On October 8, the Omaha Community Foundation hosted its inaugural Connect – Youth in Philanthropy event. The two-hour program provided a special opportunity for some of the youngest members of our donor family to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the Food Bank for the Heartland is addressing hunger in our community. Additionally, youth and their families engaged in activities and discussion about ways to share their time, talents, treasures, and ties to support the causes they care most about.
Eloise and Watie White construct a Moonjar.
Anne Meysenburg, Director of Community Investment at the Omaha Community Foundation, facilitated conversation on what a nonprofit is and the important role volunteering and charitable support play in the success of the sector. Youth participants, who ranged from first to eighth grade, also created their very own Moonjars. These financial literacy tools can help children of all ages learn to save, spend and share their own money. These tools and exercises spurred valuable conversations across generations and enabled youth to begin charting their own course for their personal charitable giving.
Susan Ogborn, President and CEO of the Food Bank for the Heartland, led attendees on a tour of the warehouse and facilities, sharing insights on how hunger is impacting individuals and families across Nebraska and western Iowa. She noted that one in five children in Nebraska and western Iowa under the age of 18 is at risk for hunger. In an effort to give back, participants hosted their own food drive by bringing some of the most-needed food items requested by our local food pantries.
Zev and Danielle Gordman assemble Backpack food packs.
After learning about hunger and the important programs available to help those in need, youth and their parents and grandparents volunteered, helping assemble items for the Backpack program. This program serves chronically hungry students at local elementary schools. The Backpack program supplies packs filled with healthy food to children to take home on Friday afternoons, so that they can have food over the weekend. The Food Bank for the Heartland currently distributes 8,400 packs to children in need each week. As part of the day’s program, Youth in Philanthropy participants assembled 224 food packs.
As the morning’s program came to an end, youth were tasked with reflecting on the day’s learnings and awarding a $1,000 grant. Youth participants considered all that they had learned about hunger in our community and where they felt their grant would make the biggest difference. This youth-led decision-making was very special, as all programs under consideration serve fellow young people. Potential programs considered for support included school-based pantries, the Backpack program and Kids Cruisin’ Kitchen, which brings meals free of charge to the places where children live and play during the summer months. After tallying the votes, this year’s Youth Philanthropy grant was awarded to the Food Bank for the Heartland’s Backpack program. This $1,000 grant will provide much-needed food for seven children for an entire year, over weekends and school vacations, through the Backpack program.
Dr. Paige and Scott Berryman pose with their children, Betsy, Charlie and Will, in the Kids Cruisin’ Kitchen truck.
It can seem daunting to figure out how to introduce our children to the complex issues facing society and begin teaching them the concept of thinking beyond their own needs. The Omaha Community Foundation looks forward to offering future programming to help youth and their families learn about the ways, both large and small, that they can do their part in making the world a better place.
If you are interested in learning about future youth philanthropy events and youth giving resources, please contact Stacey Goodman.