. It
brings attention to the kettles, it brings more donations to
(04:44):
the kettles, and it just brings more positive attention to
the Salvation Army. We really really appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
That's Todd Andrews, communications director with the Salvation Army. As
you look back on twenty twenty five, what are some
things that pop up of what the Army has done
to do more good in our community past year.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Great question. We saw a rise in demand, especially in
the latter half of the year. We saw, for example,
back around Thanksgiving twenty percent increase in the number of
meals requested from our Turkey Fest program, which I think
you volunteered for before, so thank you for that. For
folks who don't know about it, Turkey Fest is phenomenal.
It's been gone since the early nineteen nineties, and it
(05:21):
started out with a few seniors that we knew cooking
like a couple of dozen meals, and then we would
meals on wheels them as it were, to shut in
seniors around ten couldn't get out, didn't have family here
on Thanksgiving Day. That has since morphed into what is
now This year, four hundred and fifty nine hot ready
to eat Thanksgiving meals all the trimmings going out to
shut in seniors thanks to our volunteers on Thanksgiving morning.
(05:45):
This year that was up again twenty percent year over year.
We did about more like eleven hundred, ten hundred and
fifty the year before. Not an eye popping increase, but
certainly when it catches your attention, Twenty percent is a
lot year over year. Then moving on to Christmas time
back up just a little bit more around Halloween, Scott.
Every year we have families in need come in and
sign up for Christmas Assistants, which means gifts and a
(06:08):
gift card to go get a holiday meal for their family.
This year we saw three thousand and eighty four families
come in for that Christmas assistance and sign up right
around All Saints Day. That was up eighteen percent year
over year, and that caught our attention for sure. We
just saw that manifested in the week of December fifteenth
when we had distributions for those Christmas assistance programs, and
I was there for both of those things, Adoptive Family
(06:31):
and Toiland, and you could absolutely, anecdotally see with your
own eyes, Wow, this is more people than we had
last year. The numbers certainly do not lie. I certainly don't.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
We always talk about this on this program, that so
many of us are just a paycheck away from needing
the assistants that we've volunteered our time or our money
for over the years, And thank goodness, it's there for us.
As we look in the weeks ahead, as Congress is
trying to figure out what to do with healthcare costs.
There'll be people who their health care costs are going
to start going through the roof. At some point we
(07:03):
will have a cold freeze set in and hang out
for a while here. Energy costs are certainly not cheap.
There are a lot of people in need here during
this holiday season. So once again Todd tell people how
they can help meet that need by either donating to
the Red Kettles when they see them. We all know that,
but from a virtual sense as well.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Sure again we know that need has no season. That's
when an old slogan of ours from way back in
the day, even before doing the most good was a thing,
And so we always need to be prepared for the
next spike in demand, just as you're alluding to right there.
And so we can't emphasize enough how much we appreciate
our officers or staff, our volunteers, and especially our donors
to step up and make it possible for us to
(07:43):
do what we do. And so people can give right
now at Omaha redkel dot org anywhere they're at as
long as I got internet connection, they can go and
do that if they want us in the check to
us they can do that. We're at one oh seven
five five Bert Street in west Omaha. We're at six
eight one one four. Donations stay local. They help those
most of the need, and they help us help people
right now and also prepare to help even more people
(08:04):
as those demand spikes happen.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Todd Andrews, communications director with the Salvation Army here in
the Western Division here. Love what the Salvation Army does
throughout the year. I love seeing things like that tree
there at ninetieth and Dodge, the big tree of lights
right there. Saw Jordi ball out at Shields the other
day helping out the Salvation Army. We have a fun
Christmas attraction and Valley is planned. Yeah, Christmas Land, a
(08:30):
drive through Christmas light thing here is doing some stuff
with the Army here. So it's fantastic.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
It is it is, and you know, a special shout
out thanks for that opportunity to American National Bank and
it's employees for it's been twenty years now. I think
you know that we've had the Tree of Lights at
the bank at ninetieth and Dodge. We had a wonderful
tree Lights family festival back on November thirteenth. We always
kick off the Tree Lights campaign with the lighting of
the tree that night. So many thanks to American National
Bank for making that happen. They are wonderful partners. And
(08:56):
also same thing to Travis Freeman, owner A Bright Idea
as your friend of mine and Travis has just been
a wonderful supporter for decades. And Christmas Land is is
a genius idea, isn't it. I mean, it's just all
the lights out there you drive through it. I went
out there probably one of the first days it was open,
I think in November, and was just blown away by
(09:17):
how first of all, how many lights there were. Second
of all, just how dazzling it wasn't third like, what
a great idea to put it where it's at and
and and it's easy to get to and it's and
it's fun to go to and it makes for lasting
memories for the family. And of course, also big thanks
to Travis because this season he's giving Salvation Army a
percentage of every vehicle that goes through as a donation.
That's awesome.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
I don't mean to be negative. I went out there
and I was not impressed. Oh well, but that's they
told me. Though it's noon you need to come back
at night. Is that what happens, That's when the lights
are on and it's better. I'm like, all, I'm gonna
give you one more chance. So I'm taking the family
out there this week after Sunday.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
There you go, that's the plan, man.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
But yeah, we can.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
We can't be more grateful to Travis. He's been a
champion for us. And by the way, he also is,
of course our of Life's chair this season. Excellent Todd
Andrews with the Salvation Army. Merry Christmas, Christmas Guts. Thank
you so much for all you do in our community.
Thanks for telling us about it as always on Community Matters.
Thanks you're listening to Community Matters. Next up on the program,
I am joined here by the executive director of the
(10:17):
Nebraska Diaper Bank and you'll find them online at Nebraska
Diaperbank dot org. It's taken, read and taken. Welcome back
to the program.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
How's everything with the Diaper Bank right now?
Speaker 4 (10:28):
It's going well.
Speaker 5 (10:30):
Lots of babies who are in need, so lots of
diapers that need to get out there.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Right I mean, this is a constant refrain on this program.
We talk with people about a variety of different things,
and they say, you know, need is up this year,
even over past years, and that includes the pandemic. So
how's it looking for people in need of diapers? As
we are turning the calendar page over to twenty twenty
six soon.
Speaker 4 (10:53):
Yeah, I'm the same story for us.
