Omaha business owner explains how they manage to keep supplies amid rising prices and skyrocketing inflation

PAPILLION, Nebraska — Items like as soup, paper products, and laundry detergent are among the many things that are loaded into the automobiles of families that are in need.

The demand at the Tri-City Food Pantry almost doubled from the same time last year, and they were able to help over 200 families during the month of August. They are accepting families that previously received COVID payments but no longer do so, as well as those whose living expenses have increased due to inflation.

Shiann Bates, a mother of two from Bellevue, is quoted as saying, “We purchased meat and bread and a bunch of non-perishables, along with toilet paper, paper towels, and laundry detergent, just anything that I’ll need to kind of get us through the next week or so.”

Bates made his very first trip to the pantry.

“A couple of weeks ago, the father of my children was involved in a terrible motorbike accident, and he has been hospitalized ever since. Consequently, I am only here working to support my family and get the necessary supplies, such as food and clothing “Bates remarked.

The budget is tight, as it is for many other families right now.

Bates stated that coming here and having the ability to obtain these materials would be of great assistance to them.

And even though there isn’t much food on the shelves of the food pantry, the distribution of food to families hasn’t changed.

“We are continuing to provide families with the same high quality of service that we have provided them with over the past few years. It’s just that on the back end we don’t have as much as we would like. Therefore, there is a significant increase in the amount of daily frantic activity required to stock food, “Melissa Nelson, who serves as the executive director of the Tri-City Food Pantry, stated.

Peas and other canned foods are usually found on the shelves, but according to the Tri-City Food Pantry, the products that are newly added to the shelves are being removed just as quickly as they were placed there.

According to Nelson, the difference isn’t just in the amount of demand; it can also be seen in the donations.

“When it comes to contributors, if they used to give $100 worth of food to the pantry, that does not allow for the purchase of as much food as it did before. So it’s just impacting us kind of on both ends,” Nelson said.

In the coming weeks, Nelson anticipates that demand will not change significantly. She promised Bates that she would come back.

“They were very extremely friendly, and I almost sobbed when I stepped in because I didn’t understand how much these facilities provide to individuals who are in need,” Bates said. “As long as I need to, I’ll definitely continue to come back here.”

As we move closer to the cooler months, the food pantry has indicated that the item it requires the most right now is soup.

Because of the recent increase in prices, certain products, such as paper goods, are selling at a slower rate than before.

As we move closer to the cooler months, the food pantry has indicated that the item it requires the most right now is soup. Visit their website to view the complete list of items that are need for the month of September, as well as the times that they accept donations and requests for service.