The need is spiking—fast. As SNAP and WIC supports disappear and health coverage slips beyond reach for so many Americans, many in our community will go hungry. And—as the pandemic laid bare—our neighbors of color, immigrant, and refugee families carry the heaviest weight of unjust systems. We can’t fix everything today, but we can make sure families eat this week.
Please join us in furthering God’s call to love our neighbors, care for the sick, and feed the hungry—today!
What to do now (six concrete actions)
1) Donate food to Food Bank for the Heartland (drop off directly at the warehouse):
Food Bank for the Heartland is our region’s primary distributor to pantries across Omaha and beyond. They’ve asked for these high-need items:
- Peanut butter
- Macaroni & cheese
- Canned tuna and chicken
- Cereal
- Pancake mix
- Canned fruit and vegetables
- Pork & beans
- Pasta & sauce
- Boxed meals
- Rice
Where & when to deliver
Food Bank for the Heartland — 10525 J Street, Omaha, NE 68127
Monday–Friday, 8 am–4 pm
Follow the signs and look for the blue donation bins. Delivering straight to the warehouse speeds sorting and gets food on shelves faster.
2) Donate financially to Food Bank for the Heartland
Financial gifts stretch even further. Every $1 donated provides nearly three meals. And with 96 cents of every dollar going directly to food and programming, this is one of the most efficient ways to fight hunger across Nebraska and western Iowa.
Give directly here: foodbankheartland.org
3) Donate financially to Together Omaha
At this time, President and CEO Mike Hornacek has requested that financial gifts be made directly to Together.
Together’s Choice Food Pantry serves more than 30,000 people every year, and every $1 you give provides nearly $5 worth of groceries for a neighbor in need. With demand up more than 25% in the past year, your gift matters deeply.
Give directly here: togetheromaha.org/donate
4) Volunteer or donate to Countryside’s Community Cupboard
The Community Cupboard is held the first Saturday of every month, 8–10:30 am, at Countryside. This is hands-on, family-friendly service right here in our community.
Click here and select Community Cupboard in the pulldown to donate to Countryside’s Community Cupboard. For questions or more information about the Cupboard, email communitycupboard@countrysideucc.org.
5) Share the list of local food pantries
Please help spread the word by sharing our compiled list of food pantries serving the greater Omaha community. This helps families across the metro connect quickly to resources when they need them most.
Click here for the list of area pantries in English: Pantry Listing Omaha – English. Or here for the Spanish version: Pantry Listing Omaha – Spanish.
6) Take action to protect SNAP benefits
Friends, our neighbors are at risk of losing November SNAP benefits—$27 million in food support that helps 150,000 Nebraskans put meals on the table. We need you to act: contact Congress today and urge them to release SNAP’s contingency fund, protect families, and prevent food banks from being overwhelmed. Your voice is urgently needed—contact Congress today to protect SNAP, end the shutdown, and keep health care affordable: https://bit.ly/NEAPTC
Our faith calls us to feed the hungry and care for the poor, to embody God’s love in the most practical and urgent of ways. This is who we are: a church that shows up, shares what we have, and refuses to look away. Thank you for moving quickly and generously.
With gratitude and grace,
Rev. Dr. Jenny Shultz-Thomas
Senior Minister, Countryside Community Church