With SNAP benefits cut, volunteers with Lasagna Love say neighbors need home-cooked meals more than ever
Omaha neighbors give love with home-cooked meals
With SNAP benefits cut, volunteers with Lasagna Love say neighbors need home-cooked meals more than ever
EDDIE. ALL RIGHT. THANKS, LUKE. PROVIDING A SIMPLE HOME COOKED MEAL FOR A FRIEND CAN MEAN SO MUCH WHEN THEY’RE IN TIME OF NEED. A LOCAL NONPROFIT IS DOING THEIR PART, AND THEY SAY RIGHT NOW PEOPLE NEED THOSE MEALS MORE THAN EVER. AS THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN INCREASES, FOOD INSECURITY FOR MANY, KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S MARY REGLI SHOWS US HOW THEY’RE SERVING NEIGHBORS IN THE METRO. FOOD INSECURITY IS ALL TOO COMMON FOR NEIGHBORS HERE IN OMAHA. IT’S SOMETHING THAT DEB BUROKER HAS EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND. WE GREW UP WITH FOOD IN…
With SNAP benefits cut, volunteers with Lasagna Love say neighbors need home-cooked meals more than ever
Omaha neighbors give love with home-cooked meals
With SNAP benefits cut, volunteers with Lasagna Love say neighbors need home-cooked meals more than ever
EDDIE. ALL RIGHT. THANKS, LUKE. PROVIDING A SIMPLE HOME COOKED MEAL FOR A FRIEND CAN MEAN SO MUCH WHEN THEY’RE IN TIME OF NEED. A LOCAL NONPROFIT IS DOING THEIR PART, AND THEY SAY RIGHT NOW PEOPLE NEED THOSE MEALS MORE THAN EVER. AS THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN INCREASES, FOOD INSECURITY FOR MANY, KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S MARY REGLI SHOWS US HOW THEY’RE SERVING NEIGHBORS IN THE METRO. FOOD INSECURITY IS ALL TOO COMMON FOR NEIGHBORS HERE IN OMAHA. IT’S SOMETHING THAT DEB BUROKER HAS EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND. WE GREW UP WITH FOOD INSECURITY. OFTENTIMES WHEN WE WERE YOUNG, SO IT’S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT’S JUST KIND OF WEIGHED ON MY MY HEART A LITTLE BIT. NOW SHE’S MAKING SURE HER NEIGHBORS IN NEED HAVE FULL BELLIES. SHE VOLUNTEERS FOR LASAGNA LOVE, A NATIONAL NONPROFIT WITH A CHAPTER HERE IN OMAHA. WHEN A NEIGHBOR IS EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES OR PHYSICAL OR EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, SHE’S THERE TO GIVE THEM A HOMEMADE LASAGNA. IF I CAN DO ANYTHING TO HELP EASE THAT PAIN OR, YOU KNOW, JUST GIVE THEM TIME WITH THEIR FAMILY, I’M WILLING TO DO THAT. CHAPTER LEADER KATHY KIRSCHNER SAYS IT WOULD BE EASY TO PROVIDE A FROZEN MEAL FOR A FAMILY, BUT TAKING THE TIME TO PREPARE A MEAL MEANS MUCH MORE. THE FACT THAT IT’S HOMEMADE, I THINK, DEMONSTRATES AN EXTRA LEVEL OF CARE YOUR NEIGHBORS CARE ABOUT YOU IN YOUR TIME OF NEED. WITH SNAP BENEFITS CUT AND FAMILIES FEELING THE PINCH, THE TEAM SAYS THEIR MEALS ARE NEEDED. NOW MORE THAN EVER. WE’VE DEFINITELY SEEN A SPIKE, AND I KNEW THAT WE THE BACKLOG WAS GROWING AND WILL CONTINUE TO GROW. AND SO I WANTED TO DO WHAT I COULD TO TRY TO HELP. NOW INSTEAD OF 1 OR 2 IN A WEEKEND, BROEKER IS PREPARING A DOZEN A GENEROUS SCOOP OF. LASAGNA MEAT. SHE SAYS IT WILL ONLY MAKE A DENT IN THE LONG LIST OF FAMILIES IN NEED, BUT THAT’S 12 MORE FAMILIES WHO WILL HAVE FULL PLATES. SOMETIMES I HEAR FROM THEM, AND SOMETIMES I DON’T, BUT I’VE NEVER LEFT REGRETTING WH
Omaha neighbors give love with home-cooked meals
With SNAP benefits cut, volunteers with Lasagna Love say neighbors need home-cooked meals more than ever
Updated: 7:27 PM CDT Nov 1, 2025
Providing a simple home-cooked meal for a friend can mean so much when they’re in a time of need.A local nonprofit is doing just that — and they say right now, with SNAP benefits cut, people need those meals more than ever. “We’ve definitely seen a spike. And I knew that the backlog was growing and will continue to grow. And so I wanted to do what I could to try to help,” said volunteer Kathy Buroker. Buroker is a volunteer for Lasagna Love, a national nonprofit with a chapter here in Omaha. When a neighbor is experiencing financial difficulties or physical or emotional stress, she’s there to give them a homemade lasagna. “If I can do anything to help ease that pain or, you know, just give them time with their family, I’m willing to do that,” said Buroker. Chapter leader Kathy Kirschner says it would be easy to provide a frozen meal for a family, but taking the time to prepare a meal means much more.“The fact that it’s homemade, I think, demonstrates an extra level of care. Your neighbors care about you in your time of need,” said Kirschner.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
OMAHA, Neb. —
Providing a simple home-cooked meal for a friend can mean so much when they’re in a time of need.
A local nonprofit is doing just that — and they say right now, with SNAP benefits cut, people need those meals more than ever.
“We’ve definitely seen a spike. And I knew that the backlog was growing and will continue to grow. And so I wanted to do what I could to try to help,” said volunteer Kathy Buroker.
Buroker is a volunteer for Lasagna Love, a national nonprofit with a chapter here in Omaha.
When a neighbor is experiencing financial difficulties or physical or emotional stress, she’s there to give them a homemade lasagna.
“If I can do anything to help ease that pain or, you know, just give them time with their family, I’m willing to do that,” said Buroker.
Chapter leader Kathy Kirschner says it would be easy to provide a frozen meal for a family, but taking the time to prepare a meal means much more.
“The fact that it’s homemade, I think, demonstrates an extra level of care. Your neighbors care about you in your time of need,” said Kirschner.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |