Catholic Charities help refugees make Omaha home

Thousands of refugees from around the world have made the Omaha area their home. Sometimes putting food on the table is tough. That's why Catholic Charities offers help from its mobile food pantry.

Carrie Walter has been involved with the mobile food pantry for about 6 years.

“A lot of the families that are here are coming to school with their children, studying and learning English and the culture around here,” Walter explained.

On this day, they provided food for refugee families with children at Yates Elementary.

"13,000 pounds of food today will go out to more than 250 families today,” said Walter.

It's quite an impact for families that have very little while searching for a better future.

“At a time where everything is just turbulent, we get to bring happiness to somebody who needs a smile on their face today,” Walter said.

Nursing students from Nebraska Methodist College were there too.

“Most of our students don't realize that there are any refugees or people from foreign countries living in Omaha, Nebraska, so it's an eye opener,” said Meg Blair with Nebraska Methodist College.

The smiles on these faces makes it worthwhile.

“You get a lot of food maybe we use it for many weeks. We have six in my family. So we have different foods. So that's very nice,” said refugee Laila Hussen.

“It doesn't only make us feel good but we're doing it to help somebody that needs that light at the end of the rainbow,” Walter told 6 News.

Those who utilized the food pantry Wednesday were also given seeds so that they can plant their own vegetables, for later this summer.

Catholic Charities also helps about 75 refugee families during Christmas time.