Beth Ostdiek Smith has quickly become an expert at turning excess into impact.
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Bingel Center volunteer spreads positive energy with ceramics and a 'smile that won't quit'
Mary Marion is more than a people person. She is a serving-people person. Her entire adult life has been spent caring for others – from the eight sons she raised to the neighbors she helps feed to the fellow seniors she impacts twice a week, every week at The Salvation Army’s Dora Bingel Senior Center. Click here to read the story.
Omaha rapper Toot, family embrace Grief's Journey after 'seismic loss'
After dealing with a painful loss, an Omaha musician's career is budding again — and he gives a lion’s share of the credit for his recovery to Grief’s Journey, formerly Ted E. Bear Hollow. Click here to read the story.
Omahan mobilizes trucks, 'rescues' leftovers to give others a good meal
- JEFFREY BEBEE
It’s not that we have a food production problem in our community. We have a food distribution problem," says Beth Ostdiek Smith, founder of Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue, which receives grant support from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska. Click here to read the story.
Joslyn program gives patrons with memory loss the ultimate gallery experience
- JEFFREY BEBEE
Sharon Martin and Mike Hughbanks share a passion for advocacy and outreach related to dementia through Art to Remember, an interactive program at Joslyn Art Museum. Sharon is a docent; Mike has early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Click here to read the story.
College Possible guides a star student toward an even brighter future
- JEFFREY BEBEE
Beth Kernaghan, left, has spent the past two years coaching Ana Pérez-Villagómez through College Possible, a program for low-income academic achievers. The program is funded in part by a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska grant. Click here to read the story.
Vet who once spiraled now supports, connects comrades with similar struggles
- JEFFREY BEBEE
Adam Armstrong is giving back as a veteran support specialist with At Ease, a Lutheran Family Services initiative that is sponsored, in part, by a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska grant. For him, it’s more than a job. It’s a call to service. Click here to read the story.
Gardening, once done for survival, takes a therapeutic turn for refugee
- JEFFREY BEBEE
Lamya Ali has a garden plot through Community Crops and uses the Lincoln nonprofit’s mobile farmers market. The community garden program has been a godsend, she says, and now she’s quick to tell others about it. Community Crops is supported, in part, by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska. Click here to read the story.
He's king of the road when it comes to Food Bank deliveries
- JEFFREY BEBEE
Tim Smiley answered a "driver wanted" ad that changed his life. Today, he's helping thousands in need, coordinating deliveries for Food Bank for the Heartland. Smiley's 12-hour days include the distribution of fresh produce to agencies across Nebraska and western Iowa in an initiative supported in part by a grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska. Click here to read the story.
Free health clinic focuses on outreach: 'It comes down to the patients. That's where the rewards are'
- ANDREW CARPENEAN
Dr. Zach Meyer is a medical director at Third City Community Clinic (TCCC). TCCC was founded more than 20 years ago to serve low-income patients who could not otherwise afford basic dental and medical care. Click here to read the story.
Building strength: Fearless Grant gives rise to a powerful partnership
- ANDREW CARPENEAN
Shelton Public School physical education teachers Matt Walter and Amanda Thober stand on a soft shredded rubber blacktop with new playground equipment. Shelton is a recent Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska Project Fit America grantee. Click here to read the story.
See why Omaha elementary school's pupils are 'soaring'
- JEFFREY BEBEE
"Parents are our first heroes," says Vanita Jarmon, principal at Conestoga Magnet School in Omaha, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska’s Adopt-A-School Partner for more than 15 years. Her leadership approach celebrates their positive contributions to student — and teacher — success. Click here to read the story.
Faith helps 'Big Lou' Parker through life's battles
- JEFFREY BEBEE
Louis "Big Lou" Parker is a mainstay at the Heart Ministry Center, paying back the help he got when he needed it most. “I’ve always been a hard worker. I’ve always believed in going in all the way. And I’ve always had a heart to help people," he said. Click here to read the story.
For more than 26 years, Sharon Martin has been the lifesaving ear on the other end of the line
- KURT A. KEELER
Sharon Martin on manning the Boys Town National Hotline: “Every day when I leave here, I want to feel like I made a difference in a person’s life, even one person. If I’ve done that, then I’ve done what I needed to do.” Click here to read the story.
From rock bottom, mom claws her way back to 'approach society again'
- JEFFREY BEBEE
Karlyn Walker and her daughter, Adrionna, 13, are faithful attendees of Wellbriety Family Nights at the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition in Omaha, where they enjoy making native crafts together. Wellbriety, Karlyn said, has helped her keep her demons at bay and see that “there is a healthy life out there.” Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska supports the program. Click here to read the story.
Faces of Fearless: Celebrating local people living their best lives
“Faces of Fearless” is a storytelling series in Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska’s “Live Fearless” campaign celebrating people living their very best lives and inspiring others to do the same.
