♪ >>> MORE THAN 200,000 NEBRASKANS STRUGGLE WITH FOOD INSECURITY, A PROBLEM MADE MUCH WORSE BY THE ONGOING COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

AND THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE IS LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE ISSUES IT WILL CONSIDER THIS SESSION.

THAT'S TONIGHT ON SPEAKING OF NEBRASKA.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON SPEAKING OF NEBRASKA.

I'M N-E-T NEWS DIRECTOR DENNIS KELLOGG.

ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD CAN BE A TEMPORARY CHALLENGE FOR SOME FAMILIES, BUT CAN ALSO BE A COMMUNITY-WIDE PROBLEM.

THE HOME GARDEN PROGRAM AT THE LATINO CENTER OF THE MIDLANDS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF A PROJECT AIMED AT PUTTING PRODUCE RIGHT IN A FAMILY'S BACKYARD.

THE PROGRAM TEACHES FAMILIES TO GROW AND MAINTAIN THEIR OWN BACKYARD GARDENS.

AND AS INSTRUCTOR CECILIA SAAVEDRA SAYS, THE BENEFITS GO BEYOND FOOD SECURITY.

>> YOU KNOW, MANY OF US, OUR FAMILIES ARE FROM LIKE A DIFFERENT COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: MEXICO, GUATEMALA, EL SALVADOR, ALL THESE PLACES, AND THEY GREW UP IN THE RANCH, IN A FARM.

AND SO WHEN THEY COME TO THE UNITED STATES, THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO FARM, GROW THEIR OWN FOOD.

AND SO WHEN I TALK TO THE FAMILIES HERE IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY START TALKING ABOUT WHEN THEY WERE GROWING UP, AND ALL THESE MEMORIES OF THEIR PARENTS TEACHING THEM HOW TO, YOU KNOW, GROW THINGS, AND THEY WISH THEY HAD THE ABILITY TO DO HERE.

THE MOMENT WE START TEACHING THEM ABOUT EVERY ASPECT OF GARDENING, THIS IS INCLUDED -- THIS INCLUDES SOIL HEALTH, HOME GARDEN PEST AND DISEASE CONTROL, THEY START GETTING EXCITED AND THEN THEY GET THIS KNOWLEDGE.

THEY ABSORB THE KNOWLEDGE REALLY QUICKLY, THAT THEY START TEACHING, YOU KNOW, THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES MORE OF THIS, OF THE TOOLS THAT WE'RE PROVIDING.

AND SO WE CREATE THIS CHAIN REACTION IN THE COMMUNITY AND MORE AND MORE PEOPLE START, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE STARTING THEIR OWN GARDENS, AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE PANDEMIC OUR FOOD SYSTEM IS VERY FRAGILE AND SO BEING ABLE TO GROW YOUR OWN FOOD IN YOUR BACKYARD, THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT IS IMPORTANT NOW, HAVING THAT SAFE SECURE ACCESS.

>> JOINING US NOW ARE GREG FRIPP, THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHISPERING ROOTS BASED IN OMAHA, AND MEGAN MCGUFFEY -- DR. MEGAN MCGUFFEY, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY CROPS ORGANIZATION BASED IN LINCOLN.

THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

I WANT TO START OFF A LITTLE BIT BY TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS OF FOOD INSECURITY AND WHAT'S CALLED A FOOD DESERT.

LET'S START BY EXPLAINING WHAT THAT ACTUALLY MEANS.

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, MOST DEFINITIONS TAKE A FEW KEY THINGS INTO ACCOUNT: ACCESSIBILITY TO SOURCES OF HEALTHY FOOD, WHICH IS MEASURED BY THE DISTANCE TO A GROCERY STORE, INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL RESOURCES, LIKE FAMILY INCOME OR HAVING ACCESS TO A VEHICLE, AND ALSO NEIGHBORHOOD-LEVEL INDICATORS OF RESOURCES, LIKE AVERAGE INCOME OF THE COMMUNITY AND AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

I WANT TO ASK YOU BOTH TO MAYBE TALK A LITTLE ABOUT HOW YOU DEFINE FOOD INSECURITY IN THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

MEGAN, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

FOR US I THINK FOOD INSECURITY IS -- DOES SOMEONE CONSISTENTLY HAVE ADEQUATE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS, HEALTHY FOODS THAT ALLOWS THEM TO LIVE A HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE?

THAT'S A GENERAL DEFINITION.

IF SOMEBODY IS WORRIED ABOUT WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL IS COMING OR THEY'RE HAVING TO MAKE TRADEOFFS BETWEEN DO I PAY MY ELECTRIC BILL OR DO I BUY GROCERIES, THAT'S SOMEONE WHO IS MAYBE FOOD INSECURE AND IS STRUGGLING.

IT'S HARD TO PICTURE THAT, BUT EVEN IN A STATE LIKE NEBRASKA, WE DO HAVE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE THESE CHALLENGES.

