Big Mama's Kitchen and Catering donates meals to Omahans during COVID-19, helps local families

Juli Oberlander • October 1, 2020

Big Mama's Kitchen and Catering donates meals to Omahans during COVID-19, helps local families

Photo courtesy of Gladys Harrison

Gladys Harrison, owner of Big Mama's Kitchen and Catering, is carrying on her mother's legacy of service to the Omaha area.

Since her mother Patricia Barron's death in 2018, Harrison has continued her mission of contributing to Omaha's heritage and providing quality food to the community. In January, Harrison relocated the restaurant to the Highlander neighborhood with a dedication to serving the developing area.

"Our founder Patricia 'Big Mama' Barron was a firm believer in the business sector and the community being partners to ensure growth of the community, particularly in difficult times," Harrison says.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Harrison was forced to close the restaurant's doors. However, thanks to a Paycheck Protection Program loan from the federal government, Big Mama's was able to reopen in May.

Despite the hardships the world has faced in 2020, Harrison says the team at Big Mama's has persevered to continue the restaurant's tradition of service. During the pandemic, the staff has donated meals and volunteered their time to help Omahans affected by COVID-19. In addition, Big Mama's has granted scholarships to college students, covered the cost of funeral expenses for local families and contributed to nonprofit organizations.

After the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, the restaurant donated meals to support local workshops for young community leaders seeking to end racial injustice in Omaha and across the nation. As the country grappled with COVID-19 and the death of Floyd, Harrison says Big Mama's sought to help by partnering with NorthStar Foundation to feed low-income families once a week. The restaurant has also teamed up with Omaha Street School and No More Empty Pots to help the community gain access to healthy food.

While COVID-19 has dramatically impacted people's everyday lives, Harrison says the restaurant has altered its set-up to maintain the safety of its customers, including creating a line of fresh, affordable take and bake meals for working families.

"2020 has proven to be challenging for all of us," she says. "To meet the challenges this year has brought us, Big Mama’s now offers curbside service, individually packaged lunches, reduced seating in our shared dining room and restructured our business hours."

Although COVID-19 has brought many changes for Omahans, Harrison says the restaurant's commitment to the community will always remain the same.

"We continue to offer catering services for breakfast, lunch and dinner," she says, "and we are looking forward to continuing our annual holiday catering traditions."

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