Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska (CSS) is a non-profit organization with a rich history spanning nearly a century, dedicated to assisting individuals from all backgrounds and faiths across a vast expanse of 24,000 square miles in southern Nebraska. CSS offers a comprehensive range of programs designed to provide support and hope to those in need during their most challenging times.
Headquartered in Lincoln, Neb., our array of programs includes Family Support Services, providing crucial financial assistance and food for those in need; the
St. Gianna Program, offering support to survivors of domestic violence and those facing under supported pregnancies; Immigration Legal Services; and Employment Services. Additionally, CSS operates thrift stores in Lincoln, Auburn, Hastings, and Imperial, Nebraska. Each of these programs plays a pivotal role in instilling hope and dignity in individuals who find themselves at their lowest point.
Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska (CSS) was founded in 1932 in response to the widespread hardship of the Great Depression. Originally known as Catholic Charities, its early efforts included organizing a St. Vincent de Paul Society and collaborating with other local agencies to aid families in crisis. In 1935, the organization was formally incorporated as the Catholic Social Service Bureau (CSSB), with a mission to support children, families, and the poor across the Diocese of Lincoln.
Over the decades, CSS expanded its services—offering casework, counseling, job assistance, and refugee resettlement after World War II. By the 1950s, referrals from schools, courts, and other agencies increased, and CSS adapted to meet evolving community needs. Whether serving Depression-era families, displaced persons after WWII, or vulnerable populations today, CSS has remained dedicated to the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
