NeighborGood community pantry, which serves Sarpy County and the City of Ralston, has outgrown it current Papillion home and plans a move to a larger facility in Sarpy County. Shown here is volunteer Susie Dorland, stocking items. (Courtesy of NeighborGood)
PAPILLION, Neb. — Faced with a 38% annual rise in demand for food assistance, the nonprofit NeighborGood plans a move to a larger facility that will offer Sarpy County residents improved pantry service and a link to other community resources.
Relocation from less than 2,000 square feet to more than 9,000 square feet is set for next spring.
NeighborGood community pantry plans a move to a building that will enlarge its space and programming. (Courtesy of NeighborGood)
Originally, NeighborGood planned to build on land acquired by the City of Papillion near its current home. Then the structure at 1712 Charleston Drive became available, accelerating the move by two years and cutting an ongoing fundraising campaign from $6 million to $3.7 million, said executive director Melissa Nelson.
“It was really a win-win for everybody,” she said.
Less waste, more dignity
People seeking assistance will be able to select items ranging from meat to hygiene supplies and pet food from shelves in a market-style experience, as opposed to the current distribution of pre-bagged groceries.
That should prevent waste, as clients will be able to select food they will eat, said Nelson. She said the pantry’s service areas of Sarpy County and the City of Ralston (as well as families with children in those areas) have a diverse population of cultures and religions that don’t have uniform diets and needs.
“There is also the human dignity aspect,” Nelson said. “We really want the families that come here to have that autonomy and choose the food they would like.”
With roots as Tri-City Food Pantry, NeighborGood took its new name and brand 15 years ago.
Nelson said the nonprofit sees about 20 families on average each of the four days during the week it is open.
NeighborGood’s planned move will allow for grocery store-style pantry shopping, which is to waste less food and be more dignified for clients than the current distribution of pre-sacked items. (Courtesy of NeighborGood)
The effect of inflation on food prices and living expenses has led to more demand for assistance that Nelson expects will grow. She said the pantry has seen an average 38% increase annually since 2021 in people seeking services.
Sometimes it’s hard for people to understand that food insecurity exists in the fastest-growing county in Nebraska, one where people see huge homes rising, Nelson said. But she said the pantry serves people that live in all ZIP codes in Sarpy and in Ralston.
Clients might be living in a hotel, on a couch with a friend or in their car, she said, as opposed to on the streets.
“We have an expectation of what we think families coming to a food pantry look like,” Nelson said. The reality, she said, is they include senior citizens, working families and multigenerational households.
‘Increasing challenge’
“Food insecurity is an increasing challenge in Sarpy County and Ralston, and this new facility will enable us to help more people,” Nelson said.
In addition to easier access and more space, the new pantry site will offer a private consultation area for connecting clients to community resources and for on-site education programs.
Fundraising to buy and renovate the building and stock shelves is still underway. NeighborGood has raised about $985,000 toward its $3.7 million goal.
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX