24 Days of Doomscroll Detox: Hopescroll With Us!

Strongly Worded Letters
Dec 7, 2025
7 min read

Updated: Dec 29, 2025

December: The days have gotten longer, the sun now sets at 5:00 PM, and the urge to curl up in bed and stare into your phone for hours has never been stronger—but we're here to help.

This month, we're focused on bringing you action items in four key areas:

Anti-Brainrot Agenda: Knowledge is power. When we know how our systems work, we're better equipped to make change. In this category, we've identified areas of local influence and power that are often overlooked.
Nebraska Doesn't Have to Suck: Upon publishing of this post, we're exactly one month away from the beginning of Nebraska's 2026 legislative session. We're picked out a few carryover bills that we think deserve attention.
Don't Agonize, Organize: There are hundreds of people and organizations doing crucial community-centric work in Omaha. This month, we're spotlighting a few that could use some extra love and support.
Go Touch Grass: We're just as eternally online as the next person—but it's important to build power offline, too. Action items in this category are meant to get you out and about in community alongside your neighbors (as you're able, of course).

Join us as we harness the scroll for 24 days of community education and power building as we head into the new year. 2026 doesn't stand a chance!

🏡 Dec 8: Learn about your local neighborhood association.

When residents and neighbors get together to advocate on behalf of their shared community, that’s a neighborhood association. In Omaha, there are over 190! Check out One Omaha‘s guide to Neighborhood Associations.

👦 Dec 9: Support the Youth Bill of Rights in Nebraska.

LB 368 (Sen. Hunt) would establish the Nebraska Youth in Care Bill of Rights, clarifying the rights of Nebraska youth in foster care and ensuring they are aware of their rights and equipped to advocate for themselves. Find your senator and urge them to support this bill!

❤️‍🩹 Dec 10: Plug into the Mission: Restoring Dignity

Restoring Dignity provides supportive services to families with refugee status— is largely staffed by former refugees! Programs include home maintenance classes, housing advocacy support, and a furniture bank. Learn how you can support their mission.

👋 Dec 11: Introduce yourself to your neighbors.

Cookies optional. The holidays are a great time to introduce yourself to the family across the hall or the couple next door. Getting to know your neighbors is great for safety and security, community cohesion, and social well-being.

⚡️ Dec 12: Learn about the OPPD board.

Did you know Nebraska is the only state where all electric utilities are publicly owned by the people? Omaha Public Power District has eight subdivisions, each represented by a board member. The OPPD board is responsible for setting rates and policies and representing constituent interests. Find your representative and learn more about the OPPD board.

🧑‍🧑‍🧒 Dec 13: Support Second Parent Adoption in Nebraska.

LB 70 would update Nebraska’s law to allow for second parent adoption, allowing more families access to the benefits of legal parenthood, especially in medical, financial, and custodial situations. Find your senator and urge them to support this bill!

🗳️ Dec 14: Talk to your friends and family about voting.

Sharing your plan, offering to help someone register over the holidays, or pointing them toward your favorite voting guide are all ways to check-in without putting on too much pressure. This Election Conversation Guide from Common Cause is a great place to start.

🤝 Dec 15: Say NO to E-verify in solidarity with our immigrant neighbors.

Let’s support our neighbors by saying NO to LB 532. Next session, Nebraska state senators will discuss LB 532 (Sen. Kauth) which would require all Nebraska businesses to utilize “e-verify” software to collect and verify employee immigration status. E-verify software is invasive and creates easy tools for ICE to use to track immigrants. Call or email your senator in opposition to this bill!

🍽️ Dec 16: Support All People's Pantry

This month, we’re shining a light on local nonprofits and other community groups. All People’s Pantry is a culturally sensitive food pantry dedicated to providing Omaha’s immigrant and refugee populations with access to familiar, culturally important foods. Check out their work and consider making a donation or signing up to volunteer!

🎓 Dec 17: Learn about your local school board.

Do you know who your school board representative is? Take a moment to learn about what a school board does, who your representative is, and how you can stay up to date on important news. (Bonus: reach out to your school board member and introduce yourself as a constituent!) Learn about OPS here.

🍎 Dec 18: Support free school lunch in Nebraska.

Last session, Sen. M. Cavanaugh introduced the Hunger Free Schools Act, a bill to provide for free school lunch in all Nebraska public schools. This upcoming session, our senators have an opportunity to make this dream a reality and pass it into law. Call or email your senator and share your support for this bill.

