Retire SMART employees make fleece blankets for Project Harmony

Retire SMART employees spent Oct. 23 making fleece-tied blankets for Project Harmony, the Omaha child advocacy group serving children affected by abuse and neglect. The volunteer project aimed to provide comfort while supporting a local nonprofit that also focuses on treatment, prevention and family support.

Why it matters: - The blanket project gave Retire SMART employees, clients and community members a hands-on way to support children facing abuse or neglect. - Project Harmony uses donated support to expand services that help children heal and connect families with needed resources. - The effort tied a local workplace volunteer event to a nonprofit serving children across the Omaha metro and beyond.

What happened: - Retire SMART employees gathered on Oct. 23, 2026, to make fleece-tied blankets for Project Harmony in Omaha. - The blankets were designed to provide warmth and comfort for children served by the organization. - The volunteer activity also included participation from clients and community members.

The details: - Project Harmony is an Omaha-based organization focused on ending the cycle of child abuse and neglect. - The organization has worked on child abuse and neglect issues since 1996. - Project Harmony uses a collaborative model built around response, treatment and prevention. - The organization provides youth-focused mental health services, early intervention programs, specialized services for children and families, and training for professionals and community members. - Project Harmony serves children across the Omaha metropolitan area, including Douglas and Sarpy counties, and also reaches communities in Nebraska and western Iowa. - Retire SMART said the project was part of its community involvement with local organizations.

Between the lines: - The blanket drive was not just a donation effort. It also created a low-cost, high-touch volunteer activity that produced a tangible item for children in crisis. - The project helped raise awareness of Project Harmony’s broader work beyond emergency response, including prevention and support services. - Retire SMART used the event to connect employees and clients to a local cause tied directly to family and child welfare.

What's next: - Retire SMART is expected to continue community involvement with organizations serving the local area. - Project Harmony will keep relying on community partnerships and direct services to support children and families affected by abuse.