‘The need is overwhelming’: Food pantry shelves at Open Door Mission struggling to stay stocked

Nearly empty shelves have been the norm, recently at Open Door Mission, but they said there's a continuous flow of people in need.

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Food pantry shelves at Omaha’s Open Door Mission struggling to stay stocked as need increases

Nearly empty shelves have been the norm, recently at Open Door Mission, but they said there’s a continuous flow of people in need.

OMAHA, Neb. —

More families are in need of food assistance across the metro and pantry shelves are wiped clean. The Open Door Mission is working to feed as many people as they can, but they’re struggling to keep up with the demand.

Nearly empty shelves have been the norm, recently at Open Door Mission, but they said there’s a continuous flow of people in need.

“I really can’t recall a time that our shelves were this low in donated food,” Candace Gregory, CEO of Open Door Mission, said. “In comparison to this time last year, we actually have a 34% increase.”

Currently, what you see on the shelves, is all the organization has.

“No skids of food in my warehouse, which I do have a 700 skid warehouse. I don’t have food in there,” Gregory said. “This is it like, you know, as the vehicles are showing up at our door with food, we’re bringing them right here [to the pantry shelves].

Gregory said times are hard for everyone right now.

“The need is overwhelming right now compared to what we’ve generally served in the past few years. And I think the economy just is impacting both sides the giving, the donating and those that are in need,” Gregory said.

On average, Open Door Mission said, 1,200 people come to their pantry each day. Recently, the organization said, many of them are there for the first time.

“Some are coming to our doors for, reasons that are uncontrollable to them because the economy that they’ve lost their job hours have been cut,” Gregory said.

Gregory said they will continue to help as many people as possible and are grateful for everything the community continues to provide. She encourages people to host food drives if they want to help in a larger way.

Gregory said you can donate items directly, through their Amazon wish list or simply volunteer your time. For more information on how to help, click here.

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