Speaker 5 (10:55):
We're finding that a lot of people are in need
and it's increased, and our partners are asking for more
help to be able to serve the families that they
get to see face to face, and so in turn,
we're asking for more help so we can help do
that too.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Let's talk about both sides of this. Start with those
who want to donate to the Nebraska Diaper Bank. How's
the best way to do it? Just back up a
truck full of diapers at your building? Or is there
a better way of doing it?
Speaker 5 (11:19):
I mean, we would absolutely take a truckload of diapers
backed up to our building if you want to do that.
Diaper drives are fantastic. We can make your dollar go
a little bit further if you want to donate to us.
So we have an awesome monthly giving program. It's called
the Village because it truly takes a village to raise
a child, and eighteen dollars a month every month will
diaper our baby every single month for us?
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Excellent, And that's on the website. Do that eighteen dollars
a month? Huh yep, you know it's been a while
since my kids were in diapers, but diapers aren't cheap.
Are you able to stretch that dollar so much? So
we can stretch some diapers over the fannies of these
little babies.
Speaker 5 (11:55):
Yeah, So our goal is to provide a supplement of
diapers to families, So we don't provide every diaper they
might need throughout the month, but that eighteen dollars a
month will get a supplement of sixty to eighty diapers
per child.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Excellent. Yeah, and these are the one and done's or
cloth diapers. I mean, is it up to the person preference.
Speaker 5 (12:13):
Yeah, these are the disposable diapers. So we haven't actually
had a family come to us asking for cloth diapers
to date.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
There's always some person say, oh, back in my day,
my kid is like, that's that's great, we're not going
to do that.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
We're not doing that today, all right.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
So, yeah, we didn't do that with our kids, and
I don't regret that one bit. So what about those
in need?
Speaker 5 (12:39):
Yeah, so we have thirty seven partners and sixty nine
locations across Nebraska and Potawatamie County as well, so they
can hop on our website and there's a really great
tool they can put their zip code in and find
a partner near them.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Excellent. And what does it look like in terms of need?
Are you seeing the same types of faces come in
and look for it or And the reason I ask
is because you know, we're always just so many of
us are one pay check away from needing healthcare assistance,
from needing food assistants, needing diaper assistants. And there are
(13:14):
so many different organizations that say we're having more people
who are whether it's their first, second, or third kid, whatever,
say I never thought I would be in this situation.
Are you hearing that a lot?
Speaker 5 (13:27):
Yeah, we are, And we don't serve families directly, so
we're hearing that through our partner organizations. So they're serving
the families that they would typically serve and then more
as well.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
So what is that process? You've got partner organizations. No
one's coming directly knocking on the door of the Nebraska
Diaper Bank, which I know you guys have a physical building,
but it's not a building with a vault full of
diapers or is it right?
Speaker 4 (13:48):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Is it kind of like that.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Yeah, it's kind of like that.
Speaker 5 (13:52):
You should come volunteer and you can check it out.
We have about four hundred and fifty volunteers in and
out through the month. So we packaged and prepare the
diapers to get ready for our partners. So our partner
organizations are already doing really great work like working in food, insecurity,
or healthcare, just different things like that, maybe some financial
aid classes, things like that for families. So they're not
only getting diapers when they go to our partners, but
(14:14):
they're getting other wrap around services as well.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Okay, that's really the goal.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
Is to insert diapers into a program that's already really
great and for an organization that's already seeing families.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Here pardon my ignorance, which I say all the time.
On this program, someone will go to an organization in
need of food or some sort of assistance, and then
when it is revealed like and I've got a baby
and I need and then then they that organization reaches
out to you and say can we help this person out?
Is that the process really close.
Speaker 5 (14:45):
So the if it's an organization that maybe has a
food pantry and they want to partner with us, we
have an application where they can choose to ask to
partner with us, and then if we do become partners,
they get a supplement essentially for all the babies that
they're serving that month month over, So we support that organization,
who then in turn supports the families that are coming
to them.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Let's go back to volunteering. As we're talking here with
the executive director of the Nebraska Diaper Bank, take and
read with us here on community matters. How does someone
sign up to volunteer? What does a volunteer shift generally
look like.
Speaker 5 (15:17):
Yeah, so you can hop onto our website and sign
up to volunteer. There a lot of corporations sign up.
It's really great team building activity. So we set you
up in kind of an assembly line type style and
we actually unpackaged box diapers, count them out to our
uniform supplement, and then it goes through an assembly line
to re wrap those diapers and put labels on them
(15:38):
to get them ready.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
So you're only at the starting end of getting someone
with diapers. At no point are you asked to go
and clean out the back end. Sooba scricts of the process.
That's still on the parent and the caregiver to do that.
So how much time can someone devote to volunteering? What
does an average shift look like? And are there any
(16:00):
like Well, I don't know how many boxes with diapers
I can throw around in trucks for you guys. Are
there some physical requirements that would help?
Speaker 4 (16:07):
Yes?
Speaker 5 (16:08):
So usually an average shift is an hour and a
half and it is a lot more physical than you
might think. So we always provide water, but we say
dress in layers in case you need to remove some.
But you're moving in group in the whole time, moving
diaper boxes around in bundles and sometimes packaging things up
into bigger bags to get orders ready and things like
(16:28):
that for our partner.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
And where is the Nebraska Diaper Bank?
Speaker 4 (16:31):
So we're on ninety first and F Street.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
You got ninety first in F streets. You're in there
and hour and a half volunteer shift. I'm guessing a
lot of people will challenge coworkers or family members, especially
getting together for the holidays, like rather than go watch Zootopia, two. Again,
let's go spend an hour and a half volunteering with
the Nebraska Diaper.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Bank, right, absolutely, and we love that.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Nebraska Diaperbank dot org is the website and that's where
you can sign up to volunteer, that's where you can
become a donor. And just eighteen dollars a month is
able to take care of me. How far can you
stretch eighteen dollars a month?
Speaker 4 (17:11):
I mean that's for one baby for the whole month.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
So yeah, that's I'm guessing you've got some really good
deals with a lot of partners who make diapers to
be able to do that. Yeah, because, like I said,
that stuff's not cheap, right, excellent? All right there on
the website Nebraska Diaperbank dot org, Nebraska all spelled out.
Teagan Reid is the executive director of the Nebraska Diaper
(17:34):
Bank and taking how long have you been involved with
this organization and what got your start working with them?
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (17:40):
So actually I'm one of the co founders. We started
in twenty fourteen between a couple of local churches and
it was really the question of if our doors close
tomorrow at our community, miss us. We love people inside
the church really well, but what about our neighborhood? And
so that really let a fire in my soul and
I wanted to figure out what that was. So we
(18:02):
created that small food pantry and eventually over the years
realized that diaper diapers were really the unmet need in
our city. As we watched line wrap around our tiny
little building and out to a major street, we thought
there had to be a better way. So in a
few years after that, we decided to shift our name
to Nebraska Diaper Bank and solely focus on ending diaper
need not only in Omaha, but across the state as well.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
So if you as a donor, as a volunteer, or
if you're with a business and you want a partner
with the Nebraska Diaper Bank, just go to their website
Nebraska Diaperbank dot org, take and read Executive director, thank
you so much for what you're doing for young families
here in our community, and thanks as always for coming
and telling us about it on community matters.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
Absolutely, thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
And thank you so much for being a part of
our program this week. At this time of year, there's
so much going on, but one thing that should be
on your radar is year and giving and there's a
wonderful organization right here in the Heartland that provides you
the opportunity to do that. We welcome the president of
this organization, Michael Hunsberger, joins us once again on community
(19:06):
matters from Sheepgate online at myshepgate dot org. Mike, welcome
back to the show.
Speaker 6 (19:13):
Thank you very much for having me.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
Before we talk about all the different ways that people
can donate to Sheepgate, including the very interesting way of
a vehicle donation. Let's talk about this organization, what you've done,
what you've been for so many people here in our
community over the years. Tell me about Sheepgate.
Speaker 6 (19:31):
Well, I think the key is is just that our
messages that there is hope for someone struggling in addiction.
We have programs for adult men and women eighteen on up.
Doesn't really matter how old they are, as long as
they want help and want to be in our program,
we want them here or a year long residential program,
like I said, for people struggling with drugs, or i'll
(19:52):
call really any addiction that's controlling their life.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
And for those who are not familiar, they remember hearing
about Adult and teen Challenge of the Midlands sheep Gate
is a division of Adult and Team Challenge of the Midlands.
Maybe they don't know about the story of why the
new name. I love having you tell the story about
what Sheepgate means, what that signifies. Can you share that
with us please?
Speaker 6 (20:16):
Yeah, we just wanted to as we were looking at
rebranding and telling our story. That was the idea, is
that we wanted to be able to tell our own
story and be able to share what's happening at these
centers across Iowa, Nebraska. And one way to do it
was be able to kind of give a historic name
change with the name Sheepgate. And that came from the
(20:37):
rebuilding of the Wall and Nehemiah and that first gate
that was repaired in that wall was the Sheepgate. And
really what we've said all along is that we're just
that first stop in that person's life. They're going to
need a lot of help and relationships moving forward, but
we're kind of that emergency room phase in their life,
(20:57):
that first gate that needs repaired.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
There are a lot of different ways that you work
with people to get them off of the path that
they found themselves on addicted to drugs and alcohol and
back on a better path. Faith is a big part
of that, isn't it.
Speaker 6 (21:12):
It's one hundred percent who we are. We believe that
the key to our success is really dealing with those hurts,
those lives that we believe that trauma that's that's driving
us to those addictions versus just treating the symptom, which
which is the drugs, the alcohol are those things that
we run to. We want to dive in and deal
with those things that are driving this to them.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
So for those who want to figure out how they
can help you out with your mission to assist and
being there for people here in the Heartland who are
making these these having these struggles in their lives and
making these changes. Vehicle donation is what you always talk
about there at Cheapgate. How easy is it to donate
an unneeded vehicle even if that thing isn't running to
(21:57):
this organization?
Speaker 6 (21:59):
Yeah, it's very easy. Are our vehicle donation staff do
an awesome job. You can get on our website and
fill out an electronic form and our staff will call
you back. Or you can reach out to our vehicle
office and they will guide you through a very simple
process of having your title signed and ready, and they
will schedule a pickup that works for you. They'll do
the paperwork and get things done for you, and you'll
(22:21):
get that tax right off and along the way get
to really support something that is staying local and is
directly impacting lives.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Yeah, and so if you're looking at a year end donations,
that tax right off can be very significant, can it?
Speaker 6 (22:39):
Yes, it can, And so that is one of our
biggest ways you can give towards this organizations, to our
vehicle donation program, like you said, with vehicles that are
running or not. But also if you want to give
a year in donation, you can send it to one
of our local centers there near you, or you can
get on our website and send it to our regional headquarters.
But there are just a lot of different ways that
(23:00):
you can partner with us. We need your help.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yeah, I'm glad you mentioned that, because as much as
we talk about vehicle donations, even if you have a
donation you want to give that's purely cash, doesn't have
wheels attached to it, you're more than happy to take
that right.
Speaker 6 (23:15):
Yes, we give ninety five percent of our students get
scholarships from us. They don't have the funds to be
in a program, and so your donations are directly going
to helping us keep our doors open to people that
don't have the finances available. And so, like I said,
you get a partner with us in directly changing lives.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
The number to call to learn more about donations, specifically
vehicle donations is eight eight eight three four four hope.
That's eight eight eight three four four hope. If you
can make a financial contribution, certainly call that number or
visit online at myshepgate dot org. We're talking here with
the president of Sheepgate, Michael Hunsberger, is with us on
(23:56):
community matters, and I can personally attest as to how
easy it is. This was the example of my family.
We had a vehicle in the family that it was
running but not well, and it would have cost thousands
of dollars to get it to a point where I
could sell it for probably less money than it took
me to put into it. To sell it and lose
(24:17):
money on that deal, it didn't make any sense. It
was so easy. I called eight eight eight three four
four hope. They came, They picked up that vehicle. All
they needed were the keys and assigned title it was
hauled away a nice tax deduction for the family. It
was so easy to support Sheepgate. And I've also had
the opportunity on this program and others to talk with
those who have been helped by Sheepgate and Michael, I
(24:39):
know how much it means to you to be a
part of this effort.
Speaker 6 (24:42):
So I actually grew up and around Sheepgate. My family
have had multiple graduates of the program. We believe in
what we're a part of. Never thought I was going
to work here, but years later have now been working
here for twenty four years and imagine being a part
of anything else. Can't imagine raising my children around any
(25:05):
other place where they get to see miracles happen on
a daily basis, where they get to see lives that
were given up on, people struggling and just hopeless despair,
and get to see them find freedom from that addiction
and see their families and relationships restored. It's an unbelievable
opportunity for myself and my family, and we feel so
(25:26):
blessed to be a part of it for so many years.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
Yeah, I hope people all like where they work, or
at least like it more often than they don't. But
to be able to do what you do and transform
these lives is a real blessing, not just for those
that you're assisting, but for you and your family as well.
