Together Omaha works with local organizations to serve the community during COVID-19
Juli Oberlander • October 1, 2020
Together Omaha works with local organizations to serve the community during COVID-19
Photos courtesy of Craig Howell
Since 1975, Together Omaha has played a key role in the fight against hunger and homelessness.
Initially conceived as a response to the 1975 Omaha tornado, Together is a collaborative nonprofit organization that seeks to supply the community with the basic needs of food and shelter.
When COVID-19 struck, Director of Community Partnerships Craig Howell says Together quickly adapted to help the community.
"Together, as so many organizations, has had to make massive adjustments to the pandemic," Howell says.
After the organization's choice food pantry closed, he says Together replaced it with a drive-thru pantry. The drive-thru is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. due to COVID-19.
Howell says the adjustment was not ideal for Together's services, but the team has adapted to the pandemic by offering a COVID-19 relief fund
to help with food, rent and utility payments for people affected by job loss and lack of resources. Together also accepts donations such as hygiene products, winter clothing items and boxed food.
In addition, Howell says the drive-thru pantry has been an opportunity to provide new health information during COVID-19.
"A drive-thru pantry does not offer the choice and dignity we desire," he says. "We adjusted with public health information, recipes and supplies in the drive-thru."
When COVID-19 came to Omaha, Howell says Together closed its nutrition and cooking education program, replacing it with a video education program in collaboration with Whispering Roots and Big Garden. The team also stalled its supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) and its outreach for women, infants and children (WIC) in favor of phone application submissions and promotion of SNAP and WIC throughout the community.
During the pandemic, Howell says Together has worked with other organizations to supply the continuing needs of at-risk populations in the Omaha area.
"We knew there were community members who are isolated and at home," he says. "We added drivers and a vehicle and began collaborations with Big Garden, No More Empty Pots, Whispering Roots and any and all who could join to make home deliveries of food to those who are senior, health compromised or disabled."
Throughout the project, Howell says Together has remained committed to its partnerships and its mission to help Omaha families achieve their basic needs.
"We have served more than 95,000 in this unprecedented year of hunger," he says. "The consistent thread is the resilience and hope of the community we are so honored to serve."
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