Lutz Gives Back + 12 Days of Lutzmas 2024

The "12 Days of Lutzmas" is a tradition designed to provide our employees with 12 different opportunities to give back and provide cheer during the holiday season. To kick off this year's initiative, we held festive parties in each of our offices in Omaha, Lincoln, and Grand Island. These events not only got everyone into the holiday spirit but also served as a platform to collect donations for the Russell E. Smith Memorial Fund, raising an impressive sum of over $4,000. With combined efforts from our staff across all locations, in 2024, we were able to give back to individuals and organizations in the community through various activities, including:

1. Collected 2,920 nonperishable items for local food pantries in Omaha, Lincoln, and Grand Island.
   
   
2. Packaged more than 4,000 meals for those in need with Mercy Meals in Grand Island.
   
   
3. Random acts of kindness in Omaha, Lincoln, and Grand Island, giving gift cards to help people purchase gas and groceries for the holidays.
   
   
4. Donated over 50 winter clothing items for women and children at the Women's Center for Advancement in Omaha.
   
   
5. Helped prepare 1,200 Thanksgiving boxes to be distributed within the community with Project Hunger in Grand Island. 
   
   
6. Served a meal for individuals and families at the Open Door Mission in Omaha.
   
   
7. Wrapped 75 gift baskets containing over 1,000 household items for young individuals transitioning out of foster care with Project Everlast in Omaha.
   
   
8. Assisted community members in shopping for shelf-stable and perishable food items at the Heart Ministry Center in Omaha.
   
   
9. Helped with various projects, such as cleaning and organizing, for Lincoln Lighthouse.
   
   
10. Adopted a family in need in Grand Island by sending gifts to spread holiday cheer.
    
    
11. Provided over 750 diapers and clothing donations to the NE Children's Home Society in Omaha. 
    
    
12. Purchased gifts to contribute to Grand Island's Toys for Tots program to brighten the holidays for children in the community.

The "12 Days of Lutzmas" tradition exemplifies the heart of our organization's values. We're proud of how our employees consistently step up to address local needs, embodying our belief in Putting People First. Taking part in this shared commitment not only strengthens our community ties but also reinforces the collaborative spirit that defines Lutz.

Brooke Sorensen

Lutz Gives Back President

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