Bingel Center volunteer spreads positive energy with ceramics and a 'smile that won't quit'
Mary Marion is more than a people person. She is a serving-people person. Her entire adult life has been spent caring for others – from the eight sons she raised to the neighbors she helps feed to the fellow seniors she impacts twice a week, every week at The Salvation Army’s Dora Bingel Senior Center. Click here to read the story.
Omaha rapper Toot, family embrace Grief's Journey after 'seismic loss'
After dealing with a painful loss, an Omaha musician's career is budding again — and he gives a lion’s share of the credit for his recovery to Grief’s Journey, formerly Ted E. Bear Hollow. Click here to read the story.
Omahan mobilizes trucks, 'rescues' leftovers to give others a good meal
- JEFFREY BEBEE
It’s not that we have a food production problem in our community. We have a food distribution problem," says Beth Ostdiek Smith, founder of Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue, which receives grant support from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska. Click here to read the story.
Joslyn program gives patrons with memory loss the ultimate gallery experience
- JEFFREY BEBEE
Sharon Martin and Mike Hughbanks share a passion for advocacy and outreach related to dementia through Art to Remember, an interactive program at Joslyn Art Museum. Sharon is a docent; Mike has early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Click here to read the story.
College Possible guides a star student toward an even brighter future
- JEFFREY BEBEE
Beth Kernaghan, left, has spent the past two years coaching Ana Pérez-Villagómez through College Possible, a program for low-income academic achievers. The program is funded in part by a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska grant. Click here to read the story.
Vet who once spiraled now supports, connects comrades with similar struggles
- JEFFREY BEBEE
Adam Armstrong is giving back as a veteran support specialist with At Ease, a Lutheran Family Services initiative that is sponsored, in part, by a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska grant. For him, it’s more than a job. It’s a call to service. Click here to read the story.
Gardening, once done for survival, takes a therapeutic turn for refugee
- JEFFREY BEBEE
Lamya Ali has a garden plot through Community Crops and uses the Lincoln nonprofit’s mobile farmers market. The community garden program has been a godsend, she says, and now she’s quick to tell others about it. Community Crops is supported, in part, by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska. Click here to read the story.
He's king of the road when it comes to Food Bank deliveries
- JEFFREY BEBEE
Tim Smiley answered a "driver wanted" ad that changed his life. Today, he's helping thousands in need, coordinating deliveries for Food Bank for the Heartland. Smiley's 12-hour days include the distribution of fresh produce to agencies across Nebraska and western Iowa in an initiative supported in part by a grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska. Click here to read the story.
Free health clinic focuses on outreach: 'It comes down to the patients. That's where the rewards are'
- ANDREW CARPENEAN
Dr. Zach Meyer is a medical director at Third City Community Clinic (TCCC). TCCC was founded more than 20 years ago to serve low-income patients who could not otherwise afford basic dental and medical care. Click here to read the story.
Building strength: Fearless Grant gives rise to a powerful partnership
- ANDREW CARPENEAN
Shelton Public School physical education teachers Matt Walter and Amanda Thober stand on a soft shredded rubber blacktop with new playground equipment. Shelton is a recent Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska Project Fit America grantee. Click here to read the story.
See why Omaha elementary school's pupils are 'soaring'
- JEFFREY BEBEE
"Parents are our first heroes," says Vanita Jarmon, principal at Conestoga Magnet School in Omaha, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska’s Adopt-A-School Partner for more than 15 years. Her leadership approach celebrates their positive contributions to student — and teacher — success. Click here to read the story.
Noncontact boxing is a game-changer for Lincoln man with Parkinson's disease
- JEFFREY BEBEE
Rock Steady Boxing is paying off for John Coffey in improved balance, gait, activities of daily living and quality of life. Click here to read the story.
Faith helps 'Big Lou' Parker through life's battles
- JEFFREY BEBEE
Louis "Big Lou" Parker is a mainstay at the Heart Ministry Center, paying back the help he got when he needed it most. “I’ve always been a hard worker. I’ve always believed in going in all the way. And I’ve always had a heart to help people," he said. Click here to read the story.
For more than 26 years, Sharon Martin has been the lifesaving ear on the other end of the line
- KURT A. KEELER
Sharon Martin on manning the Boys Town National Hotline: “Every day when I leave here, I want to feel like I made a difference in a person’s life, even one person. If I’ve done that, then I’ve done what I needed to do.” Click here to read the story.
From rock bottom, mom claws her way back to 'approach society again'
- JEFFREY BEBEE
Karlyn Walker and her daughter, Adrionna, 13, are faithful attendees of Wellbriety Family Nights at the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition in Omaha, where they enjoy making native crafts together. Wellbriety, Karlyn said, has helped her keep her demons at bay and see that “there is a healthy life out there.” Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska supports the program. Click here to read the story.
