UNO volleyball players prepare meals, pack lunches for Open Door Mission

OMAHA, Neb. —

The UNO women’s volleyball team is starting its 2026 season by giving back to the Omaha community.

Players and coaches volunteered at Open Door Mission’s Hospitality Center on Tuesday, helping prepare food, make sandwiches and pack sack lunches for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and poverty.

The team spent the afternoon in the kitchen before taking part in a campus tour.

Head coach Matt Buttermore said volunteer projects like this give the team an opportunity to make a meaningful impact beyond the volleyball court.

“We want them to know they can have that kind of impact on their community,” Buttermore said. “We get really encapsulated in the Division I volleyball world, and it’s a great way to see the world around us a little bit better.”

Buttermore said volunteering at Open Door Mission has become a tradition for the team.

Open Door Mission leaders said community partnerships help support the organization’s work serving people in need.

“We are incredibly grateful to Coach Buttermore and the UNO volleyball team for choosing to spend part of their preseason serving alongside us,” said Amy Harvey, Open Door Mission’s chief operations officer. “Their willingness to help prepare meals and support our mission is a wonderful example of community leadership and teamwork.”

The Mavericks will continue preparing for the season with an exhibition match Saturday at 1 p.m. against Wichita State at Baxter Arena.

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