I love having you point that out, so Michael, as
people are looking here at year end donations and being
(25:49):
able to support this organization eight eight eight three four
four hope ormyshepgate dot org. What else do they need
to know, especially for businesses that might have revolving fleet
to vehicles, that they can donate this before the new year.
Speaker 6 (26:05):
Yeah, there are so many different ways they can partner
with us, whether we like we talked about, whether it's
the DEGAL donation or just a financial gift. There's also
ways to volunteer their job postings on our website. There
are a lot of different ways that people can come
in and mentor and be a part of different ways
to build relationships with our men and women at our programs.
(26:25):
But our website would be a great opportunity for them
to get on and see what's happening, get to hear
some live or some video testimonies, and just hear what's
going on at our local centers.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
The number again to call is eight eight eight three
four four hope. That's eight eight eight three four four hope.
Or you'll find Sheepgate online at my sheepgate dot org.
They will pick up a vehicle you can donate, running
or not. And it doesn't have to be a car.
We're talking truck, van, suv, boat, camper, motorcycle, hovercraft. I mean,
(27:01):
whatever it is you might have that's just taking up space.
Cheapgate can turn that into hope for someone struggling with
drug or alcohol addiction right here in the heartland. Eight
eight eight three four four hope or myshepgate dot org.
Michael Haunsberger, President of sheep Gate. Always a pleasure to
have you on the program. Thank you so much for
what you're doing for people in our community, and thanks
for telling us about it on Community Matters.
Speaker 6 (27:24):
Thank you so much for having us in partnering with us.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Time for one more quick segment on this week's edition
of Community Matters, and for this interview, I welcome in
from news Radio eleven ten kfab Gary Sadlemeyer.
Speaker 7 (27:36):
Some information for you that I think may well be
important for all of us to be aware of. And
I had not heard of this condition before, but it's
emerging in the healthcare community as a concern. There's a
collection of health conditions that can trigger get this heart disease,
kidney disease, and diabetes at the same time. Really, it's
(27:58):
called the CKMS. And we're joined for a few minutes
this morning by doctor Tiffany poul Wiley, a cardiologist and
a volunteer with the American Heart Association. Doctor.
Speaker 8 (28:07):
Good morning, Hi, good morning, Thank you for having me.
Speaker 7 (28:10):
You're welcome. It's a pleasure to have you here. What
are we dealing with here? That's new? Why is this
seems to me suddenly a concern.
Speaker 8 (28:19):
So it's important to think about cardiovascular kidney metabolic syndrome
or c KM syndrome as a collection of health conditions.
I know it's a it's a lot of information, but
it's what's really important to know is that we want
people to understand that heart disease, kidney disease, but even
diseases like that eighties and obesity, these are interconnected diseases
(28:44):
and they can affect people at the same time, and
so it's important to think about how do we screen
for the important risk factors for these diseases.
Speaker 7 (28:53):
What would you say that an individual should do to
make sure that their doctor is screening correctly for the US.
Speaker 8 (29:00):
So it's important to talk to your doctor about getting
screened for the risk factors that affect both heart disease
and kidney disease as well as diabetes. So these are
getting It's important to get screened for your blood pressure,
to get screen for your cholesterol, but also your blood sugar,
your weight, and most importantly and what people don't always
(29:21):
think about, is getting screened for kidney functions. So getting
those kidney tests when you go to the doctor.
Speaker 7 (29:27):
Hey, thank you so much for your time. I appreciate
you coming on all right.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 8 (29:32):
If people want more information, heart dot org, backslash, my
CKM health is where to get it.
Speaker 7 (29:38):
Got it. Thank you so much, Doctor Tiffany Powell Wiley. Here.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
This has been Community Matters, a weekly public affairs special
on CAT one O three Omaha's Greatest Hits ninety nine
point nine KGr News Radio, eleven ten KFAB, Country's Greatest
Hits ninety three three The Wolf, and ninety six one
Kiss FM. Thank you so much for listening, and enjoy
the rest of your day.
This is Community Matters, a weekly public affairs program to
inform and entertain you with some of the great people, organizations,
and events in and around Omaha. Now here's the host
of the program from news radio eleven ten kfab. It's
Scott for Heats.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Thank you so much for being with us here on
Community Matters and Happy holidays, Merry Christmas to you. I
am Scott Vorhees. I have here the communications director with
your Salvation Army round these parts officially the Western Division, Yes, sir, exactly,
it's very important division. That's our Salvation Army. And that's
Todd Andrews. Hey Todd, welcome back to the show.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Scott, thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
All right, So, bell ringing certainly going on here. We're
just a few days out from Christmas. Sometimes it goes
into overtime. How are we doing here with bell ringing
and trying to reach a goal which is not just like, hey,
we want to get to this number. It's it's a
number of people that you know you're going to need
(01:03):
to help now and throughout the next year. How's it going?
Speaker 3 (01:06):
For sure? The Tree Lights campaign is what you're speaking to.
Of course, the ringing at the bell is the suba
Shammy red keills are a subset of that campaign. The
campaign is going very very well. I don't have the exact,
you know, up to the minute amount on that, but
we've got great momentum and we're looking forward to achieving
our three point three million dollar goal in the near future.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
When you're talking about three point three million, what are
some of the things that you're either looking to fund
now or speculating as what might be the need here
in the next year based on what's happened this past year.
What is the real life impact of what three plus
million dollars can do in this area? For sure?
Speaker 3 (01:42):
So the Tree Alights donations feed into what we do
both at the Christmas time part of the year and
also throughout the year to come. Just as you mentioned
in the open, I appreciate that very much because a
lot of people think, oh, it's just a Christmas time thing. Well,
it is a Christmas time fundraiser that helps both then
and throughout the following year. So here in Omaha we
have eight main pro services and that ranges from everything
from basic needs like food and shelter all the way
(02:05):
to behavioral health. And then also we do older adult
services and youth programming, and so those programs get fed
by the Tree Alites campaign, and it's the driving force
for all of the good that we do during the
Christmas season into the next year. So they're extremely important
to us. Is it all the money you're raising the
given year. No, it's not, but it is a big
substantial chunk that helps us a bunch.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
There is certainly a difference in holiday shopping trends by
the American public now, Whereas it used to be you
go out there and you kind of have fun with
the hustle and bustle and the crowds. I'm putting a
nice spin on that. Maybe the reality is what has
led to this current trend, which is I'm not going
to go out there and do any of that. I'm
(02:47):
just gonna beep up boop on my phone and next thing,
you know, ding dong, here's some stuff right here on
my porch. And unless there's a Salvation Army bell ringer
on your porch, you're not having that kind of constant
interaction with the bell ringers, with the red kettles. So,
thank goodness, there's a great way to be able to
donate virtually, right.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
And neither is omaharedkel dot org. You can use that
year round. We focus on it during the Christmas season
for obvious reasons, but omaharedkell dot org is the place
where you can give any time to the Salvation Army
of Omaha. You ordinations, just like with kettles and everything else,
stay local and help those most in need.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Certainly, they're with the weather this week and a it's
not what people want as a traditional white Christmas, but
it's going to be really great weather and people will
be going out and doing stuff grocery shopping, Christmas shopping.
And there are still opportunities to ring. If you want
to volunteer your time to be a bell ringer, this
is a great week to do it.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Yeah, we will have our kettles out until December twenty fourth,
and if people want to registered ring, they can go
to register ring dot com to sign up. We have
convenient shifts two hours a piece. Just ringing for two
hours at one particular kettle anywhere in town can make
a big difference for people in need.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Yeah, bring the kids out there them ring the bells. Yes,
it saves you know, your carpal tunnel. They're on your
wrist and the kids love being a part of it.
And I love it when I see the bell ringers
and it's some kids that also have like an instrument.
There's some kid blowing a two bath something like that
as you're walking into a grocery store, and it's great
(04:18):
to see that. It's really such a part. It's the
fabric of the holiday season.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
So it is it is, and if I'm a Scott,
that's a great point. When people volunteer. One of the
things we absolutely love is when they bring family with
as you just alluded to, when they bring kiddos with,
when if they bring an instrument and they play it.
That as you know, we've all seen it many times
at kettles across America, because it's not just here in
Nebraska that we do kettles, it's all over America. It
brings attention to the kettles, it brings more donations to
(04:44):
the kettles, and it just brings more positive attention to
the Salvation Army. We really really appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
That's Todd Andrews, communications director with the Salvation Army. As
you look back on twenty twenty five, what are some
things that pop up of what the Army has done
to do more good in our community past year.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Great question. We saw a rise in demand, especially in
the latter half of the year. We saw, for example,
back around Thanksgiving twenty percent increase in the number of
meals requested from our Turkey Fest program, which I think
you volunteered for before, so thank you for that. For
folks who don't know about it, Turkey Fest is phenomenal.
It's been gone since the early nineteen nineties, and it
(05:21):
started out with a few seniors that we knew cooking
like a couple of dozen meals, and then we would
meals on wheels them as it were, to shut in
seniors around ten couldn't get out, didn't have family here
on Thanksgiving Day. That has since morphed into what is
now This year, four hundred and fifty nine hot ready
to eat Thanksgiving meals all the trimmings going out to
shut in seniors thanks to our volunteers on Thanksgiving morning.
(05:45):
This year that was up again twenty percent year over year.
We did about more like eleven hundred, ten hundred and
fifty the year before. Not an eye popping increase, but
certainly when it catches your attention, Twenty percent is a
lot year over year. Then moving on to Christmas time
back up just a little bit more around Halloween, Scott.
Every year we have families in need come in and
sign up for Christmas Assistants, which means gifts and a
(06:08):
gift card to go get a holiday meal for their family.
This year we saw three thousand and eighty four families
come in for that Christmas assistance and sign up right
around All Saints Day. That was up eighteen percent year
over year, and that caught our attention for sure. We
just saw that manifested in the week of December fifteenth
when we had distributions for those Christmas assistance programs, and
I was there for both of those things, Adoptive Family
(06:31):
and Toiland, and you could absolutely, anecdotally see with your
own eyes, Wow, this is more people than we had
last year. The numbers certainly do not lie. I certainly don't.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
We always talk about this on this program, that so
many of us are just a paycheck away from needing
the assistants that we've volunteered our time or our money
for over the years, And thank goodness, it's there for us.
As we look in the weeks ahead, as Congress is
trying to figure out what to do with healthcare costs.
There'll be people who their health care costs are going
to start going through the roof. At some point we
(07:03):
will have a cold freeze set in and hang out
for a while here. Energy costs are certainly not cheap.
There are a lot of people in need here during
this holiday season. So once again Todd tell people how
they can help meet that need by either donating to
the Red Kettles when they see them. We all know that,
but from a virtual sense as well.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Sure again we know that need has no season. That's
when an old slogan of ours from way back in
the day, even before doing the most good was a thing,
And so we always need to be prepared for the
next spike in demand, just as you're alluding to right there.
And so we can't emphasize enough how much we appreciate
our officers or staff, our volunteers, and especially our donors
to step up and make it possible for us to
(07:43):
do what we do. And so people can give right
now at Omaha redkel dot org anywhere they're at as
long as I got internet connection, they can go and
do that if they want us in the check to
us they can do that. We're at one oh seven
five five Bert Street in west Omaha. We're at six
eight one one four. Donations stay local. They help those
most of the need, and they help us help people
right now and also prepare to help even more people
(08:04):
as those demand spikes happen.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Todd Andrews, communications director with the Salvation Army here in
the Western Division here. Love what the Salvation Army does
throughout the year. I love seeing things like that tree
there at ninetieth and Dodge, the big tree of lights
right there. Saw Jordi ball out at Shields the other
day helping out the Salvation Army. We have a fun
Christmas attraction and Valley is planned. Yeah, Christmas Land, a
(08:30):
drive through Christmas light thing here is doing some stuff
with the Army here. So it's fantastic.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
It is it is, and you know, a special shout
out thanks for that opportunity to American National Bank and
it's employees for it's been twenty years now. I think
you know that we've had the Tree of Lights at
the bank at ninetieth and Dodge. We had a wonderful
tree Lights family festival back on November thirteenth. We always
kick off the Tree Lights campaign with the lighting of
the tree that night. So many thanks to American National
Bank for making that happen. They are wonderful partners. And
(08:56):
also same thing to Travis Freeman, owner A Bright Idea
as your friend of mine and Travis has just been
a wonderful supporter for decades. And Christmas Land is is
a genius idea, isn't it. I mean, it's just all
the lights out there you drive through it. I went
out there probably one of the first days it was open,
I think in November, and was just blown away by
(09:17):
how first of all, how many lights there were. Second
of all, just how dazzling it wasn't third like, what
a great idea to put it where it's at and
and and it's easy to get to and it's and
it's fun to go to and it makes for lasting
memories for the family. And of course, also big thanks
to Travis because this season he's giving Salvation Army a
percentage of every vehicle that goes through as a donation.
