O'Neill Little Free Pantry Opened Last Week

a Ribbon cutting was held for the O'Neill Little Free Community Pantry last week with local dignitaries, Casa of Elkhorn Valley and associates of Black Hills Energy.

Last week, Black Hills Energy and CASA of Elkhorn Valley opened a Free Pantry to help those in need, dealing with such things as food insecurity.

CASA Director Monica Huber stated, "The Little Free Pantry Project brings together community partners and neighbors to address food insecurity in their neighborhoods.

The pantry is a small, outdoor, take what you need, leave what you can resource designed to help individuals access everyday essentials without barriers, 24/7."

Why a Little Free Pantry?

Immediate access to essentials: Supports community members who may be short on groceries, hygiene items, paper products, or other basics between paychecks or during unexpected events.

Low-barrier support: No applications, appointments, or proof of need; neighbors can access items privately and on their own schedule.

Community-driven sustainability: Local organizations, volunteers, and residents can help stock and maintain the pantry, creating shared ownership and ongoing impact.

Visible, everyday reminder that help is available: The pantry serves as a simple, consistent touch point  for support resources in the neighborhood.

Thank you to Black Hills Energy for being the catalyst behind the O'Neill Little Free Pantry and inviting CASA to be part of this amazing project," Said Huber

O'Neill Mayor Scott Menish also spoke at the event.

"Access to food is a basic human need. And what we know is that 12.9% of households in Nebraska have experienced food insecurity, meaning they could not provide adequate food for one or more members due to limited resources.

Rural areas can often face higher food insecurity rates than urban areas due to fewer grocery stores, higher food costs, and lower incomes.

We've also seen reductions in SNAP benefits, limited free and reduced school meal programs (that often end completely over the summer), and local food banks helping record numbers of people in need.

These statistics are haunting, but today, our O'Neill Little Free Pantry, donated by Black Hills Energy in partnership with CASA of Elkhorn Valley, brings hope and additional support to those in our community who need it.

O'Neill is a strong, giving community - I look to you all and encourage you to support the pantry, leaving what you can, so others can always take what they need.

Andrew Huber, representing Black Hills Energy, also spoke, saying, "Black Hills Energy is a dedicated community partner working to uplift the communities we serve in meaningful ways. Each year, our employees are proud to donate hundreds of volunteer hours, and our company generously donates to causes big and small that help communities thrive and grow.

This year, our focus is on food insecurity. The O'Neill Little Free Pantry is just one of more than two dozen pantries being gifted to towns across both Nebraska and Iowa. Our goal is to make this program as successful as possible and spread it to even more communities throughout our company next year.

We know that when someone needs assistance, it is often not limited to one area. A household facing food insecurity may also be choosing between paying for groceries, prescriptions, transportation, and keeping the heat on.

Black Hills Energy is proud to offer energy assistance resources through our BH Cares fund, administered through the Salvation Army. Through that program, customers can apply for up to $50 toward their bill or the replacement of natural gas appliances. But there was a desire to do more and be more intentional about our energy assistance work.

By pairing a Little Free Pantry with direct, local information about energy assistance programs, the project acknowledges these overlapping needs and helps residents find multiple forms of support—access to food and energy assistance information—from one convenient place.

We cannot do this meaningful work alone. Thank you to O'Neill Lumber for donating the wood for the O'Neill pantry. Thank you to CASA for agreeing to be our community nonprofit partner and for allowing the pantry to be placed at this location. Together, we will have a watchful eye over the pantry and ensure its success.

And of course, thank you in advance to the community, who I know will help keep the pantry stocked and ready when our neighbors need it most.

The Pantry is located in the alley behind the CASA of Elkhorn Valley Office.

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