SO, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US, AND FOR COMMUNITY CROPS WE FOCUS ON REALLY THE PRODUCTION SIDE OF FOOD INSECURITY, SO WE GIVE PEOPLE ACCESS TO COMMUNITY GARDENS, AND FARMING EXPERIENCE, SO THAT THEY CAN GROW THEIR OWN FOOD FOR THEIR FAMILY OR TO SELL TO INCREASE THEIR FOOD SECURITY.

>> GREG FRIPP, TALK ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND HOW FOOD INSECURITY FITS INTO THAT.

>> MEGAN AND I COME FROM SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE DEAL WITH BUT IT'S THE SAME THING: LACK OF ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, FRESH, HEALTHY FOOD.

CAN THE CLIENTS AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE SERVING IN THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE ACTUALLY ACCESS FRESH, HEALTHY AFFORDABLE FOOD?

DO THEY HAVE THE FINANCIAL MEANS TO PAY FOR IT, THINGS OF THAT NATURE?

AND SO IT'S A CHALLENGE.

AT WHISPERING ROOTS WE FOCUS ON NOT ONLY GROWING THE FOOD, BUT THEN ALSO FOOD DISTRIBUTION, WHAT WE CALL "THE LAST MILE" WHERE WE CAN GET ACCESS TO THOSE COMMUNITIES WHO PERHAPS DON'T ACCESS FOOD IN A TRADITIONAL WAY, THROUGH TRADITIONAL PANTRIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE FOCUS ON, WE SAY, AT THE POINT OF CONSUMPTION DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD.

>> SO HOW DOES THAT LOOK DIFFERENTLY ON THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL VERSUS THE COMMUNITY-WIDE LEVEL?

ARE THERE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES TO ATTACK BOTH?

>> THERE REALLY ARE.

THE COMMUNITIES WE DEAL WITH, WHEN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT FOOD BANKS AND FOOD PANTRIES AND THINGS WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO COMMUNITIES AND TO SERVING FOLKS, WE ALSO DON'T REALIZE THERE ARE SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION, WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS, WHO CAN'T GET TO THE FOOD.

SO WE HAVE TO TAKE IT TO WHERE THEY ARE.

WE CALL IT MEETING THEM WHERE THEY ARE, SO FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD OR COMMUNITY LEVEL.

FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL IT'S PUTTING THE FOOD ON THE GROUND, IN SOME CASES AT THE END OF PEOPLE'S DRIVEWAYS SO THAT NEIGHBORHOODS THEMSELVES CAN DISTRIBUTE THE FOOD TO THE PEOPLE IN NEED.

>> OBVIOUSLY, COVID-19 AND THE PANDEMIC PLAYED A BIG PART IN DEALING WITH FOOD INSECURITY.

MEGAN, TALK ABOUT THE -- JUST THE OVERALL IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK COVID-19 HAS JUST COMPLICATED EVERYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD INSECURITY.

SO, WE DON'T KNOW THE EXACT FIGURES YET BUT WE THINK IT COULD BE AS MUCH AS DOUBLE OR MORE THE FOOD INSECURITY RATES WE WERE ALREADY EXPERIENCING IN NEBRASKA, AROUND 11% TO 13%.

FOR US, IT JUST MADE EVERYTHING MORE COMPLICATED.

PEOPLE NEEDED THE ABILITY TO GET SAFE, HEALTHY FOOD AND NOW THERE WAS THIS EXTRA CHALLENGE OF IS IT EVEN SAFE FOR THEM TO GO OUT TO STORES, AND WITH THE COMMUNITIES WE WORK WITH, OFTENTIMES THEY'RE LIVING IN APARTMENTS, WORKING IN CHALLENGING JOBS, SO HAVING ACCESS TO OPEN SPACE, TIME AND NATURE, THE ABILITY TO EXERCISE AND GROW THEIR OWN HEALTHY FOOD WERE ALL REALLY CRITICAL COMPONENTS AND WE ARE WERE EXPERIENCING WAITING LISTS FOR COMMUNITY GARDENS.

THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WE'VE SEEN HUGE INCREASES IN THE DEMAND IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING FOR PANTRY SERVICES, SO IT'S REALLY FINDING EVERY CREATIVE WAY YOU CAN TO GET PEOPLE FOOD IN NEW WAYS, WHETHER FOR US, IT WAS ADDING IN DONATION GARDEN SPACES, AND FOR MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS IT WAS TOTALLY TRANSFORMING THE WAY THEY DID BUSINESS, SO THAT THEY COULD CONTINUE TO REACH PEOPLE AND MEET THIS MUCH HIGHER NEED THAT WE WERE SEEING IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> MOVING FORWARD WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE PANDEMIC YET.

SO, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE FUTURE?

UNCERTAIN?

>> IT'S UNCERTAIN, BUT I'M OPTIMISTIC.

I THINK WHAT GREG AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED IS THAT THE FOOD SYSTEM IN NEBRASKA IS REALLY GETTING SMARTER ABOUT TALKING TO EACH OTHER, COMMUNICATING, PARTNERING IN CREATIVE WAYS.

SO, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU'RE TALKING TO A LOCAL PANTRY OR FOOD BANK, THEIR NUMBERS OF SERVICE ARE NOT GOING DOWN.

THEY'RE CONTINUING TO CLIMB.

