This Lincoln food pantry revamped to look like a typical grocery store

When people come to the Center for People’s food pantry, aptly called the People’s Pantry, they can now have a more typical shopping experience. That includes the different aisles, food options and shopping carts.

Previously, volunteers handed out food to a shuffling line of people. Center for People Director of Operations Azure Wall described it as being loud, chaotic and a little bit like herding the people through the pantry.

“We're very committed in this era to being more person-centered and more trauma-informed. The previous footprint of the program, it was in a cavernous warehouse space that, from a sensory perspective, was really overwhelming for people,” she said. “And that is actually not at all representative of our standards of care. So we made this shift.”

There are now two lines at entry: one for the people who currently have a Center for People card or account, and one line for people to attain one. The lines move quickly into a colorful room full of different foods, all labeled in multiple languages. The shoppers are able to pick their food items for the week just as someone would at a large grocery store.

When the pantry reopened, Center for People’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs Belinda Acosta helped hand out diapers. She said people told her they liked this version of the pantry better.

“One young man told me that he thought it was a very dignified way to do it, because honestly, nobody want to have to come here; they're deeply appreciative. So just this added touch of making it a more friendly, kind of neighborhood style, if you will, market experience, I think makes all the difference in the world,” Acosta said.

One community member recently moved to Nebraska from Cuba. She said this new system makes her feel much more at home while picking out her food for the week.

“This new version they made now with everything very organized. Many people are looking after it, and we are very happy and satisfied,” she said in Spanish as she boxed up her groceries.

On the other side of the store-like pantry is a kitchen with a large cutout for people to look through. This is where the People’s Pantry will soon have a demonstration kitchen. Marjan Moshiri will host the cooking demonstrations where shoppers can see the items in the pantry being cooked. This will open up more opportunities for people who are unfamiliar with certain foods to take advantage of them and prevent waste, Moshiri said.

“We get a lot of fruits and produce and vegetables and a lot of stuff people, they don't know how to fix it or cook it. So I'm gonna cook it live, you know? And share recipes and teach them how they can use the vegetables and the fruits,” Moshiri added.

Community members with Center for People cards can pick up food once a week and diapers once a month.

According to Wall, as recently as a couple months ago, less than 10% of the program’s costs were funded, so the center self-funds the pantry. Center for People welcomes donations to ensure the People’s Pantry and the teaching kitchen can continue to serve as many people as possible.