That's awesome.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
I don't mean to be negative. I went out there
and I was not impressed. Oh well, but that's they
told me. Though it's noon you need to come back
at night. Is that what happens, That's when the lights
are on and it's better. I'm like, all, I'm gonna
give you one more chance. So I'm taking the family
out there this week after Sunday.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
There you go, that's the plan, man.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
But yeah, we can.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
We can't be more grateful to Travis. He's been a
champion for us. And by the way, he also is,
of course our of Life's chair this season. Excellent Todd
Andrews with the Salvation Army. Merry Christmas, Christmas Guts. Thank
you so much for all you do in our community.
Thanks for telling us about it as always on Community Matters.
Thanks you're listening to Community Matters. Next up on the program,
I am joined here by the executive director of the
(10:17):
Nebraska Diaper Bank and you'll find them online at Nebraska
Diaperbank dot org. It's taken, read and taken. Welcome back
to the program.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
How's everything with the Diaper Bank right now?
Speaker 4 (10:28):
It's going well.
Speaker 5 (10:30):
Lots of babies who are in need, so lots of
diapers that need to get out there.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Right I mean, this is a constant refrain on this program.
We talk with people about a variety of different things,
and they say, you know, need is up this year,
even over past years, and that includes the pandemic. So
how's it looking for people in need of diapers? As
we are turning the calendar page over to twenty twenty
six soon.
Speaker 4 (10:53):
Yeah, I'm the same story for us.
Speaker 5 (10:55):
We're finding that a lot of people are in need
and it's increased, and our partners are asking for more
help to be able to serve the families that they
get to see face to face, and so in turn,
we're asking for more help so we can help do
that too.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Let's talk about both sides of this. Start with those
who want to donate to the Nebraska Diaper Bank. How's
the best way to do it? Just back up a
truck full of diapers at your building? Or is there
a better way of doing it?
Speaker 5 (11:19):
I mean, we would absolutely take a truckload of diapers
backed up to our building if you want to do that.
Diaper drives are fantastic. We can make your dollar go
a little bit further if you want to donate to us.
So we have an awesome monthly giving program. It's called
the Village because it truly takes a village to raise
a child, and eighteen dollars a month every month will
diaper our baby every single month for us?
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Excellent, And that's on the website. Do that eighteen dollars
a month? Huh yep, you know it's been a while
since my kids were in diapers, but diapers aren't cheap.
Are you able to stretch that dollar so much? So
we can stretch some diapers over the fannies of these
little babies.
Speaker 5 (11:55):
Yeah, So our goal is to provide a supplement of
diapers to families, So we don't provide every diaper they
might need throughout the month, but that eighteen dollars a
month will get a supplement of sixty to eighty diapers
per child.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Excellent. Yeah, and these are the one and done's or
cloth diapers. I mean, is it up to the person preference.
Speaker 5 (12:13):
Yeah, these are the disposable diapers. So we haven't actually
had a family come to us asking for cloth diapers
to date.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
There's always some person say, oh, back in my day,
my kid is like, that's that's great, we're not going
to do that.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
We're not doing that today, all right.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
So, yeah, we didn't do that with our kids, and
I don't regret that one bit. So what about those
in need?
Speaker 5 (12:39):
Yeah, so we have thirty seven partners and sixty nine
locations across Nebraska and Potawatamie County as well, so they
can hop on our website and there's a really great
tool they can put their zip code in and find
a partner near them.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Excellent. And what does it look like in terms of need?
Are you seeing the same types of faces come in
and look for it or And the reason I ask
is because you know, we're always just so many of
us are one pay check away from needing healthcare assistance,
from needing food assistants, needing diaper assistants. And there are
(13:14):
so many different organizations that say we're having more people
who are whether it's their first, second, or third kid, whatever,
say I never thought I would be in this situation.
Are you hearing that a lot?
Speaker 5 (13:27):
Yeah, we are, And we don't serve families directly, so
we're hearing that through our partner organizations. So they're serving
the families that they would typically serve and then more
as well.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
So what is that process? You've got partner organizations. No
one's coming directly knocking on the door of the Nebraska
Diaper Bank, which I know you guys have a physical building,
but it's not a building with a vault full of
diapers or is it right?
Speaker 4 (13:48):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Is it kind of like that.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Yeah, it's kind of like that.
Speaker 5 (13:52):
You should come volunteer and you can check it out.
We have about four hundred and fifty volunteers in and
out through the month. So we packaged and prepare the
diapers to get ready for our partners. So our partner
organizations are already doing really great work like working in food, insecurity,
or healthcare, just different things like that, maybe some financial
aid classes, things like that for families. So they're not
only getting diapers when they go to our partners, but
(14:14):
they're getting other wrap around services as well.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Okay, that's really the goal.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
Is to insert diapers into a program that's already really
great and for an organization that's already seeing families.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Here pardon my ignorance, which I say all the time.
On this program, someone will go to an organization in
need of food or some sort of assistance, and then
when it is revealed like and I've got a baby
and I need and then then they that organization reaches
out to you and say can we help this person out?
Is that the process really close.
Speaker 5 (14:45):
So the if it's an organization that maybe has a
food pantry and they want to partner with us, we
have an application where they can choose to ask to
partner with us, and then if we do become partners,
they get a supplement essentially for all the babies that
they're serving that month month over, So we support that organization,
who then in turn supports the families that are coming
to them.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Let's go back to volunteering. As we're talking here with
the executive director of the Nebraska Diaper Bank, take and
read with us here on community matters. How does someone
sign up to volunteer? What does a volunteer shift generally
look like.
Speaker 5 (15:17):
Yeah, so you can hop onto our website and sign
up to volunteer. There a lot of corporations sign up.
