The Clarkson College Values of Learning, Caring, Integrity, Excellence and Commitment are exemplified in the annual Maltese Mission Week of Service. Students, faculty, staff, and partners have the opportunity to engage in meaningful outreach and commit to addressing the needs of others. Mission Week begins with a Day of Caring on Saturday, February 28, and continues daily with service opportunities throughout the Omaha community.
To learn about each daily opportunity, click on the tabs below. You will find event information and an online registration link. Service events are open to students, faculty, staff, and partners, and participants may register for multiple activities. All events are approved for IPE Service or Community credit for students who have completed their first four modules. Those not able to participate in Omaha-based activities are encouraged to find meaningful volunteer work within their own community.
Participants are encouraged to share posts and photos of Mission Week activities on social media. Remember to tag Clarkson College accounts and use the hashtag #ClarksonCollegeCares.
Questions should be directed to Rachel Holm ([email protected]). Please do not contact the organizations.
When: February 2 to 16th
Partner: DR Episcopal Diocese
The Donation Drive is still collecting for one week. Don't miss out!
Clarkson College is launching a donation drive to support our upcoming mission trip to the Dominican Republic. This initiative will help fund supplies and essential resources for students and faculty providing care and education to underserved communities. Every contribution, big or small, helps us bring healthcare and support to those in need.
Donations can be made online or from this Amazon wish list for delivery direct to Clarkson College for distribution.
When: All Week
As part of Mission Week, we invite individuals and groups to participate in a Moment of Caring by helping assemble shelf-stable meal bags for those in need. Shelf-stable meal bags are made up of non-perishable food items that do not require refrigeration and can be safely stored until needed. To create a meal bag, simply find a recipe (many are available just by doing a quick internet search) that requires only non-perishable items, gather the ingredients, find a bag or container to store them all together, and attach the printed recipe.
Participants are welcome to assemble meal bags on their own time. Completed meal bags may be dropped off at Rachel Holm's office in the Commons or placed in the donation bin at the Cupboard and Closet located in the LAB.
We are deeply grateful for your willingness to take part in this act of care. Each bag prepared is a small but powerful gesture of compassion that helps us live out our mission and support those who may need it most. Thank you for your generosity and for being part of Mission Week.
When: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM (Lunch provided)
Mision Partner: Open Door Mission
Location: Timberlake Outreach Center
Number of volunteers needed: 25-30
Beginning with a tour of the Mission, with a testimony, volunteer at the Timberlake Outreach Center for 2 hours, then lunch with women and children.
When: 9:30 AM – Noon (Lunch provided)
Partner: All Saints Episcopal Church
Number of volunteers needed: 6
When: 12:00 to 3:00 PM
Where: Nearly New Shop
Partner: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Number of volunteers needed: 10
The Nearly New Shop is a not-for-profit, resale and consignment shop benefits a number of local charities, distributes to several outreach programs, and meets various community needs as an outreach of the Episcopal church. Volunteers will help organize donation items and assist with spring cleaning activities such as painting.
When: 3:00 – 6:00 PM
Where: Juan Diego Center
Partner: Catholic Charities
Number of volunteers needed: 3-4 per shift
The Juan Diego Center serves the south Omaha community with emergency and supportive food services, family strengthening, immigration legal services. The center also is home to the Latina Resource Center and Microbusiness and Asset Development training. Early volunteers will help prep food boxes and later volunteers will assist during the drive-up pantry. There is a high need for bilingual Spanish and English speakers to assist during the drive-up pantry.
When: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM noon
Partner: Access Period
Location: 6108 Maple St, Suite 100
Omaha, NE 68104
Number of volunteers needed: up to 25
Access Period helps you combat period poverty by providing free menstrual products to anyone who needs them in Nebraska. Often people who don’t have access to menstrual products can’t show up to school or work because of shame and stigma, making it difficult to connect with our neighbors experiencing period poverty. Make a difference.
When: 9:00 – 11:30 AM
Where: Juan Diego Center
Partner: Catholic Charities
Number of volunteers needed: 3-4 per shift
The Juan Diego Center serves the south Omaha community with emergency and supportive food services, family strengthening, immigration legal services. The center also is home to the Latina Resource Center and Microbusiness and Asset Development training. Early volunteers will help prep food boxes and later volunteers will assist during the drive-up pantry. There is a high need for bilingual Spanish and English speakers to assist during the drive-up pantry.
Reflecting a holistic view, the Clarkson College Mission places a focus on how individuals provide high- quality, ethical and compassionate healthcare services in their communities. Mission experiences conducted by Clarkson College are viewed as direct reflections of these principles.
Clarkson College has prepared students to professionally provide high quality, ethical and compassionate healthcare services for more than 135 years. Our devotion to excellence in education began in 1888, when the Bishop Clarkson Memorial Hospital accepted its first nursing student. Meliora Clarkson fulfilled the vision of her husband, the late Bishop Robert H. Clarkson, and guided the hospital to greatness by establishing a training school for nurses, which became the first in the state of Nebraska. By the end of the 19th century, the institution earned a reputation for graduating skilled, professional nurses who distinguished themselves in their careers.
Now, over a century later, Clarkson College has earned a reputation for graduating skilled healthcare professionals prepared in nursing, radiography, medical imaging, physical therapist assistant, community health, healthcare business, psychology, and healthcare education and leadership. Service continues to play a significant role as generations of Clarkson College students have answered the call to a life spent helping others.
The Maltese Cross is a symbol of protection and a badge of honor. Its story originated with the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, a charitable organization that existed during the eleventh and twelfth centuries. They were known as the Knights of Hospitallers because of their charity toward the sick and poor in setting up hospices and hospitals.
The eight points of the Cross represent the Beatitudes prescribed in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, the meek, the pure, the merciful, the peacemakers, they that mourn, they that seek righteousness, and they who are persecuted for righteousness sake.”
These knights of centuries past were united by a pledge of compassion and courage. It is for these reasons the Maltese Cross was selected as the symbol for Clarkson College. It is a visual reminder to Clarkson College community members (students, alumni, faculty, and staff) of the significance of service as they dedicate their lives toward helping others.
