Part of MLK Service Day

ENOA’s Senior Companions, Foster Grandparent Program donate items to the food pantry at Juan Diego Center

Among those attending the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service event at the Juan Diego Center were (from left): Mary Parker, ENOA Volunteer Services Director; Beth Paleogos, SCP Coordinator; Chelsea Oliver, SCP Advisory; Lexi Richardson, SCP Specialist; Kailey Edelman, FGP Specialist; Abby Wayman, FGP Coordinator; Sue Trisler, FGP Advisory; Betsy Kosch, Principal of Joslyn Elementary Andra Humphrey, Sr., SCP Advisory; Terri Sinclair, SCP Advisory; and Christine Merrell, Catholic Charities Senior Services Coordinator.

This year’s collaboration between the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Senior Companion Program (SCP), Foster Grandparent Program and members of the community led to the recent collection and donation of nearly 960 pounds of non-perishable food items to the food pantry at the Juan Diego Center, 5211 S. 31st St.

Sponsored locally by ENOA, the SCP is funded by AmeriCorps Seniors. Senior Companion volunteers offer support and friendship to frail, sometimes isolated older adults in the clients’ homes.

Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent Programs must be age 55 or older, meet income guidelines, and complete an enrollment process that includes references and background checks.

In exchange for volunteering 15 or more hours a week (FGP requires 10 or more hours per week), Senior Companions/Foster Grandparents receive a $3.15 an hour (will increase to $4/hour in April) tax-free stipend, mileage reimbursement, and supplemental accident insurance.

The stipend doesn’t interfere with rent, disability, Medicaid, or other benefits.

A Catholic Charities of Omaha program, the Juan Diego Center provides south Omaha residents with emergency and supportive food services, the Family Strengthening Resource Center, immigration legal services, as well as microbusiness and asset development training.

Catholic Charities’ Emergency and Supportive Food Services program has two active pantries, one at the St. Juan Diego Center, which is operated via drive-through and opened five days a week.

The newest addition is located at St. Teresa of Calcutta building (9223 Bedford Ave.), The Market, which is a choice pantry that provides a shopping experience for our community members, is open three days a week.

In addition to the Food Pantries, they have a home delivery service for homebound persons all around North and South Omaha and surrounding areas. They also cover 23 counties of the Archdiocese’s of Omaha with Mobile Pantries and other support.

This year there were a total of 960 pounds of food provided during the recent collection and donations, which added up to $1,897.

“This is so amazing, and the St. Juan Diego Center is so appreciative and thank- ful, it’s donations like these that help keep our pantry running, bring dignity to our community members, and keep our families not only fed but well nourished,” Catholic Charities of Omaha Pantry Coordinator, Katherine Aparcana said.

“Since about September of last year our pantry has been struggling with donations and has been serving 58% more individuals with 38% less food, which results in providing less items in order to make what we have stretch. What this translates into is our families are not receiving a complete pantry when visiting our location, due to low inventory, which causes them to return to our pantry faster. When all of these factors are taken into account, it really shows the magnitude of how important each donation is.”

In 2022, Catholic Charities provided 2,086,281 pounds of food to 288,672 individuals

“We thank the Senior Companion Program and Foster Grandparent Program, the impact is truly so meaningful,” Aparcana said.

For more information on Catholic Charities of Omaha, please go online to ccomaha.org and any of their social media pages.

To learn more about the Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent Programs, please call 402-444-6536.