Effort to help families expands

An Omaha man’s effort to collect clothes and new toys for homeless families and children has expanded to include more drop-off sites.

Ed Shada is organizing a Christmas Eve event for 500 to 1,000 homeless people at the Civic Auditorium called Project Kids Connect.

He has organized past events targeted at chronically homeless adults, but for the first time is trying to pull off a one-stop shop at Christmastime for homeless families. The goal is to offer an array of services, snacks and gifts.

After an Oct. 25 World-Herald article about Shada’s effort, he said, offers of help started to pour in. He realized he needed more outlets.

Two Men and a Truck and United Van Lines donated 90 boxes. Those will go up at all Blimpie’s locations in Omaha and Council Bluffs and at Mutual First Credit Union, 14510 F St.

In addition, Bellevue University, where Shada works, will add another site. Donors can bring items to Shada’s office at the Lakeside Center, 16820 Frances St., during weekday business hours. Or they can drop off gifts at the marketing department inside the university’s Durham Administration Center, 1000 Galvin Road South in Bellevue.

Donors should specify that toys are to go to Project Kids Connect, the program for homeless families, because of a separate Toys for Tots collection occurring there.

So far, Shada said he’s collected enough items for about 100 people, “but I still need a ton more.”

Shada also is recruiting volunteers for the event, which will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 24. For more information, contact him at 659-5180 or edshada@cox.net .

Contact the writer:

444-1136, erin.grace@owh.com