Shine the Light on Hunger

Hunger exists in all 93 counties of Food Bank for the Heartland’s service area—affecting 1 in 7 children in Nebraska and western Iowa. You can make this year a little brighter for those in need this holiday season!

With the support of this very generous community, Conagra Brands has set an ambitious goal this year of raising the equivalent of 3 million meals to support the hunger relief efforts led by Food Bank for Heartland as part of the annual “Shine the Light on Hunger” campaign. Now in its 16th year, the campaign is a rallying call to support essential hunger relief efforts and provide meals for those in need. We’ve seen significant increases in the number of households served across our service area—eclipsing those seen during the height of the pandemic. In FY 2022, Food Bank for the Heartland distributed more than 26.6 million meals to children, families, seniors, and veterans in Nebraska and western Iowa facing hunger.

To encourage the public’s participation in the campaign, every gift made before December 31 will be matched up to $320,000. This includes a generous match of $100,000 from the Conagra Brands Foundation, $100,000 from the Scoular Foundation, $100,000 from Farm Credit Services of America, and $20,000 from Baker’s Supermarkets’ Zero Hunger Zero Waste commitment.

*Source: Feeding America

WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN

The community is invited to make donations of nonperishable foods and/or funds. Through your support, you can help ensure the families in your community have access to healthy and nutritious food this holiday season.

DONATE FUNDS:

• CLICK HERE to give monetary donations.
• In a unique partnership with Park Omaha, it is easy to donate spare change. There will be white parking meters on the sidewalks scattered around town from November 17 through December 31. If you spot one of these white meters, please consider feeding the meter to help feed the community. The meters accept Credit Card, Coin, and Park Omaha App payments.

Click on the map below for directions to all the SLOH parking meters locations!

DONATE NONPERISHABLE FOOD:

• Blue collection barrels can be found at Baker’s Supermarkets in Omaha AND your favorite Omaha arts organizations.

MOST-NEEDED FOOD ITEMS ARE:

• Protein, such as peanut butter, beans, and canned tuna and chicken
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Pasta and Sauce
• Cereal
• Pancake Mix
• Canned Fruits and Vegetables
• Boxed Meals and Kid-Friendly Cans with Pull-Top Lids

Click on the map below for directions to all the blue donation barrel locations!

VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME:

Sign up for a shift at Food Bank for the Heartland to volunteer this holiday season! Grab a a friend, your family, or even your coworkers and give back this winter. For volunteer opportunities CLICK HERE.

Arts and Cultural Organization Donation Locations

Baker’s Grocery Store Donation Locations

Furthermore, Baker’s Supermarkets has generously pledged $20,000 to the Shine the Light on Hunger campaign on behalf of their Zero Hunger Zero Waste commitment.