EVEN AS WE'RE LEAVING THIS PANDEMIC HOPEFULLY IN THE COMING YEAR, THE ECONOMIC FALLOUT OF THIS IS GOING TO BE LONG TERM, AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON OUR FAMILIES.

SO, WE HAVE TO BE READY TO CONTINUE TO GROW OUR SERVICES AND TO BE CREATIVE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO MEET THE CHALLENGE.

BUT IT'S ALSO REALLY EXCITING BECAUSE IT IS PUTTING NEW EMPHASIS ON THIS ISSUE AND HELPING UNCOVER THIS ISSUE THAT ALREADY EXISTED IN OUR COMMUNITIES SO THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY GET EVEN MORE PEOPLE HELPING US SOLVE THESE CHALLENGES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ARE YOU SEEING THE SAME CHALLENGES, GREG, WITH THE PANDEMIC?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE PERHAPS DISTRIBUTING MAYBE 1200 POUNDS OR SO OF EMERGENCY FOOD PER MONTH.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE ABOUT TO CROSS 900,000 POUNDS OF EMERGENCY FOOD BEING DISTRIBUTED INTO THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE GROWTH.

AND THE FACE OF HUNGER IS CHANGING, AS WELL.

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR FOOD LINES THAT NEVER THOUGHT THAT THEY WOULD BE IN A FOOD LINE.

IT'S SHOCKING TO THEM THAT ONE DAY THEY HAD A GOOD PAYING JOB, THEY WERE PAYING ALL THEIR BILLS, AND THE NEXT DAY THEY'RE SITTING IN A LINE TO WAIT TWO HOURS TO RECEIVE A BOX OF FOOD FROM THE USDA, THROUGH OUR DISTRIBUTION, SO WHAT WE WOULD THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF TRADITIONAL FOODS, INSECURITY, OR HUNGER, THAT'S CHANGED.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE, DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU COME FROM.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S URBAN OR RURAL OR FROM THE TRIBAL TERRITORIES ON THE RESERVATIONS, ANYBODY CAN BE HUNGRY.

AND THAT'S WHAT COVID HAS DONE.

LE IT HAS COMPLETELY SHOCKED THE SYSTEM.

DEMAND IS INCREDIBLY HIGH AND IT'S NOT GOING DOWN.

EVEN WHEN WE START TO GET A HANDLE ON COVID-19, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT WILL CONTINUE FOR YEARS TO COME.

WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR THE LONG HAUL AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING IS DESIGNING THESE LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY UNTIL WE CAN REACH SOME TYPE OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY WHERE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO EAT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE DIFFERENT WAYS YOU'RE TRYING TO GO AFTER SOME OF THOSE SOLUTIONS.

WHISPERING ROOTS USES SOME DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES LIKE AQUACULTURE, HYDROPONICS, AND AQUAPONICS.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT LE IS ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH, WE USE CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE TO HELP GROW FOOD, FOR FOLKS WHO CAN DO THAT IN GREENHOUSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SOILIST-TYPE OF GROWING SO WE CAN GROW YEAR ROUND.

BUT THEN WE'RE ALSO PUSHING VERY HEAVILY ON COMMUNITY GROWING, SO COMMUNITY GARDENS AS MEGAN WAS MENTIONING EARLIER, THAT'S CRITICAL FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN GROW GARDENS AND GROW FOOD RIGHT IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD AND TYING ALL THOSE PIECES TOGETHER.

OUR FOCUS IS MAKING SURE THAT THE TECHNIQUE THAT THEY USE IS APPROPRIATE.

SO WHETHER THAT BE GREENHOUSE GROWING YEAR ROUND, OR RAISED BED GROWING IF, SAY, THE SOIL IS CONTAMINATED IN SOME OF THE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE OPERATE, OR IF IT'S GROWING IN SMALL SCALE FARMING GARDENING, GETTING ACCESS TO AN ACREAGE OF LAND, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO WE TRY AND MAKE SURE THE SOLUTION MEETS THE NEED OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> THE ORGANIZATION FEEDING AMERICA ESTIMATES THAT IN 2018 THERE WERE MORE THAN 237,000 NEBRASKANS WHO WERE FOOD INSECURE, OR 12.3% OF THE POPULATION.

BUT NEARLY 50% OF THOSE WERE CHILDREN, EXCUSE ME, 80,000 OF THOSE AND 16.7% OF NEBRASKA KIDS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE FOOD INSECURE.

I WANT TO ASK YOU, MEGAN, WHY ARE CHILDREN DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY FOOD INSECURITY?

>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK IT'S JUST WHEN WE THINK ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY WE HAVE TO THINK OF IT AS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE.

IT'S TIED TO SO MANY OTHER CHALLENGES IN A FAMILY'S LIFE.

SO IT'S NOT JUST THAT THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY OR ACCESS TO FOOD, BUT THEIR PARENTS ARE DEALING WITH OTHER CHALLENGES, THEIR HOUSEHOLDS ARE MORE COMPLICATED.

SO IT'S NOT AN EASY QUESTION TO ANSWER, BUT REALLY IT'S JUST THE LAYERS OF COMPLEXITY AND CHALLENGES THAT COME IN, WHETHER IT'S POVERTY, FOOD INSECURITY, ALL THOSE THINGS INTERCONNECTED.

