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CHI Health of Omaha, Nebraska, recently partnered with the Omaha Fire Department to pack bags of essential supplies that they call blessing bags to give to people who are homeless. A firefighter came up with the idea, marketing and community benefit teams at CHI Health helped fund the project, and leaders of a CHI Health hospital assembled the bags.

The intent of the blessing bags project is to offer people who are homeless relief from the heat that has been scorching Omaha this summer. A broader goal is to help to address the root causes of some social concerns and chronic health issues that impact many people who are homeless, by offering them information on accessing services.

The bags were the brainchild of fireman and paramedic Dan Rue. He said in a press release that frontline responders like him "see firsthand the challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness in our community." He said that during their interactions with homeless community members, responders see that those who lack a safe and stable place to live find it difficult to get necessities.

To address the concern, Rue shared his idea with the fire department and CHI Health, and they worked together to bring the idea to fruition. In July, a group of leaders from CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center — Bergan Mercy in Omaha gathered to assemble 120 blessing bags. The reusable drawstring bags contain sunscreen, bug spray, hydration packets, water, sanitizer and other basics. The bags also contain fliers with information about Omaha-area cooling shelters, social services and health services.

The CHI Health and fire department group gave the bags to first responders who put them in their ambulances and fire trucks. Now, when they encounter people in need, and if the ambulances transport them, they can offer them a bag. The responders also give fliers to people who don't need the blessing bags but who need information on how and where to access social services and health care in Omaha.

CHI Health and the fire department have extra unused drawstring bags on hand to create more blessing bags as the need arises, and they will tailor the bags according to recipient feedback. They also may pack bags with cold-weather supplies when winter months pose new weather challenges.

CHI Health and the fire department would like to host donation drives with employees and the community to create more blessing bags.

According to a May Nebraska Public Media report, "from 2014 to 2023, the number of people living outside in Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie counties increased nearly eightfold. It's one of the highest increases across the country, though the area's homeless population is still one of the smallest." Omaha is in Douglas County, which borders Sarpy County, Nebraska, and Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

CHI Health is part of CommonSpirit Health.