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The need was great. The generosity, greater.
World-Herald readers opened their hearts and wallets to the newspaper's Goodfellows program in record-breaking fashion during this year's holiday campaign.
In an especially difficult financial year — which followed a challenging end-of-last-year — donations reported today total $402,537.65.
This marks the first time a Christmas Day total for the Goodfellows holiday campaign has topped $400,000.
On Christmas Day a year ago, we also reported a record: $380,908.24. And the final tally for 2008 was an unprecedented $501,025.96.
Without the donations from readers, the newspaper's charity couldn't give hundreds of families a holiday meal or offer one-time rent or utility assistance to those in need. Nor would about 1,200 children be able to get new socks or underwear.
For over a century, Goodfellows has been helping Nebraskans and Iowans. Readers for years have gotten glimpses into the lives of those helped through daily stories run during the fundraising drive.
The stories end today, but this year's drive will be open for donations through the end of the year. The names of donors will continue to be printed in the newspaper.
The contributions this year came large and small. Some came in honor or in memory of a loved one or friend, some were proceeds from a fundraising event at work or school, some were from longtime Goodfellows supporters — individuals, corporations and foundations.
All the donors had one thing in common: They wanted to be part of helping individuals and families in their community get their lives back on track.
In some cases, readers responded to specific needs highlighted in news stories. The outpouring was especially notable for two women who, when family tragedy struck, set their own lives aside and stepped in to raise a family.
Phyllis “Tiny” McCaul and her new family of seven received nearly $15,000, plus a used minivan and some gifts, after they were featured in The World-Herald.
McCaul wanted to issue a heartfelt thank you to donors. “I didn't believe there were that many caring people,” she said.
“I call them saints,” she said of those who reached out to a stranger. “God answers prayers, I guess.”
As for the children: “The kids are doing super.”
The children's widowed father made national news when he left nine of his 10 children at an Omaha hospital in September 2008 under Nebraska's former safe haven law. McCaul, the children's great-aunt, moved immediately to get the seven youngest and has now adopted them.
Single and 60, she is raising the children, ages 16 to almost 3, in a four-bedroom Lincoln apartment. The oldest two opted to stay with an Omaha guardian.
Jasmine Johnson was flooded with offers of help from readers after her story appeared in the paper. She left college so she could care for her four younger siblings when their mother died Sept. 16 after suffering a heart attack.
Earlier this month, 20-year-old Jasmine was granted guardianship of her brother and three sisters, ages 4 to 18.
Donors sent gifts — beds, clothes, wrapped presents or checks, cash and gift cards — to help her and her family.
“I just want to give everyone a big thank you,” she said. “We are all so happy. Half of the living room is filled with presents.”
A private organization and a church also are helping Jasmine with her long-term goals, including getting her back to college and helping the family get established in new housing. (They hope to move in January and will be closer to their grandmother.)
The Omaha Economic Development Corp. partnered with 100 Black Men of Omaha, the Omaha NAACP, Empowerment Network and the American Harvest organization to help the Johnsons this holiday season with Christmas gifts. The groups also are helping Jasmine with the support and services that she will need to raise the children.
In addition, some people who work at an Omaha company, who wish to remain anonymous, will pay Jasmine's tuition when she is ready to return to college.
Thank you, readers, for your support of Goodfellows and your neighbors in need.
To be counted as part of the 2009 drive, contributions must be received by Dec. 31. Online giving can help donors meet the deadline; look for a link under Spotlight on the Omaha.com home page.
A final report on the drive will appear in Jan. 10 editions.
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