AND I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THOSE FAMILIES ARE EXPERIENCING THIS MORE.

IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FACTORS SUCH AS RACE OR SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLDS ALSO HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE EFFECT ON FOOD INSECURITY.

WE HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT HOLISTIC SOLUTIONS AND UNDERSTAND THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE VERY COMPLEX.

>> GREG, THE RATE OF FOOD INSECURITY IN NEBRASKA DECREASED FROM 2016 TO 2018 FOR THE OVERALL POPULATION, BUT IT INCREASED FOR CHILDREN.

WHY DO YOU THINK WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS IN SOME AREAS AND LOSING GROUND IN OTHERS?

>> AS MEGAN WAS SAYING, THAT'S A REALLY DIFFICULT PROBLEM TO SOLVE, BECAUSE CHILDREN, OF COURSE, CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

SO IT'S KIND OF THE SILENT HUNGER.

YOU THINK ABOUT CHILDREN WHO GO TO SCHOOL AND THEIR MEALS COME FROM -- ONLY MEALS THEY GET COME FROM THE SCHOOL BUT THEY CAN'T GO OUT AND CAN'T BE ON A SHOW AND CAN'T TALK ABOUT THE HUNGER.

THEY JUST EXPERIENCE IT.

SO I THINK IT'S -- THAT'S ONE WAY THAT WE LOOK AT IT.

IT'S SILENT HUNGER.

CHILDREN ARE CHILDREN.

THEY'RE NOT THE ADULTS.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IS WE FOCUS IN SCHOOLS, WE FOCUS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, WORKING TO FEED THOSE WHO CAN'T FEED THEMSELVES.

WE SAY AT WHISPERING ROOTS IT WAS BORN FROM A THOUGHT OF ROOTS BEING THE SOLID FOUNDATION OF ANY STRONG ORGANIZATION, BUT THE WHISPERING PIECE IS FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE A VOICE.

THAT'S WHY I THINK A LOT OF CHILDREN ARE STRUGGLING.

THEY CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

AND THEY CAN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEMS THEMSELVES, SO WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND BRING ALL THESE PIECES TOGETHER TO GET IT DONE AND MAKE SURE THEY GET WHAT THEY NEED.

>> DR. MEGAN MCGUFFEY LET'S TALK ABOUT SCHOOLS AND WE KNOW THAT THERE IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF GETTING FOOD TO CHILDREN, BUT ARE SCHOOLS DOING ENOUGH?

ARE THE PROGRAMS EFFECTIVE?

SHOULD THEY BE DOING MORE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLE TO SEE WHAT SCHOOLS HAVE DONE DURING THIS PANDEMIC, ESPECIALLY THE WAY THEY HAD TO PIVOT WHEN SCHOOL SHUT DOWN TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE AND FIND WAYS TO DELIVER FOOD BECAUSE AS GREG SAID, FOR SO MANY KIDS, THOSE ARE THE ONLY MEALS THAT THEY'RE GETTING.

SO THEY FOUND WAYS TO SET UP DRIVE THROUGH, I KNOW IN LPS THEY SET UP DRIVE THROUGH SYSTEMS SO KIDS COULD GET FOOD BOXES OR MEALS DURING THE WEEK.

ALL THOSE SOLUTIONS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND I THINK WE ALSO ALWAYS HAVE TO THINK ABOUT POLICIES.

SO ARE THERE POLICIES THAT CAN MAKE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH OR UNIVERSAL FREE LUNCH POSSIBLE IN OUR SCHOOLS?

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY -- IT'S NOT SO MUCH SAYING THEY'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH, IT'S SAYING WE CAN ALWAYS DO MORE AND OUR SCHOOLS CARE SO MUCH AND THEY ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF SOLVING HUNGER.

SO WORKING WITH THEM AND FINDING THESE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO TAKE IT EVEN FURTHER I THINK IT'S REALLY CRITICAL.

>> LET ME JOIN IN ON THAT BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IS WE LOOK AT IT FROM A COLLABORATIVE PERSPECTIVE.

SCHOOLS, THEY CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH.

THE BANDWIDTH IS ONLY SO MUCH.

WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS FIGURE OUT WHERE ARE THE GAPS?

AS MEGAN WAS SAYING, FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE, I KNOW IN SOME CASES SCHOOLS RAN INTO AN ISSUE WHERE THEY WERE PREVENTED FROM DISTRIBUTING FOOD BASED UPON POLICIES THAT EXISTED AT A NATIONAL LEVEL.

SO WE WERE WORKING REALLY HARD TO GET THOSE POLICIES CHANGED TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD FROM SCHOOL PROPERTIES.

BUT IT'S LOOKING FOR THE GAPS.

AND THEN USING COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO FILL THOSE GAPS AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

WE TALK ABOUT LAST MILE, THE STRUGGLE IS THAT LAST MILE PIECE.