It's really great team building activity. So we set you
up in kind of an assembly line type style and
we actually unpackaged box diapers, count them out to our
uniform supplement, and then it goes through an assembly line
to re wrap those diapers and put labels on them
(15:38):
to get them ready.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
So you're only at the starting end of getting someone
with diapers. At no point are you asked to go
and clean out the back end. Sooba scricts of the process.
That's still on the parent and the caregiver to do that.
So how much time can someone devote to volunteering? What
does an average shift look like? And are there any
(16:00):
like Well, I don't know how many boxes with diapers
I can throw around in trucks for you guys. Are
there some physical requirements that would help?
Speaker 4 (16:07):
Yes?
Speaker 5 (16:08):
So usually an average shift is an hour and a
half and it is a lot more physical than you
might think. So we always provide water, but we say
dress in layers in case you need to remove some.
But you're moving in group in the whole time, moving
diaper boxes around in bundles and sometimes packaging things up
into bigger bags to get orders ready and things like
(16:28):
that for our partner.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
And where is the Nebraska Diaper Bank?
Speaker 4 (16:31):
So we're on ninety first and F Street.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
You got ninety first in F streets. You're in there
and hour and a half volunteer shift. I'm guessing a
lot of people will challenge coworkers or family members, especially
getting together for the holidays, like rather than go watch Zootopia, two. Again,
let's go spend an hour and a half volunteering with
the Nebraska Diaper.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Bank, right, absolutely, and we love that.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Nebraska Diaperbank dot org is the website and that's where
you can sign up to volunteer, that's where you can
become a donor. And just eighteen dollars a month is
able to take care of me. How far can you
stretch eighteen dollars a month?
Speaker 4 (17:11):
I mean that's for one baby for the whole month.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
So yeah, that's I'm guessing you've got some really good
deals with a lot of partners who make diapers to
be able to do that. Yeah, because, like I said,
that stuff's not cheap, right, excellent? All right there on
the website Nebraska Diaperbank dot org, Nebraska all spelled out.
Teagan Reid is the executive director of the Nebraska Diaper
(17:34):
Bank and taking how long have you been involved with
this organization and what got your start working with them?
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (17:40):
So actually I'm one of the co founders. We started
in twenty fourteen between a couple of local churches and
it was really the question of if our doors close
tomorrow at our community, miss us. We love people inside
the church really well, but what about our neighborhood? And
so that really let a fire in my soul and
I wanted to figure out what that was. So we
(18:02):
created that small food pantry and eventually over the years
realized that diaper diapers were really the unmet need in
our city. As we watched line wrap around our tiny
little building and out to a major street, we thought
there had to be a better way. So in a
few years after that, we decided to shift our name
to Nebraska Diaper Bank and solely focus on ending diaper
need not only in Omaha, but across the state as well.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
So if you as a donor, as a volunteer, or
if you're with a business and you want a partner
with the Nebraska Diaper Bank, just go to their website
Nebraska Diaperbank dot org, take and read Executive director, thank
you so much for what you're doing for young families
here in our community, and thanks as always for coming
and telling us about it on community matters.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
Absolutely, thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
And thank you so much for being a part of
our program this week. At this time of year, there's
so much going on, but one thing that should be
on your radar is year and giving and there's a
wonderful organization right here in the Heartland that provides you
the opportunity to do that. We welcome the president of
this organization, Michael Hunsberger, joins us once again on community
(19:06):
matters from Sheepgate online at myshepgate dot org. Mike, welcome
back to the show.
Speaker 6 (19:13):
Thank you very much for having me.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
Before we talk about all the different ways that people
can donate to Sheepgate, including the very interesting way of
a vehicle donation. Let's talk about this organization, what you've done,
what you've been for so many people here in our
community over the years. Tell me about Sheepgate.
Speaker 6 (19:31):
Well, I think the key is is just that our
messages that there is hope for someone struggling in addiction.
We have programs for adult men and women eighteen on up.
Doesn't really matter how old they are, as long as
they want help and want to be in our program,
we want them here or a year long residential program,
like I said, for people struggling with drugs, or i'll
(19:52):
call really any addiction that's controlling their life.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
And for those who are not familiar, they remember hearing
about Adult and teen Challenge of the Midlands sheep Gate
is a division of Adult and Team Challenge of the Midlands.
Maybe they don't know about the story of why the
new name. I love having you tell the story about
what Sheepgate means, what that signifies. Can you share that
with us please?
Speaker 6 (20:16):
Yeah, we just wanted to as we were looking at
rebranding and telling our story. That was the idea, is
that we wanted to be able to tell our own
story and be able to share what's happening at these
centers across Iowa, Nebraska. And one way to do it
was be able to kind of give a historic name
change with the name Sheepgate. And that came from the
(20:37):
rebuilding of the Wall and Nehemiah and that first gate
that was repaired in that wall was the Sheepgate. And
really what we've said all along is that we're just
that first stop in that person's life. They're going to
need a lot of help and relationships moving forward, but
we're kind of that emergency room phase in their life,
(20:57):
that first gate that needs repaired.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
There are a lot of different ways that you work
with people to get them off of the path that
they found themselves on addicted to drugs and alcohol and
back on a better path. Faith is a big part
of that, isn't it.
Speaker 6 (21:12):
It's one hundred percent who we are. We believe that
the key to our success is really dealing with those hurts,
those lives that we believe that trauma that's that's driving
us to those addictions versus just treating the symptom, which
which is the drugs, the alcohol are those things that
we run to. We want to dive in and deal
with those things that are driving this to them.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
So for those who want to figure out how they
can help you out with your mission to assist and
being there for people here in the Heartland who are
making these these having these struggles in their lives and
making these changes. Vehicle donation is what you always talk
about there at Cheapgate. How easy is it to donate
an unneeded vehicle even if that thing isn't running to
(21:57):
this organization?
Speaker 6 (21:59):
Yeah, it's very easy. Are our vehicle donation staff do
an awesome job. You can get on our website and
fill out an electronic form and our staff will call
you back. Or you can reach out to our vehicle
office and they will guide you through a very simple
process of having your title signed and ready, and they
will schedule a pickup that works for you. They'll do
the paperwork and get things done for you, and you'll
(22:21):
get that tax right off and along the way get
to really support something that is staying local and is
directly impacting lives.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Yeah, and so if you're looking at a year end donations,
that tax right off can be very significant, can it?
Speaker 6 (22:39):
Yes, it can, And so that is one of our
biggest ways you can give towards this organizations, to our
vehicle donation program, like you said, with vehicles that are
running or not. But also if you want to give
a year in donation, you can send it to one
of our local centers there near you, or you can
get on our website and send it to our regional headquarters.
