College World Series food donations help Omaha community

Pantry feeds clients: 'I had to swallow my pride so my kids could eat'

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College World Series food donations help Omaha families

OMAHA, Neb. —

Chefs and kitchen staff at the College World Series are preparing meals for thousands of fans while ensuring leftover food is donated to families in need through a local partnership.

Twice a week, the Saving Grace Food Rescue truck delivers fresh food to the Together Food Pantry at 24th and Leavenworth, where it is distributed to families within 24 hours. Up to 150 families a day select items in a supermarket-style setting.

Lacey Blakeman, director of the Together Food Pantry, said, “That’s what we hear. I’m really hungry. I had to swallow my pride so my kids could eat. There are a lot of tearful moments, and we want to do our best to normalize, we’re all human.”

Christine, a mother of six who shops at the pantry, expressed her gratitude, saying, “I’m blessed to be here. These are wonderful people here.”

The pantry receives donations from grocery stores, restaurants, and large events like the College World Series. On a recent weekday, goods from Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s were delivered. Many of the items are nearing the end of their shelf life, but Saving Grace ensures timely delivery to those in need.

Lenli Corbett, CEO of Saving Grace said they are all about logistic and caring for people, “We take pride that the food we are rescuing today will be out feeding people today, tomorrow in a timely manner.”

At Together, clients can shop for up to 30 items a week, including fresh fruits and vegetables. This effort is critical in a city where one in five children face food insecurity.

“When we think about the location of the series, we know that there’s need all over Omaha,” Corbett said. “We know there are 154,000 people in our community that are food insecure. And we want to make sure with partners Charles Schwab and CHI that food is not wasted.”

Tyler Humphrey, director of Levy Restaurants, oversees food operations at Charles Schwab Field and CHI Health Center. He said the partnership has lasted more than a decade, with about 8,000 pounds of food donated during the College World Series each year.

“So there’s always food in production or food purchased may go unsold and consumed. That’s where these folks come in,” Humphrey said.

Saving Grace reports that approximately 30% of food in America goes to waste, but partnerships like this ensure that food is for people, not landfills. Saving Grace delivers to 45 non-profits on a regular basis.

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