By Katie Schubert
Omaha, NE – Two upcoming campaigns seek to help Omaha's food pantries re-stock their shelves.
One campaign beginning next Monday is called "Making the Grade to End Hunger in Omaha." Each elementary and middle school in Omaha will compete to see which one can collect the most food for area pantries.
Erin Stoll is Director of Development for Together Inc. She says some food shipments didn't reach Omaha this summer, and that's impacted what's available for families needing assistance. "Not only do we serve people in our pantry that come to our doors, we served in August about 1600 families alone, in addition to that we are a food bank for 15 pantries in Omaha. We provide their food for their pantry for their clients, and we weren't able to give them hardly anything all summer because we weren't getting food in."
Stoll says donations of canned goods are needed, particularly protein items such as tuna, fish, and salmon. The Together Inc. food bank also accepts boxed meals and fresh produce.
Another food drive, called "Give the Boot to Child Hunger," began Tuesday. The Aksarben River City Rodeo and ConAgra are partnering to collect 82,800 pounds of food during the month-long drive.