Catholic Charities of Omaha hosting family-friendly festival to help those in need

Catholic Charities of Omaha is hosting its second annual Essential Festival, according to a press release from Catholic Charities of Omaha.

The festival celebrates, “the essential work of Catholic Charities of Omaha,” said the release.

It will be held at SumTur Amphitheater, 11691 S 108th St, on Friday, July 2, 2021, the release said. Gates will open at 3:00 p.m.

This event will benefit “Catholic Charities and celebrating the organization’s essential programs and services that help feed the hungry, raise people out of poverty, strengthen communities, and protect human dignity,” said Rita Hamele of Catholic Charities of Omaha

Essential Festival will feature live music from The Emmet Bower Band, Finest Hour, Oye Como Va, The String Beans, and the Omaha Street Percussion, Hamele said.

She added, there will also be other family-fun activities such as, “Cirque Du Soleil clowns, food trucks, face painting, cheerleaders, and fire trucks, concluding with a fireworks show, by Bellino Fireworks, at 10:15 p.m.”

“Essential Festival gives the community the opportunity to unite, enjoy a day of family activities and support the programs and services of Catholic Charities of Omaha including the organization’s food pantries, domestic violence crisis hotline and emergency shelter, mental health counseling, family strengthening, immigration legal services and microbusiness program,” Hamele said.

During 2020 Catholic Charities of Omaha doubled the amount of people and families they helped due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.

“COVID-19 has caused pain and hardship for so many,” said Fr. Mike Eckley, executive director of Catholic Charities. “At Catholic Charities, we work to address not only people’s immediate needs, but also help lift people out of poverty, strengthen communities and protect human dignity. This is a time for reflection, healing and action. We see this event as a positive step in that direction bringing people together from across all of Omaha’s neighborhoods.”

Story Courtesy of FOX 42: https://fox42kptm.com/news/local/catholic-charities-of-omaha-hosting-family-friendly-festival-to-help-those-in-need