Omaha Welcomes Stranger is a concrete active response to the helplessness so many people feel when they hear the rhetoric about dangerous immigrants sneaking into "our" country and taking US jobs. Welcoming frightened, sorrowful families is a great response.

All four of my grandparents were immigrants. They came at a time when America's arms were open wide to these, "strangers," transplanting themselves, taking root, and sharing their gifts and talents. With my family's history, I don't find it surprising that I want today's refugees and immigrants to also feel welcomed.

I stand in awe of these families who had the courage to leave EVERYTHING behind to risk starting over in a strange country with nothing but each other and the hope for a better life for their kids.

The Scriptures call us to show loving devotion and compassion to one another. We are not to oppress the widow, the orphan, the stranger or the poor nor are we to plot evil against them. OWS lives this call by welcoming new immigrants, forming friendships with them  and assisting them, just like so many did when our ancestors came to this country. OWS stands not only for Gospel values but for the values inscribed on our Statue of Liberty. 

Offering support as a volunteer is at the core of Franciscan values and reflects basic human compassion.  Assisting with establishing firm roots in the local community ensures they will contribute positively to the economy as well as bring new skills, perspectives and entrepreneurship to their new country.

I wish there was peace in all the world.  There is not.  What can I do? I can reach out to a stranger, help them acclimate to a new country and a new language. I can relieve their fear and hunger.  I can make a new friend. 

The people coming into our country today want the same things we want: the opportunity to work and raise their families without fear. It’s a privilege to work with OWS to help them accomplish this. Welcoming the stranger becomes welcoming friends.

We hope to place the individuals on the road to belonging and finding a new home in our world community. This support reminds me of my immigrant grandparents who may have experienced the same situations when they arrived from Poland or Ireland and needed a place of belonging. Even the smallest amount of support makes a difference for these wonderful families and individuals.

OWS gives me an opportunity to tangibly give back to the immigrant & refugee population. In a country & state where the immigrant & refugee population is demonized it is refreshing to help in a way that actually matters!

At first, the challenges can feel overwhelming, then you feel their love ❤️

OWS holds us together as an organization as we offer welcome and support to asylum seekers. Working with the dedicated OWS volunteers is an amazing gift!

We cannot expect the border cities to care for all the migrants who cross. It is the responsibility of all of us to welcome migrants to our communities throughout the US.The migrants we see have no money. What they bring with them is a burning desire for work and a better future for their families. What more can we ask of them?

In 2013 I was invited by my nephew to help students who were applying for college scholarships with their scholarship essays. There are many students whose parents are immigrants and I was able to read the stories of the problems imposed by immigration status. Walking through that doorway at South High School changed me from being a retired nurse to a advocate for immigrants.

Coming from a migrant family, I have experienced discrimination firsthand and witnessed its long-lasting traumatic effects on my friends and family. OWS stands as a beacon of hope, illuminating paths through a world that can sometimes appear dark and uncertain.