For many families in the Omaha metro area, an unexpected medical bill or car repair could be enough to push them into financial crisis, United Way of the Midlands President and CEO Shawna Forsberg said.
As many as 37% of Americans reported that they would not be able to cover a $400 emergency expense, according to the Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2022.
In addition to struggling to cope with unexpected expenses without an emergency buffer, rising housing and food costs also have put a strain on families locally, Forsberg said.
“That’s where the Goodfellows program comes in,” Forsberg said.
Forsberg
Founded in the 1890s, Goodfellows exists to provide one-time emergency assistance to people in crisis. Since 2020, the Omaha World-Herald and United Way of the Midlands have partnered together to administer the Goodfellows program.
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In addition, The World-Herald helps to cover the administrative costs of the program, allowing the vast majority of donated dollars to provide direct support to those in need.
“We’re just really humbled and so grateful to be part of this amazing legacy that is Goodfellows and are just really committed to doing as much as we can to keep this partnership going and keep the program growing,” Forsberg said.
While state and federal level funding, including through the American Rescue Plan Act and Cares Act, has provided much needed assistance in the past few years, a lot of that funding is no longer available. A scarcity in philanthropic dollars means a program like Goodfellows is as essential as ever, Forsberg said.
“We really are going to do everything we can to raise as much as we can this year, because we know that families are going to really need it,” she said.
This year’s campaign will run until Dec. 31.
Last fiscal year, the Goodfellows program raised nearly $1 million. Emergency assistance made up 81% of where the funds were distributed and 66% of that assistance funded utilities aid and 34% funded housing support, according to a report from the United Way.
Last year’s Goodfellows funds also provided more than 6,000 meals for families in need. Funding also provided shoes, coats and clothing for more than 14,000 students at 76 area schools and provided 71,440 diapers as a monthly supplement to 1,100 children.
“It’s pretty impressive,” Forsberg said. “We have a very, very generous community, and we’re so incredibly grateful for that.”
To distribute funding, the program works with several partners in the Omaha area, including the Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership, Family Housing Advisory Services, Heart Ministry Center, Heartland Family Service, Together Inc., United Way of the Midlands 211 Contact Center, Visiting Nurse Association and Omaha Housing Authority.
“It’s about getting the dollars into the organizations that do the most good because they’re on the front lines of this work,” Forsberg said.
Forsberg said people sometimes think that if they aren’t able to donate a large amount of money, they can’t make much of an impact. However, through the Goodfellows program, $25 could provide a month of supplemental diapers for two babies and $52 could provide up to 33 meals for families.
“What we really know through this program is if everybody does a little bit, does their part, those dollars can grow,” Forsberg said.