WHEN WE SAY LAST MILE, GETTING THE FOOD INTO THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE AT THEIR HOUSE IS A CHALLENGE FOR A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE IT'S DIFFICULT, COMMUNICATION, LACK OF ACCESS, LACK OF TRANSPORTATION, SO WE HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE, AND WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE CAPABILITIES OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR COMMUNITIES IN GENERAL AND THEN HOW CAN WE SUPPLEMENT THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SOLUTION IS COMPREHENSIVE AS MEGAN WAS SAYING.

>> SO CHILDREN ARE IN THAT GAP, BUT WITH THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SERVE ARE YOU ALSO FINDING RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITIES ARE IN THE GAP, AS WELL?

>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

IN OMAHA, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR FOCUS IS NORTH AND SOUTH OMAHA, HISPANIC POPULATIONS, AFRICAN-AMERICAN POPULATIONS, AND ALSO IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS.

AND YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY GET INTO THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEIR NEEDS ARE, PROVIDING CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOOD, BECAUSE IT'S ONE THING TO SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO FEED THEM BUT IF WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT FOR SOME CULTURES THEY CAN'T EAT CERTAIN FOODS IF WE PROVIDE THE FOOD THAT THEY CAN'T CONSUME IT'S GOING TO GO TO WASTE.

SO WE ALSO HAVE TO BE CULTURALLY SENSITIVE IN TERMS OF HOW ARE WE FEEDING BUT ONLY DO THAT BY BECOMING A PART OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU'RE OPERATING, THAT YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE GOING TO SERVE, YOU NEED TO BE THERE.

YOU NEED TO BE PRESENT IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SOLVING THE RIGHT PROBLEM.

>> MEGAN, YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS TOPIC AND DONE A LOT OF WORK ON IT, AS WELL.

ARE THERE ANY PROGRAMS OUT THERE THAT YOU LOOK AT AND YOU SAY, YEAH THEY'RE REALLY SUCCEEDING?

ONE THAT I CAME ACROSS IS NEBRASKA LITTLE FREE PANTRY NETWORK.

IS IT THAT PROGRAM?

ARE THERE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE TAKING UNIQUE APPROACHES TO THIS PROBLEM?

>> OH, SO MANY AMAZING PROGRAMS HAPPENING IN NEBRASKA.

I WISH I COULD HIGHLIGHT ALL OF THEM!

THAT COULD BE A WHOLE HOUR ON ITS OWN.

BUT REALLY, I THINK LITTLE FREE PANTRIES IS A REALLY POSITIVE EXAMPLE OF WHAT GREG IS TALKING ABOUT, THAT SORT OF LAST MILE, PUTTING FOOD RIGHT WHERE PEOPLE ARE AT.

SO, THIS IS A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE THAT SAW THAT THERE WAS THIS HIGH NEED FOR FOOD, AND THEY STARTED POPPING UP PANTRIES ON THEIR FRONT LAWNS SO THAT A NEIGHBOR COULD JUST COME BY, TOTALLY ANONYMOUSLY, AND GET SOME FOOD.

AND THIS IS GROWING RAPIDLY.

THEY KEEP ADDING PANTRIES, AND IT'S SO IMPRESSIVE.

I THINK THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE PROGRAM THAT EMPOWERS PEOPLE AND IT ALSO HELPS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND.

THAT'S NEVER GOING TO BE THE TOTAL SOLUTION TO HUNGER, BUT THIS IS A WHOLE NEW GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY BOTH THOSE THAT HOST THE PANTRIES AND THOSE THAT ARE HELPING FILL THEM, THAT NOW UNDERSTAND HUNGER IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY.

I ALSO AM SO IMPRESSED WITH THE WORK HAPPENING IN OMAHA, WHISPERING ROOTS AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS.

THEY COMPLETELY PIVOTED THEIR PROGRAMS WHEN THE PANDEMIC CAME AND THEY RECOGNIZED IF WE CAN'T DO IN-PERSON CLASSES, OR WE CAN'T DO EDUCATION THE WAY WE NORMALLY DID, LET'S FIND WAYS TO REALLY RAMP UP OUR PRODUCTION OF FOOD AND MAKE SURE IT'S WHERE IT LE NEEDS TO BE AND THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE HELP THEY NEED DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

AND I THINK THOSE ARE MODELS THAT WE DID IT QUICKLY BECAUSE WE HAD TO, BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GROW AND TAKE THOSE MODELS NEXT AS WE ORGANIZE STATEWIDE THROUGH GROUPS LIKE THE NEBRASKA FOOD COUNCIL.

>> SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING POP UP PANTRIES, DRIVE THROUGH PANTRIES, WITHIN COMMUNITIES, WHERE THERE IS ONE HOUSE WHERE WE STARTED WITH JUST A SMALL COMMUNITY GARDEN, AND THEN IT GREW TO THE POINT WHERE WE WOULD DROP 10,000 POUNDS OF EMERGENCY FOOD AT THE END OF A DRIVEWAY, AND THEN THE NEIGHBORS THERE WOULD ACTUALLY GET TOGETHER AND COORDINATE THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FOOD.

SO YOU WOULD SEE A LINE OF CARS.

