Several food drives have been launched at the med center to address food insecurity, and assistance also is available for those faculty, staff and students in need.
UNO Maverick Food Pantry
The Maverick Food Pantry at the University of Nebraska at Omaha now is available for UNMC students, faculty and staff, UNMC Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, announced this week.
Learn more about placing an order. Deliveries will be made to the UNMC campus for UNMC students. Faculty and staff can pick up their orders at the food pantry, located in the Weitz Community Engagement Center at UNO.
The food pantry also accepts donations. Those donating should park in lot E near the bell tower at UNO and tell the attendant that they are dropping off for the Maverick Food Pantry. Call the pantry at 402-554-5978, and workers will get the items from the parking lot.
Nebraska Medicine
Nebraska has launched a campus food drive to support the Food Bank for the Heartland – and the drive will continue for as long as the need persists. The drive is held in collaboration with the “Omaha Leads and Feeds” citywide food drive.
Any nonperishable, shelf-stable, nonexpired food and toiletries will be accepted. View the full list of most-needed items.
Donation bins are located at:
- Bellevue Medical Center, main lobby
- Clarkson Café
- Durham Outpatient Center, Starbucks coffee shop
- East Campus Corporate Pavilion, level three lunchroom
- Kiewit Tower, level two
- Lauritzen Outpatient Center, main floor lobby
- Lot 50, level two skywalk entrance
- Village Pointe Health Center, 111 building
Other Nebraska Medicine locations can coordinate donations with Becky Jackson, manager for Nebraska Medicine Community Health, via email.
University of Nebraska System
NU President Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, announced that the Office of the President has arranged to transfer $5,000 each to the University of Nebraska at Kearney, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and University of Nebraska at Omaha food pantries and $2,500 to the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis food pantry. UNO’s Maverick Food Pantry is the food pantry available to support UNMC students.
In a message to university faculty, staff and students, Dr. Gold said that sometimes, student support is more fundamental than the opportunity that NU usually provides.
“It means ensuring that basic needs are met and removing barriers that stand in the way of success,” he said. “Today, that includes making sure our students have enough to eat.”
UNMC Department of Internal Medicine
The UNMC Department of Internal Medicine’s Office of Belonging and Community Engagement is hosting a campuswide food packaging event Thursday, Nov. 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Truhlsen Event Center.
Volunteers will package 20,000 meals for local food pantries during the “Meals for the Heartland: Campus-Wide Food Packaging Event.” (All 123 volunteer time slots are filled.)
The event also features a food drive. Shelf-stable food items can be dropped off on the fifth floor of the Sorrell Center, by the elevators.
See more about the drive at this campus events listing.
Faculty Senate and Staff Advisory Council
The UNMC Faculty Senate and UNMC Staff Advisory Council released a joint “dear colleagues” letter offering links to resources available around the community.
Find the letter, with the list of links, at this webpage.
“We know that challenges can affect each of us differently, and reaching out for support is a sign of strength,” the letter said. “If you have questions or need help finding the right resource, please do not hesitate to contact the Department of Human Resources. We are here for you.”
UNMC Department of Psychiatry
The department is collecting food for Nebraska Medicine’s drive in support of Food Bank of the Heartland. Signs and donation boxes will be posted.
Staff donations also are encouraged to Heart Ministry Center, which operates a non-profit pantry that many patients use and has been a site in the past for volunteer service and donations by the department.
Munroe-Meyer Institute
The Munroe-Meyer Institute’s Quality Council is hosting a food drive to benefit families in need during the holidays and beyond.
Employees can donate non-perishable food items through Nov. 20. Donation bins will be placed at MMI in the fourth-floor staff breakroom, near the Recreational Therapy Department entrance and in the main lobby near OpPourtunity Brew.
Donations will go to Food Bank for the Heartland. Most needed items include boxed meals, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, canned tuna, canned chicken, cereal, pancake mix, canned fruits and vegetables, pork and beans, pasta, pasta sauce and rice.
Olson Center for Women’s Health
The Olson Center has launched a food pantry initiative to support patients at the center.
Olson Center staff and providers rallied behind the effort, donating nonperishable food items, hygiene products and monetary contributions. The center welcomes continued donations of nonperishable food and hygiene products from anyone who wishes to support the pantry.
Email Gina Walsh, clinic operations lead with the Olson Center for Women’s Health, for more information.