Food Pantry Prepares for a Busy Summer, Stamp Out Hunger this Saturday

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As the school year winds down, preparations for food distribution at the Bellevue Food Pantry heat up
as we gear up for the busy summer months. According to the Food Research and Action Center (2019),
students who receive a free or reduced-price school lunch during the school year are especially at risk in
the summer, those students are more likely to experience increases in food insecurity in summer
months.

“Summers are tough on families,” said Deanna Wagner, Bellevue Food Pantry Manager. During the
summer months, households with children have more people at home and potentially less resources to
go around. “At the pantry we work to welcome families and offer some relief as they navigate this tricky
time of year with their already stretched budgets,” said Wagner.

Saturday, May 13, 2023 is a busy day at the Bellevue Food Pantry. There are two community events that
day that aim to start the pantry’s busy season off on the right foot with the Stamp Out Hunger, and City
of Bellevue’s Annual Spring Clean Up day events. “Hunger doesn’t take a break, and we are very grateful
to the community for participating in these events to give families a needed boost to start off the
summer,” said Wagner. “We currently serve more than 800 people per month, and this summer we
expect to see that number rise.”

For more than 20 years, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) has conducted an annual
nationwide food drive on the second Saturday in May called “Stamp Out Hunger in America.” Using the
unparalleled postal networks, letter carriers collect non-perishable food donations on that day as they
deliver mail along their postal routes. Customers simply leave their donation of non-perishable food
items next to their mailbox on Saturday, May 13. Letter carriers will collect these food donations on that
day as they deliver mail along their postal routes and donate them to the Bellevue Food Pantry. If you
have questions regarding this event, please contact the 2609 Victoria Ave. Post Office location in
Bellevue at: (402) 291-1167.

The City of Bellevue’s Annual Spring Clean-Up will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Two Street
Department areas located at 29th & Hancock, and 8252 Cedar Island Road will be open from 7:00 AM to
3:00 PM on that day for residents to drop off items. The City of Bellevue is requesting a food item
donation to the Bellevue Food Pantry with every load. Please click here for more information:
https://www.bellevue.net/information/news/city-of-bellevue-spring-cleanup-day-set-for-
saturday-may-13-2023

In order to be eligible for services at the Bellevue Food Pantry, guests must be a resident of Sarpy
County, show a photo ID, and complete a simple one-page information form on their first visit, then just
a photo ID for subsequent visits. Hours of operation are Monday, 9AM-4PM, Tuesday 9AM-4PM,
Wednesday 9AM-6PM, and Thursday 9AM-4PM. Donations are accepted anytime during operating
hours, or online at: https://www.encapnebraska.org/get-involved/donate.html – just choose, “Bellevue
Food Pantry.” All donations to the pantry stay in Bellevue.  
For more information and to stay up to date on news and engagement opportunities, follow us on
Facebook:  @Bellevue NE Food Pantry or on our webpage: https://www.encapnebraska.org/i-need-
services/bellevue-food-pantry.html.