THERE'S A LADY THAT WE WORK WITH IN OMAHA, ELLEN SEXTON, AND SHE BASICALLY TURNED HER HOUSE INTO A POP-UP PANTRY, FOOD DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S THOSE TYPES OF CREATIVE SOLUTIONS WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS SAVING ITSELF.

THAT'S WHAT WE THINK ABOUT.

SO THINGS LIKE THE LITTLE PANTRY, AND POP-UPS, CHURCHES, PARKING LOTS BECOME POP-UP PANTRIES WHERE WE'LL GO IN AND DROP 10,000, 12,000 POUNDS OF FOOD AND THE PEOPLE FROM THE CHURCH THEN WILL COORDINATE DISTRIBUTION.

IT'S COMMUNITY PULLING TOGETHER AND EVERYBODY FIGURING OUT WHAT THEIR ROLE IS AND THEN EXECUTING AGAINST THAT.

THAT'S HOW IT'S GETTING DONE.

>> JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME LEFT HERE, A MINUTE AND A HALF OR SO.

I WANT TO GET YOU BOTH TO TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RURAL AND URBAN WITH THIS PROBLEM OF FOOD INSECURITY.

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE?

>> THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE.

HUNGER IS HUNGER, IN MY OPINION.

HUNGER IS HUNGER.

THE DIFFERENCE IS THE DISTANCE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RURAL HUNGER, GETTING THE FOOD OUT THERE, GETTING THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TO SUPPORT THAT, AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE REALIZE JUST BECAUSE YOU LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU DON'T HAVE FOOD INSECURITY.

SOME OF OUR HIGHEST RATES ARE IN THE SMALL TOWNS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS PULLING TOGETHER TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION FOR NEBRASKA.

WE SHOULD HAVE EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE INCLUDING THE RESERVATIONS.

>> MEGAN.

>> YEAH, AND COMING FROM A SMALL TOWN IN SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS, I THINK GREG IS RIGHT, THE ISSUES ARE SO SIMILAR, BUT I THINK THE SCALE, THE SIZE OF THE COMMUNITY MAKES THAT STIGMA EVEN HIGHER.

PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT SOMEONE KNOWING THAT THEY NEED HELP.

SO REALLY JUST GETTING PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE, SO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FACE IT.

THERE IS NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED ABOUT.

AND THEN KNOWING THAT WE NEED THOSE SOLUTIONS AND WE NEED THAT HELP BOTH WITH LOCAL PROJECTS AND ALSO POLICY SOLUTIONS ACROSS THE STATE, BECAUSE HUNGER DOESN'T KNOW GEOGRAPHY.

IT'S EVERYWHERE.

>> JUST 10-15 SECONDS, IF SOMEBODY IS OUT THERE WATCHING OR LISTENING TONIGHT WHAT'S THE ONE THING THEY CAN DO TO ATTACK FOOD INSECURITY?

>> I THINK LOOK FOR YOUR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, PLUG INTO THE WORK THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING AND SEE HOW YOU CAN DONATE YOUR TIME OR YOUR TALENTS OR YOUR MONEY AND HELP.

AND JUST EDUCATE YOURSELF.

THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL.

KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

>> I AGREE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS DOING GREAT WORK.

LET'S HELP SUPPORT THE ONES THAT ARE THERE, AND MAKE THEM STRONGER.

>> AWESOME.

GREG FRIPP, THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF WHISPERING ROOTS, THANKS FOR COMING IN TONIGHT, AND ALSO DR. MEGAN MCGUFFEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY CROPS, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THIS INTERVIEW AND TONIGHT'S PROGRAM ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET THERE IS TO GO TO netnebraska.org/speaking of nebraska AND JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

YOU CAN FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AT N-E-T NEWS NEBRASKA.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO GET YOU UPDATED ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE VACCINATION PROGRAM UNDERWAY.

JOINING US TO DO THAT IS DR. LANCE SCHUPBACH, A HOSPITALIST WITH BRYAN MEDICAL CENTER.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME, DENNIS.

>> SOME RESEARCHERS HAVE SAID IT APPEARS THAT MOST OF THE FALL AND WINTER WAVE OF CORONAVIRUS INFECTIONS HAS PEAKED AND CASES ARE STARTING TO DECLINE.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE SOME HOSPITALIZATIONS DECLINE, AND HOPEFULLY EVENTUALLY DEATHS WILL DECLINE.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING LOCALLY NOW BASED ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THE PAST FEW MONTHS WHAT IT'S LIKE NOW?

>> RIGHT NOW, DENNIS, WE ARE SEEING IMPROVED NUMBERS FROM NOVEMBER, BUT I REALLY HOPE THE PUBLIC DOES NOT RELAX WHAT THEY'RE DOING, BECAUSE ALL THE SACRIFICES PEOPLE HAVE MADE HAVE BEEN KEY TO HELPING US ACHIEVE SOME OF THAT SUCCESS.

IF ANYTHING, WE NEED EVEN MORE PEOPLE TO WEAR MASKS AND PHYSICAL DISTANCE WHENEVER THEY CAN AND NOT TO RELAX.

