Giving - and giving back - is always top of mind this time of year, especially with the economic issues many people have continued to withstand.

Midway between Christmas and Thanksgiving, we're spotlighting some Southeast Nebraska organizations who have worked to make a difference this year.

With plenty of people in Southeast Nebraska facing the threat of food insecurity this year, many individuals, groups and organizations have stepped in to generate money, food, and awareness for those in need.  

Lauby Plumbing, Heating and Air in Blue Springs, rallying others in Southeast Nebraska, raised thousands of dollars through November to give back to Gage County food pantries, an effort inspired by the many people struggling from the downstream effects political and economic initiatives enacted over the last year.  

"We wanted to do something to put some action to our words," co-owner Roy Lauby said. "I've just seen our current administration and government cutting funding for the poor and the needy and playing political games over food, making political points by letting people go hungry. And I just felt that was wrong. And I was very thankful the community supported our efforts and obviously felt the same way."

Lauby's goal was to raise $5,000 in community donations, with Lauby's adding a $500 match. The southern Gage County community helped them easily exceed that mark with a total of $5,481 raised in November alone. That money was distributed across organizations like the Wymore Food Pantry, the Beatrice Food Pantry, the Beatrice Salvation Army and Beatrice Blue Valley Community Action, with approximately $80 worth of food packages going to Carol Hughes and the Blue Springs Yard Food Mini-Pantry.

$5,000 from a small community was a lofty goal, but once the donations started to quickly pour in, Lauby said it took them only about a week to feel confident they would be able to reach that mark.

"Money just started coming in as soon as we announced it. And every day we were receiving some money from some people. And people either designated a particular food pantry or organization, or they just left the checks blank or gave us cash, whatever it was," Lauby said. "It came from every part of the county. I got food, donations from a lot of businesses. One particular business donated $1,000, more than doubled my pledge. So it was really amazing."

In this time of year known for giving and thankfulness, Lauby’s is far from the only organization that’s stepped up to help people in need this year. 

Clabaugh Pharmacy in nearby Beatrice has been running their own Thanksgiving Food Drive that they’ve extended into December. The pharmacy is matching all physical and financial donations received to support the Beatrice Community Pantry. 

Longtime area radio stations Ol’ Red 99.5 and KWBE set up shop at grocery stores in Beatrice and Fairbury around Thanksgiving to collect donations to help stock up the Blue Valley Community Action food pantry – reserves that were running dangerously low earlier this year. 

"This is something that a lot of people have a demand for, and the pantries were not in the place we needed them to be to give people the assistance that they need, said Ben Schwartz, BVCA's Communications & Development Officer. "So we made a dedicated effort to reach out and just bring attention like, hey, we're down bad right now. We need some help. And the response has been extraordinary."

Setting up shop for two hours in the middle of the day at Ray's Apple Market in Fairbury, the combined forces of BVCA and Ol' Red collected more than 220 pounds of food plus $337 in cash donations. Schools in the area like Meridian and Fairbury held food and clothing drives. So did a couple of Fairbury churches and businesses. And all of that will help BVCA bolster the reserves of the food bank not just immediately, but into the future as well. 

"The things that come in now are going to help not only during the holiday season, but are going to sustain the food bank as we move into 2026 and keep us going that much longer," Schwartz said. "Our top priority really, and I think everybody involved's top priority, is we can't ever have things slip back to the way they were, where if someone comes in need, they're not gonna be able to get what it is that they need to get through that week."

And Sweet Peas Academy, a daycare center in Diller, has put their own unique twist on a food drive: collecting all the pieces to create birthday cake kits.  

"As a former public school teacher, we know there’s always class competitions for food drives and things like that," said Taylor Ruzicka-Scheele, Sweet Peas' owner and director. "You get the pan, you get the candles, the frosting, the sprinkles, a can of Sprite, along with cake mix to make a simple birthday cake. We believe everyone deserves a birthday cake, so we’re creating the kits to donate."

Gift-giving is top of mind for many people this time of year, but this outpouring of support for people who need it most is a reflection of the selflessness that many people and organizations in this part of the state embody.  

"November, traditionally, is a strong month for food pantry donations. It's on a lot of people's mind. This is a time of year where people are used to being generous to making those donations. But this year has been extraordinary in terms of the response from our communities," said Schwartz.

"This says I'm not the only one that sees it this way. And people really care in this community and care about those that are in need and the less fortunate. And none of us want to see our kids go hungry," said Lauby.