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The Omaha Veterans Affairs office said that in Nebraska and Western Iowa, there are over 40,000 veterans in need of food. The Veterans Affairs’ food pantry is helping out.”Since last October, we have seen an increase each month of veterans that are in some type of food insecurity come in for support,” said Michael Ingram, the chief of the Center of Development and Civic Engagement.The pantry opened in October, and in the seven months since, volunteers have helped over 1,200 veterans, with the need continuing to grow.”Last month alone, we darn near gave out $10,000 worth of food,” Ingram said.The office is looking for donations of both food and hygiene items like toothpaste and soap.”Shelf-stable meals, canned vegetables, snack items so things like chips or nuts or even nut butters,” said Brenna Partridge, employee Whole Health coordinator. Ingram said higher grocery prices have led to empty spots on the shelves, but without community support this pantry can’t do its job.”There are tears. There are moments where people can be human, and that is the moment that makes the food pantry worth it,” Ingram said.As the client list gets longer, Ingram said the job only becomes more necessary.”I hear stories of how a mother who has children at home, this might be the only food they have all week, so it is just so captivating and rewarding,” Ingram said.You can make donations tomorrow at the Stuff the Bus event during Omaha VA’s VA2K & Health Fair. A bus will be outside the Ambulatory Care Center on the VA medical campus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.The event is focused on making healthcare accessible and supporting veterans experiencing homelessness. The VA said healthcare starts with making sure everyone has enough to eat.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
The Omaha Veterans Affairs office said that in Nebraska and Western Iowa, there are over 40,000 veterans in need of food. The Veterans Affairs’ food pantry is helping out.
“Since last October, we have seen an increase each month of veterans that are in some type of food insecurity come in for support,” said Michael Ingram, the chief of the Center of Development and Civic Engagement.
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The pantry opened in October, and in the seven months since, volunteers have helped over 1,200 veterans, with the need continuing to grow.
“Last month alone, we darn near gave out $10,000 worth of food,” Ingram said.
The office is looking for donations of both food and hygiene items like toothpaste and soap.
“Shelf-stable meals, canned vegetables, snack items so things like chips or nuts or even nut butters,” said Brenna Partridge, employee Whole Health coordinator.
Ingram said higher grocery prices have led to empty spots on the shelves, but without community support this pantry can’t do its job.
“There are tears. There are moments where people can be human, and that is the moment that makes the food pantry worth it,” Ingram said.
As the client list gets longer, Ingram said the job only becomes more necessary.
“I hear stories of how a mother who has children at home, this might be the only food they have all week, so it is just so captivating and rewarding,” Ingram said.
You can make donations tomorrow at the Stuff the Bus event during Omaha VA’s VA2K & Health Fair. A bus will be outside the Ambulatory Care Center on the VA medical campus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The event is focused on making healthcare accessible and supporting veterans experiencing homelessness. The VA said healthcare starts with making sure everyone has enough to eat.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