IT'S GOING TO BE A WHILE BEFORE WE CAN GET THE VACCINE WIDELY DISTRIBUTED ENOUGH SO THAT RELAXING OUR PRACTICES ON MASKS CAN BE PERMITTED.

>> SO NATIONALLY, THERE HAS BEEN CRITICIZING OF THE VACCINE ROLLOUT.

HERE IN NEBRASKA, WE GOT ABOUT 115,000 VACCINATIONS SO FAR.

THAT'S A LITTLE OVER 1% OF THE 16 AND OLDER POPULATION THAT'S ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE.

HOW SMOOTHLY ARE YOU SEEING THIS PROCESS RUN AT THE LOCAL LEVEL?

>> BEGINNING IN THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER WHEN I RECEIVED THE FIRST DOSE OF THE PFIZER VACCINE, THE HOSPITALS HAVE DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF GETTING EMPLOYEES TO GET VACCINATED AND THE EMPLOYEES THEMSELVES ANECDOTALLY, MY FRIENDS AND COWORKERS, HAVE JUST DONE A GREAT JOB OF GETTING THE WORD OUT AND SHARING THEIR STORIES, AND SO I -- FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE IT'S GONE SMOOTHLY.

I HAD WISHED THAT MORE OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE 1B SO TO SPEAK, THE VULNERABLE ELDERS AND SO FORTH, HAD BEEN VACCINATED ALREADY, BUT I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT WILL SPEED UP AND THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC WON'T HAVE TO WAIT MORE THAN TWO OR THREE MORE MONTHS.

>> AS A DOCTOR WHAT'S YOUR -- WHAT DO YOU SAY TO SOMEBODY WHO COMES UP TO YOU AND ASKS YOU SHOULD I GET THE VACCINE?

>> MOST PEOPLE HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT WITH THE VACCINE.

I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF SORENESS ON MY LEFT ARM WHERE THE INJECTION WAS GIVEN AND THE SECOND INJECTION WAS EVEN LESS UNCOMFORTABLE THAN THE FIRST ONE.

SOME PEOPLE WILL FEEL FEVERISH, THEY'LL FEEL ACHY AND THAT MAY LAST A DAY OR TWO.

THAT HAPPENED TO SOME OF MY COWORKERS, BUT THE RISK OF SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS IS VERY LOW.

THE WORRY SOME PEOPLE HAVE MYTHS ABOUT THE VACCINE CHANGING THEIR DNA AND THAT SORT OF THING ARE NOTHING TO BE WORRIED ABOUT AND THE BENEFITS FAR OUTWEIGH THE RISKS IN THAT CASE.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN IS CALLING FOR 100 MILLION VACCINATIONS IN HIS FIRST 100 DAYS.

HE ALSO WANTS MORE PPE AND SO NOT FROM A POLITICAL STANDPOINT BUT FROM A MEDICAL STANDPOINT, IS THAT DOABLE?

>> I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS OF WHAT THAT -- THAT WOULD BE A HEROIC EFFORT.

I HEARD I BELIEVE ON NET AND OTHER NEWS OUTLETS ABOUT HOW QUICKLY NEW YORK CITY GOT VACCINATED AGAINST SMALLPOX DECADES AND DECADES AGO WHEN THEY HAD MUCH MORE PRIMITIVE WAYS OF GETTING THE WORD OUT AND GETTING THE VACCINE ADMINISTERED.

SO I'M OPTIMISTIC WE CAN DO IT.

HOW REALISTIC WILL IT ACTUALLY BE, I CAN'T SAY.

>> I WANT TO TAKE JUST A MINUTE.

IF PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VACCINES, THERE IS A PLACE THAT THEY CAN GO.

>> ON MY ORGANIZATION, BRYAN HEALTH, THAT'S bryanhealth.org/ vaccine, HAS INFORMATION ABOUT THE VACCINE.

OF COURSE, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FOR NEBRASKA AND THE LANCASTER COUNTY GOVERNMENT BOTH HAVE WEBSITES WITH AMPLE AND CORRECT INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19 VACCINATION.

>> DR. LANCE SCHUPBACH, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US ON SPEAKING OF NEBRASKA.

>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME, DENNIS.

IT'S MY PRIVILEGE.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

YOU CAN FOLLOW THE NET NEWS TEAM'S COVERAGE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AT netnebraska.org/coronavirus.

>> BILL INTRODUCTION WRAPPED UP IN THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE THIS WEEK.

THE STAGE IS SET FOR THE ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED FOR THE REST OF THE SESSION.

FRED KNAPP, WHO COVERS THE LEGISLATURE FOR N-E-T NEWS, JOINS US NOW.

FRED, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT HAS STOOD OUT IN THE SESSION SO FAR TO YOU?

>> IT'S GOTTEN OFF TO A VERY STRANGE START, WITH COVID AND ALL.

EVEN FROM THE LOGISTICAL STANDPOINT OF COVERING IT, USUALLY THE PRESS GETS TO SIT UNDER THE BALCONY.

AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT SOMETHING THE SENATOR SAID, YOU WALK OVER TO THEM AND ASK THEM.

