by Madison Wheeler, reporter
OMAHA – The COVID-19 pandemic has upended lives, leaving a wake of unemployment and other financial problems.
Food pantries always provide food assistance to those who need it, a number that has increased this year. Unemployment in the United States reached 14.4% in April, higher than at any point during the Great Recession, according to a Pew Research Center study.
The Tri-City Food Pantry works with referral systems to help connect families to resources. A school guidance counselor might refer a family to the food pantry, and help them find other help for paying rent or school fees as well.
“We’re one spoke of a wheel to make every family successful. It’s just kind of a partnership,” said Melissa Nelson, director of the Tri-City Food Pantry.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP,) is a supplemental program, meaning that it isn’t meant to be a family’s main source of food. Food pantries work in a similar way.
“Some of our families work, some have been laid off, some get SNAP or other assistance,” said Nelson.
The Maverick Food Pantry, based in the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) Community Engagement Center, is another supplemental program. During the pandemic, faculty, staff and students at UNO, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and the College of St. Mary can request two packages containing two days worth of food a week.
“Your stomach is growling, it’s not like you can focus on your classwork and your homework, and even your job,” said Madeline St. Clair, Maverick Food Pantry coordinator.
