No More Empty Pots

NO MORE EMPTY POTS' MISSION IS TO SERVE AS A CONDUIT CONNECTING INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS TO IMPROVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF PEOPLE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCE OF LOCAL, URBAN, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES.

THE FOOD ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM HOUSED IN THE COLLABORATIVE CENTERED FOOD HUB PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITES, JOB TRAINING, ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUPPORT, ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTHY FOODS, AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATION. THE FOOD HUB INCLUDES THREE COMMERCIAL KITCHENS USED FOR FOOD PRODUCTION BY ENTREPRENEURS TO START AND GROW FOOD FOCUSED BUSINESSES AND FOR INSTRUCTION IN THE CULINARY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM. IN 2021, 18 ENTREPRENEURS BOOKED 3,778 HOURS IN THE COMMERCIAL KITCHENS. IN ADDITION, THE FOOD HUB SERVES AS A TRAINING FACILITY FOR AN EIGHT WEEK LICENSED CULINARY TRAINING PROGRAM FOR UNEMPLOYED/UNDEREMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS. IN 2021, THE CULINARY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM PROVIDED 362 HOURS OF PROGRAMMING TO 18 STUDENTS. THE FOOD HUB ALSO PROVIDES FOR FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS LIKE COMMUNITY HARVEST AND FEEDING OUR NEIGHBORS PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY FOOD RELATED KNOWLEDGE AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY BY PROVIDING FOOD ACCESS, TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES.

NO MORE EMPTY POTS' COMMUNITY HARVEST AND FEEDING OUR NEIGHBORS PROGRAMS RESPOND TO URGENT COMMUNITY NEEDS FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION TO OMAHA'S MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH LIMITED ABILITY TO PREPARE/ACCESS NUTRITIOUS MEALS. NO MORE EMPTY POTS ADDRESSES THE IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY FOOD NEEDS AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC. IN 2021, NO MORE EMPTY POTS DISTRIBUTED OVER 22,600 PREPARED MEALS AND DISTRIBUTED OVER 6,400 BOXES OF LOCAL PRODUCE AND PRODUCTS TO OVER 9,000 PEOPLE IN 50 ZIP CODES IN NEBRASKA AND IOWA IN COLLABORATION WITH OVER 40 FARMERS AND 25 COLLABORATING ORGANIZATIONS. WE MAXIMIZE EFFICIENCY AND IMPACT BY LEVERAGING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL PRODUCERS, BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY ORGANZIATIONS, AND VOLUNTEERS WITH AVAILABLE RESOURCES. ALL MEALS ARE MADE FROM SCRATCH WITH PRODUCE SOURCED FROM LOCAL FARMERS AND LOCAL FOOD DISTRIBUTORS, PROVIDING A DIET THAT IS DATA-DRIVEN TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND PREVENT DISEASE.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROVIDES HANDS-ON NUTRITION, GARDENING AND COOKING EDUCATION PROGRAMMING USING LOCAL, SEASONAL AND AFFORDABLE FOODS WHILE INTERGRATING STEAM COMPONENTS (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING ART, AND MATH). IN 2021, THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDED 1,243 HOURS OF PROGRAMMING TO 2,771 YOUTH, ADULTS, AND SENIORS AND PARTNERED WITH OVER 20 DIFFERENT COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. THE PROGRAM ACTIVITES HAVE BEEN DELIVERED SINCE 2011 AND EXPANDED WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE KIDS KITCHEN IN A RENOVATION COMPLETED IN 2020, PROVIDING 12 INDIVIDUAL COOKING STATIONS.