NOW WE'RE CONFINED TO THE BALCONY, SO I'VE BEEN REDUCED TO STANDING UP THERE SOMETIMES AND MAKING HAND SIGNALS TO TRY TO GET SOMEBODY'S ATTENTION.

CAN YOU MEET ME OUTSIDE?

THAT SORT OF THING.

THAT'S STRANGE.

THERE IS QUARANTINING, AND ALL THE POST-ELECTION SECURITY CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH.

THERE WAS A BIG DEMONSTRATION OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL ON THE SIXTH, THE DAY THE U.S. CAPITOL WAS STORMED BUT THIS ONE WAS NONVIOLENT.

AND THEN LAST SUNDAY, WHEN ALLEGEDLY THERE WERE GOING TO BE ACTIONS POSSIBLY AT ALL 50 STATE CAPITOLS, YOU AND I WERE OVER THERE AND I SAW ONE PERSON WALKING AROUND WITH A GUN, BUT NOTHING UNTOWARD.

AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF SECURITY INSIDE THE BUILDING, NATIONAL GUARD, STATE PATROL, THE DEMOCRAT PARTY EVEN -- DEMOCRATIC PARTY EVEN HIRED SOME PRIVATE SECURITY GUARDS.

BUT THERE'S A WIDE RANGE OF OPINION ABOUT THE SECURITY IN THE CAPITOL.

IN COLORADO, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH METAL DETECTORS.

THERE'S X-RAY MACHINES.

AND THAT HAPPENED AFTER SOMEBODY GOT SHOT THERE.

SO THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT THINK THAT WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR SOMETHING BAD LIKE THAT TO HAPPEN HERE BEFORE WE TAKE MORE PRECAUTIONS.

OTHER PEOPLE SAY IT'S THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, THERE'S A BIG ADVANTAGE TO LETTING PEOPLE INTERACT WITH THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, SO THAT'S THE DISCUSSION STILL TO BE HAD.

>> AND SO WITH ALL THESE DISTRACTIONS GOING ON, THE BUSINESS OF THE STATE GOES ON.

AND STATE SENATORS GOT DOWN TO THAT BUSINESS OF INTRODUCING BILLS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND IT'S THE SORT OF DRINKING FROM A FIRE HOSE PHASE OF THINGS TO TRY TO KEEP UP WITH THEM ALL.

THERE WERE 684 BILLS INTRODUCED, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN NORMAL, AND 12 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

A LOT OF THE BILLS HAVE TO DO WITH COVID, FOR EXAMPLE.

THERE'S A PROPOSED MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS AND FORECLOSURES.

THERE'S A LOT TO DO WITH TELECOMMUNICATIONS, TO ENABLE REMOTE SCHOOLING AND TELEHEALTH.

AND THEN AMONG THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, THERE'S A WIDE RANGE OF THINGS.

THERE IS SOME TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, INCLUDING SCHOOLS.

THAT IS SURE TO BE CONTROVERSIAL.

THERE IS LEGALIZING MARIJUANA.

THERE IS PHOTO I.D.s TO VOTE AND THERE'S SPORTS BETTING, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THE RANGE OF THINGS.

>> SO THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS TO THE BILLS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED.

NOW WE GET DOWN TO COMMITTEE HEARINGS.

ARE THOSE GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC?

>> YES, SPEAKER HILGERS WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT.

THEY'RE GOING TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE HEARING ROOMS AND THEY'RE GOING TO EXPAND THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO TESTIFY OR SUBMIT TESTIMONY ELECTRONICALLY.

DETAILS OF THAT ARE STILL TO COME.

AND, THEY'RE GOING TO REQUIRE PEOPLE TO WEAR MASKS IN THE HEARING ROOM, EXCEPT WHEN THEY'RE TESTIFYING.

BUT LIKE I SAY, THE DETAILS ARE STILL TO COME AND WE'LL BE LEARNING ABOUT THOSE IN THE COMING DAYS.

>> SO, A LOT OF TIME LEFT BEFORE JUNE, AND THE END OF THIS SESSION.

>> RIGHT AND ORDINARILY THEY WOULD START WITH FULL DAY DEBATE NEXT WEEK, BUT BECAUSE OF THE CONCERN OF COVID, THEY'RE STARTING WITH THE COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND THEN THEY'LL MOVE INTO DEBATE LATER ON IN THE SESSION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FRED, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> FRED KNAPP KEEPS US INFORMED ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE LEGISLATURE EACH DAY.

LISTEN FOR HIS UPDATES ON N-E-T RADIO AT 5:45 AND 7:45 WEEKDAY MORNINGS, AND 5:45 IN THE EVENING.

AND READ HIS STORIES EACH DAY ON OUR WEBSITE at netnebraska.org/news.

>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS WEEK ON SPEAKING OF NEBRASKA.

THANKS TO GREG FRIPP AND MEGAN MCGUFFEY, AS WELL AS DR. LANCE SCHUPBACH FOR JOINING US, AND TO FRED KNAPP FOR HIS REPORTING.

NEXT WEEK, JOIN US FOR A DISCUSSION ABOUT TEACHING IN A PANDEMIC.

UNTIL THEN, I'M N-E-T NEWS DIRECTOR DENNIS KELLOGG.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

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