But there are just a lot of different ways that
(23:00):
you can partner with us. We need your help.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yeah, I'm glad you mentioned that, because as much as
we talk about vehicle donations, even if you have a
donation you want to give that's purely cash, doesn't have
wheels attached to it, you're more than happy to take
that right.
Speaker 6 (23:15):
Yes, we give ninety five percent of our students get
scholarships from us. They don't have the funds to be
in a program, and so your donations are directly going
to helping us keep our doors open to people that
don't have the finances available. And so, like I said,
you get a partner with us in directly changing lives.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
The number to call to learn more about donations, specifically
vehicle donations is eight eight eight three four four hope.
That's eight eight eight three four four hope. If you
can make a financial contribution, certainly call that number or
visit online at myshepgate dot org. We're talking here with
the president of Sheepgate, Michael Hunsberger, is with us on
(23:56):
community matters, and I can personally attest as to how
easy it is. This was the example of my family.
We had a vehicle in the family that it was
running but not well, and it would have cost thousands
of dollars to get it to a point where I
could sell it for probably less money than it took
me to put into it. To sell it and lose
(24:17):
money on that deal, it didn't make any sense. It
was so easy. I called eight eight eight three four
four hope. They came, They picked up that vehicle. All
they needed were the keys and assigned title it was
hauled away a nice tax deduction for the family. It
was so easy to support Sheepgate. And I've also had
the opportunity on this program and others to talk with
those who have been helped by Sheepgate and Michael, I
(24:39):
know how much it means to you to be a
part of this effort.
Speaker 6 (24:42):
So I actually grew up and around Sheepgate. My family
have had multiple graduates of the program. We believe in
what we're a part of. Never thought I was going
to work here, but years later have now been working
here for twenty four years and imagine being a part
of anything else. Can't imagine raising my children around any
(25:05):
other place where they get to see miracles happen on
a daily basis, where they get to see lives that
were given up on, people struggling and just hopeless despair,
and get to see them find freedom from that addiction
and see their families and relationships restored. It's an unbelievable
opportunity for myself and my family, and we feel so
(25:26):
blessed to be a part of it for so many years.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
Yeah, I hope people all like where they work, or
at least like it more often than they don't. But
to be able to do what you do and transform
these lives is a real blessing, not just for those
that you're assisting, but for you and your family as well.
I love having you point that out, so Michael, as
people are looking here at year end donations and being
(25:49):
able to support this organization eight eight eight three four
four hope ormyshepgate dot org. What else do they need
to know, especially for businesses that might have revolving fleet
to vehicles, that they can donate this before the new year.
Speaker 6 (26:05):
Yeah, there are so many different ways they can partner
with us, whether we like we talked about, whether it's
the DEGAL donation or just a financial gift. There's also
ways to volunteer their job postings on our website. There
are a lot of different ways that people can come
in and mentor and be a part of different ways
to build relationships with our men and women at our programs.
(26:25):
But our website would be a great opportunity for them
to get on and see what's happening, get to hear
some live or some video testimonies, and just hear what's
going on at our local centers.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
The number again to call is eight eight eight three
four four hope. That's eight eight eight three four four hope.
Or you'll find Sheepgate online at my sheepgate dot org.
They will pick up a vehicle you can donate, running
or not. And it doesn't have to be a car.
We're talking truck, van, suv, boat, camper, motorcycle, hovercraft. I mean,
(27:01):
whatever it is you might have that's just taking up space.
Cheapgate can turn that into hope for someone struggling with
drug or alcohol addiction right here in the heartland. Eight
eight eight three four four hope or myshepgate dot org.
Michael Haunsberger, President of sheep Gate. Always a pleasure to
have you on the program. Thank you so much for
what you're doing for people in our community, and thanks
for telling us about it on Community Matters.
Speaker 6 (27:24):
Thank you so much for having us in partnering with us.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Time for one more quick segment on this week's edition
of Community Matters, and for this interview, I welcome in
from news Radio eleven ten kfab Gary Sadlemeyer.
Speaker 7 (27:36):
Some information for you that I think may well be
important for all of us to be aware of. And
I had not heard of this condition before, but it's
emerging in the healthcare community as a concern. There's a
collection of health conditions that can trigger get this heart disease,
kidney disease, and diabetes at the same time. Really, it's
(27:58):
called the CKMS. And we're joined for a few minutes
this morning by doctor Tiffany poul Wiley, a cardiologist and
a volunteer with the American Heart Association. Doctor.
Speaker 8 (28:07):
Good morning, Hi, good morning, Thank you for having me.
Speaker 7 (28:10):
You're welcome. It's a pleasure to have you here. What
are we dealing with here? That's new? Why is this
seems to me suddenly a concern.
Speaker 8 (28:19):
So it's important to think about cardiovascular kidney metabolic syndrome
or c KM syndrome as a collection of health conditions.
I know it's a it's a lot of information, but
it's what's really important to know is that we want
people to understand that heart disease, kidney disease, but even
diseases like that eighties and obesity, these are interconnected diseases
(28:44):
and they can affect people at the same time, and
so it's important to think about how do we screen
for the important risk factors for these diseases.
Speaker 7 (28:53):
What would you say that an individual should do to
make sure that their doctor is screening correctly for the US.
Speaker 8 (29:00):
So it's important to talk to your doctor about getting
screened for the risk factors that affect both heart disease
and kidney disease as well as diabetes. So these are
getting It's important to get screened for your blood pressure,
to get screen for your cholesterol, but also your blood sugar,
your weight, and most importantly and what people don't always
(29:21):
think about, is getting screened for kidney functions. So getting
those kidney tests when you go to the doctor.
Speaker 7 (29:27):
Hey, thank you so much for your time. I appreciate
you coming on all right.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 8 (29:32):
If people want more information, heart dot org, backslash, my
CKM health is where to get it.
Speaker 7 (29:38):
Got it. Thank you so much, Doctor Tiffany Powell Wiley. Here.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
This has been Community Matters, a weekly public affairs special
on CAT one O three Omaha's Greatest Hits ninety nine
point nine KGr News Radio, eleven ten KFAB, Country's Greatest
Hits ninety three three The Wolf, and ninety six one
Kiss FM. Thank you so much for listening, and enjoy
the rest of your day.
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