The past two years have been a whirlwind for Whispering Roots CEO and founder Greg Fripp. At the start of the pandemic, Fripp began delivering USDA food boxes around the Metro. Now Whispering Roots has become a lifeline for East Nebraskans. “We have Bellevue we have Papillion,” Fripp said. “We also work with the tribes. We’re up in Macy, Nebraska, so our reach has really grown.”The organization has also been a major partner to the Douglas County Health Department, delivering two weeks’ worth of food for more than 1,000 households in COVID-19 quarantine. Just in 2021 alone, Whispering Roots distributed 2.5 million pounds of food. But Fripp said the pandemic’s ripple effects are affecting food supply and it’s harder to get food to those who need it. “Challenges right now that we’re seeing are lack of access to food,” Fripp said. “We’re seeing a decrease in available food. Suppliers are having issues due to COVID. Supply chain is disrupted, and we deal a lot with fresh produce, fresh foods, just-in-time type foods, and that’s really in demand right now.”Whispering Roots said it finds those pockets in the community that aren’t typically fed through the Food Bank. The organization serves smaller groups like Victory Apartments. The complex feeds roughly 100 veterans a month in its small pantry.Tom York said many of the veterans at the complex once experienced homelessness, and the apartment relies on donations to its pantry.”There is an income limit for living here, and they do pay rent based off of their income, but the pantry is here for all of them to simply stretch that income a little bit further,” York said.Navy veteran Paul Culjat visits that pantry twice a month. “It provides the basic food groups,” Culjat said. “You get your milk and your eggs and bread and some meat and then on occasion you may get some treats.” “This is some of the most challenging work that you can do,” Fripp said. “It’s why a lot of people don’t do it. We’re last mile, meaning our food goes right to the point of consumption.”But Fripp said to go the last mile, he needs the community to go the extra mile by donating time and money to help fulfill their mission. You can help Whispering Roots by clicking here.
The past two years have been a whirlwind for Whispering Roots CEO and founder Greg Fripp. At the start of the pandemic, Fripp began delivering USDA food boxes around the Metro. Now Whispering Roots has become a lifeline for East Nebraskans.
“We have Bellevue [and] we have Papillion,” Fripp said. “We also work with the tribes. We’re up in Macy, Nebraska, so our reach has really grown.”
The organization has also been a major partner to the Douglas County Health Department, delivering two weeks’ worth of food for more than 1,000 households in COVID-19 quarantine. Just in 2021 alone, Whispering Roots distributed 2.5 million pounds of food.
But Fripp said the pandemic’s ripple effects are affecting food supply and it’s harder to get food to those who need it.
“Challenges right now that we’re seeing are lack of access to food,” Fripp said. “We’re seeing a decrease in available food. Suppliers are having issues due to COVID. Supply chain is disrupted, and we deal a lot with fresh produce, fresh foods, just-in-time type foods, and that’s really in demand right now.”
Whispering Roots said it finds those pockets in the community that aren’t typically fed through the Food Bank. The organization serves smaller groups like Victory Apartments. The complex feeds roughly 100 veterans a month in its small pantry.
Tom York said many of the veterans at the complex once experienced homelessness, and the apartment relies on donations to its pantry.
“There is an income limit for living here, and they do pay rent based off of their income, but the pantry is here for all of them to simply stretch that income a little bit further,” York said.
Navy veteran Paul Culjat visits that pantry twice a month.
“It provides the basic food groups,” Culjat said. “You get your milk and your eggs and bread and some meat and then on occasion you may get some treats.”
“This is some of the most challenging work that you can do,” Fripp said. “It’s why a lot of people don’t do it. We’re last mile, meaning our food goes right to the point of consumption.”
But Fripp said to go the last mile, he needs the community to go the extra mile by donating time and money to help fulfill their mission. You can help Whispering Roots by clicking here.
