United Way Supports Salvation Army of Norfolk’s Food Pantry Amid Rising Demand (Norfolk, Nebraska)

Yadira Rodriguez, food pantry coordinator, and Major Jesus Trejo showcased the Salvation Army’s food pantry, which has seen an increase in demand as people face rising costs. The Salvation Army of Norfolk serves 13 counties in Northeast Nebraska, with Madison County being the largest.

“A lot of our services are aimed to meet the needs, basic needs of people that are struggling, so people that are having a hard time with food insecurity, or having to face the uncertainty of homelessness,” Maj. Jesus Trejo said. The organization also provides services to income-restricted seniors, a noon meal for those needing something to eat, youth ministry that supports families, after-school programming for low-income families, and summer programming when kids are out of school.

In what way does United Way assist you? Trejo said United Way partners with the Salvation Army in mission, supporting it for years with the work it does for the community. “They provide financial dollars so that we can make sure that people are not, you know, facing eviction or homelessness, that they are not facing food insecurity, or that kids have a safe place to go after school. You know, a safe learning environment,” he said.

How has your United Way need changed? Trejo said that with the way the world’s going, there continues to be an increasing need, sharing that the Salvation Army’s food pantry is seeing new clients who previously hadn’t ever needed the help before. “There’s great need, and even more now, as families are stressed beyond measure, having to do the same type of things for their families with less income or higher cost of having to pay for those things,” Trejo said.

What percentage of your budget does United Way Fund? It is a very low percentage of the budget. Without those funds, what would happen to your agency? Trejo said without those dollars, it would be difficult for the Salvation Army to count on those resources. It would mean that the organization would have to pursue other ways to meet human needs here in Norfolk, Trejo said. “So it would just mean that we would have to do less with what we expect to have,” he said.

Share a brief story about how your agency has had an impact on the community as a whole or an individual who has been served: This year, each month, new people are signing up for emergency food assistance, with almost 400 households signed up in June. The peak is close to 2,000 meals a month that are served to individuals in need at no cost.

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