People's City Mission makes holiday warmer
Students can help with food and gifts
By Lee Rood
Senior Editor
It’s late morning outside the
People’s City Mission. Several men
gather outside the entrance to the
Mission’s Men’s Shelter shuffling
their feet and smoking cigarettes.
The men are cold and hungry.
Some are homeless. Others don’t
have jobs.
Despite their hardships, how
ever, the men seem in good spirits.
I
They talk boisterously, laugh and
greet one another. Perhaps it’s the
company. Or maybe it’s because
they’re about to eat their first warm
meal of the day.
Or, maybe it’s because there’s a
place like the mission — where
people who are down on their luck
can get a hot meal, warm clothes
and a roof over their heads ... if
only for a while.
Inside the Mission, 110 Q St.,
Christmas carols drift through the
--
hallways as Mission staff hurry about
their work. The phone rings con
stantly. A steady stream of people
entering the mission’s family en
trance busy the receptionist.
The People’s City Mission is busy
this holiday season. But, says the
Mission’s Resource Distribution
Manager, the hustle and bustle is
year-round — contrary to what most
people may think.
Gwen Oldenettel says the mis
sion’s always been a busy place,
I "
but this year it’s gotten busier.
Oldenettel attributed the increase
in activity to a rising number of
folks who are “working poor.'
“They have minimum wage jobs
and can’t make it,” she said
Oldenettel said she already has
requests for 229 Christmas food
baskets this year. Last year, the
mission gave out 200. In addition,
she said, the mission expects to
help 500 more people this year
than last through its Gift-Away
Program. Las: year the program,
which provides new Christmas gifts
to needy people of all ages, served
2,500 people. This year, Oidenettel
said, 3,000 people are expected to
take part.
The increased need has created
a great demand for food and gifts at
the mission, Oidenettel said. Uni
versity of Nebraska-Lincoln students
and employees can help the mis
See MISSION^n9
_ .
Which one are you bringing home
for the holidays?
m m -*
■i rmniii
Both of the above, right? You’re on your own
with laundry. But as far as shopping goes, you’d be
surprised how much Downtown Lincoln has in
store for Christmas...no matter how much you have
to spend. Get yourself a Downtown Christmas
Guide at the Union and you’ll see what we mean.
You can find fun little presents, Nebraska
souvenirs and lots of creative gift ideas—even
high-end fashions, electronics, jewelry and more if
you want to spend some bucks. There are
interesting shops to explore, plenty of places to
grab a bite to eat and unwind, and none of those
obnoxiously long lines you get at the mall. Collect
free parking stickers with Park ’n Shop and you
can park free on Saturdays at the Centrum and
University Square garages.
When you’re ready to get into the Christmas
shopping mode, stick around Downtown. You’d be
surprised at how much Downtown Lincoln has in
store for you.
I %._! C ' T«- Wi *!>
A Christmas Carol
Celebrate the season with the classic English tale.
A Christmas Carol. A dynamite cast with beautiful
Victorian costumes and sets bring to life the story of
Ebenezer Scrooge's extraordinary reformation from
recluse to perpetual merry-maker. Bundle-up the whole
family and whisk them away to the Lied Center for this
heartwarming play. A treasure for the holiday season!
Good seats still available!
Thursday - Saturday, Dec. 13-15, 1990
8:00 p.m., Lied Center
Saturday - Sunday, Dec. 15-16, 1990
2:00 p.m., Lied Center
Tickets: $14, $12, $10
IJNL Students and Youth: $7, $6, $5
Call 402/472-4747 or
1-800/432-3231 i^DCE^S
12th & K Streets. Open weekdays, 11 a.m. 3:30 p.m. FOR PERFORMING ARTS
Adapted by Barbara Field and originalb produced In I lie Guthrie Theatre. Produced by University Theatre.