Partners in Progress
Katie Jo Huckins
The Heart Ministry Center collaborates with local nonprofits to foster a stronger, more resilient community by addressing diverse social needs.
In a metro area the size of Omaha, dozens of successful non-profit agencies work to create lasting change for people facing adversity. When dedicated teams work to apply proven techniques, combine resources, and share specialization in their outreach, success is sure to follow. Through these partnerships, the Heart Ministry Center can expand its services more effectively to meet the community’s diverse needs.
The Heart’s Willing Partner Program is no stranger to collaboration and works with outside organizations for specific needs to provide an even broader range of solutions for people trying to take steps toward self-sufficiency. Goodwill or Heartland Workforce Solutions offer resume workshops to help interested individuals find jobs matching their skill sets. These resources provide Heart Ministry Center navigators with a solid referral process and offer hope and job or occupational skills training on the road to gainful employment.
Lending Link is an Omaha organization that promotes financial literacy through a strong working relationship with the Heart Ministry Center’s Willing Partner team. Twice a month, in-person budgeting classes are held at the Heart in English and Spanish. In addition, a Lending Link representative is available at the Heart every Wednesday, from 10:00 am -12:00 pm to work on credit scores or through one-on-one coaching, to help individuals apply for a loan.
In these sessions, Lending Link has a powerful impact on a secure financial future for many people. They often educate others on loan eligibility and the application process, steer consumers away from predatory lenders, build credit through small loans, and offer free tax preparation to maximize refunds. This collaboration has led to a strong referral process and many success stories in Omaha. Heart Ministry Center is proud to work with other outstanding teams in a collective effort for better tomorrows for our community.
When asked about the positive effects of collaboration, Dan Padilla said, “By sharing expertise, funding, and outreach efforts, organizations can maximize their impact without duplicating efforts. At Lending Link, we have seen firsthand the power of collaboration with Heart Ministry Center, and we encourage other organizations to seek out like-minded partners to amplify their efforts and create meaningful, long-term change in Omaha.”
DAN PADILLA, Executive Director of Lending Link
Executive director of Lending Link, Dan Padilla, states, “We have seen a significant number of new clients coming from Heart Ministry Center, with many new loan applications originating from individuals who first learned about our services through our partnership. One key indicator of our success is that when Heart Ministry Center directly refers a client to us, 95% of the time, we are able to approve their loan. This high approval rate demonstrates the strong alignment between our mission and the needs of the community members served at Heart Ministry Center.”
