“Do I pay my rent, get gas or buy groceries?” This is a very real scenario and a difficult choice many people in the community must make every day.
Food insecurity is on the rise across the U.S. and in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area. More than 12% of people do not know where their next meal will come from, according to the Douglas County Health Department.
UNMC and Nebraska Medicine are coming together for a campus-wide food drive from Saturday, March 1, through Monday, March 24, in honor of National Nutrition Month.
Last year, the med center collected 2,152 lbs. of food. This year, the goal is to collect more than 2,500 lbs. of nonperishable food items, which is equivalent to approximately 2,500 cans. All items collected will be distributed to three local nonprofit organizations:
Requested items include:
- Boxed meals such as mac and cheese or meal helpers
- Canned meat (chicken or tuna)
- Canned vegetables
- Cereal
- Fruit (cans or cups)
- Peanut butter
- Pasta (noodles, sauce and sides)
- Rice
- Soup (cans or packets)
- Beans (canned and dry)
- Toiletries
Beginning March 1, donations can be dropped off in the boxes or barrels located in the following areas:
- Bellevue Medical Center, main lobby
- Clarkson Café
- Durham Outpatient Center, Starbucks coffee shop
- East Campus Corporate Pavilion, level three lunchroom
- Engage Wellness Medical Fitness Center
- Kiewit Tower, level three near work rooms
- Lauritzen Outpatient Center, main floor lobby
- Lot 50, level three skywalk entrance
- Sorrell Center, level two skywalk entrance
- Village Pointe Health Center, 111 building
Other Nebraska Medicine and UNMC locations can coordinate their donations by emailing Allison Leeper, events coordinator.
This food drive supports the Nebraska Medicine and UNMC 2022-25 Community Health Improvement Plan, which includes nutrition, physical activity and weight as focus areas.