📚 Dec 19: Locate your local Little Free Library

Little free libraries, free farm stands, and free little art galleries are all examples of practical community building practices. Find the nearest one to you and maybe pick up your next read.

🩸 Dec 20: Support Access Period.

Access Period is a local nonprofit dedicated to ending period poverty across Nebraska. They provide free menstrual supplies to those in need. Consider making a donation or signing up to host a supplies packing party.

🏛 Dec 21: Learn more about your city council.

Do you know what city council district you live in? Do you know who your city council representative is? Take a moment to find this info and then click here to learn about what kinds of decisions are made at the city level and how you can get involved. Bonus: check out our post from earlier this year about Omaha's city budget process.

🚌 Dec 22: Connect with your RMTA representative.

The Regional Metro Transit Authority (RMTA) is a board that governs Omaha’s bus system and makes decisions about public transit in the greater Omaha area. Take a moment to learn who your representative is here.

🚲 Dec 23: Learn about Community Bike Project of Omaha.

Located in the Gifford Park neighborhood, Community Bike Project of Omaha (CBPO) is our local nonprofit bike shop, providing classes in bike repair/maintenance, helping make cycling more accessible, and fostering community connections. Learn how you can get involved here.

🏠 Dec 24: Support the Tenant Clean Slate Act.

Last session, Sen. McKinney introduced the Tenant Clean Slate Act to increase access to housing by allowing tenants to seal certain eviction records. We support this legislation and you should, too! Reach out to your Nebraska state senator and ask them to advance it.

🤝 Dec 25: Support your local mutual aid organization.

Omaha Autonomous Action (OAA) is an Omaha-based mutual aid network dedicated to supporting our neighbors who are living without shelter. They provide hot meals and supplies each week, taking requests to ensure they are meeting specific needs for our neighbors.

If you're interested in supporting their work, become a monthly Patreon contributor. OAA is also running a coat drive at Legend Comics in Benson collecting winter weather apparel through January 5!

🏛 Dec 26: Oppose state-level criminalization of homelessness.

Our Omaha-based audience might recall that our community recently rallied and struck down a city council ordinance to criminalize homelessness. LB 443 (Sen. Von Gillern) would do essentially the same thing, creating the offense of "unlawful squatting." Tell your senator to OPPOSE this legislation.

🚌 Dec 27: Practice using public transportation.

Have you ever ridden the bus? If your answer to that is no, this is your sign to give it a try! It might seem silly, especially if you own a car, but familiarizing yourself with the transit system is a great way to connect with our city on a deeper level. Metro Transit has a great guide for beginners.

Nervous? We recommend starting out with the ORBT. You've likely seen the stations lining either side of Dodge. It has an intuitive route and helpful station kiosks, experienced drivers, and predetermined stops, meaning you don't have to pull a cord to get off.

❄️ Dec 28: Prep winter weather care packages.

As the weather gets colder, conditions become more dangerous for our neighbors living without shelter. Consider making a cold weather care package to keep in your car or bag to hand off as needed.

A care package might include any of the following: an emergency mylar blanket, gloves, socks, hand warmers, cough drops, a list of shelters or warming centers, nonperishable snacks, lip balm, cash, and more.

This is a great activity to do with friends and family around the holidays, and splitting the cost of supplies with a group can go a long way.

💗 Dec 29: Support Nebraska Abortion Resources (NEAR).

Take a moment to learn more about Nebraska’s abortion fund! NEAR helps people across the state access healthcare through funding abortions and access to emergency contraception, condoms, and pregnancy tests. You can support them by following them on social media, donating, or volunteering.

⚒️ Dec 30: Create a community Library of Things.

Overconsumption and individualism are the opposite of community. Take a moment to consider how you can make do with what you already own and instead share resources with friends through a "Library of Things." This can look like a shared spreadsheet with friends, family, or neighbors detailing what tools or household items you have.

🏛 Dec 31: Prepare for Nebraska's 2026 legislative session.

Nebraska's 2026 legislative session starts on January 7! Now is a great time to make sure you know who your senator is, how our unicameral works, and how to speak up. Below, we've linked a few of our evergreen (and shareable!) resources for your convenience:

Thanks for being with us! See you in the new year. 🫡