Dandelion Pop-Up and Over Easy provide food and supplies to Omahans during COVID-19 pandemic

Juli Oberlander • October 1, 2020

Dandelion Pop-Up and Over Easy provide food and supplies to Omahans during COVID-19 pandemic

Nick Bartholomew and Elizabeth Wallace led the Dandelion meal project, delivering 4,000 meals to the area. (Photos courtesy of Nick Bartholomew)

Nick Bartholomew had just lined up the 2020 schedule for his Dandelion Pop-Up when the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

A popular spot for food and conversation at 13th and Howard, the pop-up specializes in Friday lunches made by area chefs and offers a different menu of street food each week. With the pandemic bringing a worldwide shutdown, Dandelion Pop-Up was one of many food establishments forced to temporarily close its doors.

As Omahans sheltered in their homes, Bartholomew says he wanted to find a way to help his community and bring hope to people reeling from the effects of the pandemic. This idea led to the creation of the Dandelion meal project.

After reaching out to local restaurants and organizations, Bartholomew secured a variety of food and monetary donations as well as a partnership with Elizabeth Wallace from 801 Chophouse to provide Omahans with necessary food and supplies.

In March alone, Dandelion Pop-Up and its team of volunteers gave away more than 1,300 bags of food. The 12-week project utilized the skill sets of local chefs, restaurant managers and Metropolitan Community College culinary students. Bartholomew says they sometimes employed up to four students because the need was so great.

"It’s been a collective effort with awesome, dynamite staff," he says. "I’ve been so grateful for that."

In addition to allowing restaurants to repurpose food and avoid waste, Bartholomew says the meal project was a great way to serve at-risk populations such as veterans, the homeless and out-of-work families. As word spread, the giveaways expanded to several locations and the team also provided an online request form with a curbside pickup option.

Along with 801 Chophouse, Dandelion Pop-Up also worked with Spencer’s for Steaks and Chops, Sysco, Culprit, Omaha Steaks and many other volunteers. Bartholomew says the team prepared the meals in the 801 Chophouse kitchen and then distributed them on Saturdays with different food themes each week, such as Hawaiian and barbecue.

"We figured if we’re all wearing gloves and masks, why can’t we all assemble to help the community?" Bartholomew says.

While the Saturday meals provided Omahans a source of fresh, local food, Bartholomew says the giveaways also allowed for social distancing and offered people an outlet to connect with others.

"I think it’s been a collective, deep breath for the community and really just a way to interact," Bartholomew says. "It’s been a treasure."

As news of the project spread on social media, many local organizations contacted Bartholomew with the purpose of helping out, including the Omaha Symphony. After featuring local symphony musicians as part of a free concert series, Bartholomew says the pop-up has since provided other entertainment, such as a comedy show and a drive-in theater.

Although people are social distancing, Bartholomew says the events have brought everyone peace of mind and a sense of community as chefs, performers and the public gather together to enjoy local food.

"It's really been a beautiful way to bring people together and help during a scary time," he says.

Along with Dandelion Pop-Up, Bartholomew's restaurant Over Easy stepped forward to help Omahans with a grocery drive that offered pantry items from toilet paper to soap.

Bartholomew says the inspiration for the drive came in March when he first went grocery shopping for his family during the pandemic. When he saw the limited amount of supplies in stores, he came up with the idea to use the Over Easy drive-thru to distribute groceries and perishable items.

Like Dandelion Pop-Up, Bartholomew says Over Easy offered people the option to call ahead and pick up food items while limiting their interaction to restaurant employees. Throughout the pandemic, Bartholomew's team has donated meals and groceries to local organizations such as Child Saving Institute, Victory Apartments, Table Grace Cafe and and Santa Monica House.

At the end of the meal project, Dandelion Pop-Up distributed 4,000 meals to Omahans in need, not including the groceries delivered through Over Easy. As cold weather approaches, Bartholomew says he is continually looking for ways to serve the community through food.

"Dandelion Pop-Up is for Omaha," Bartholomew says. "We want to be able to help going forward in any way that we can."

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