'Omaha Food Lovers' Facebook group helps struggling restaurants
Susie Robison says the group helped save her store from going out of business.
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Updated: 10:53 PM CST Jan 19, 2021
Susie Robison says the group helped save her store from going out of business.
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Updated: 10:53 PM CST Jan 19, 2021
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GROUP IS SUPPORTING RESTAURANTS STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE, AND HELPING THEM THRIVE. JULIE: WHAT STARTED AS A ONLINE SPACE TO SHARE LOVE FOR LOCAL FOOD GREW INTO A COMMUNITY EAGER TO HELP STRUGGLING BUSINESSES. KETV NEWSWATCH 7’S EMILY TENCER SPOKE WITH TWO BUSINESS OWNERS THAT SAY THE GROUP KEPT THEIR BUSINESS ALIVE. EMILY: THE FACEBOOK GROUP "OMAHA FOOD LOVERS" TRIPLED IN SIZE OVER THE PANDEMIC, JUMPING FROM 16,000 FOLLOWERS TO ALMOST 50,000. MEMBERS WERE DETERMINED TO HELP OUT LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND THOSE RESTAURANTS TELL ME THE GROUP HAS BEEN A BIG HELP. IT WAS A HOPEFUL FIRST FIVE DAYS FOR WONTON JON’S FOOD TRUCK LAST MARCH, THEN VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN. >> THAT RUG GOT PULLED OUT FROM UNDER US REAL QUICK, SO WE HAD TO PIVOT. EMILY: JON STASTNY DIDN’T KNOW HOW HE’D BE ABLE TO GROW BUSINESS UNTIL MEMBERS OF "OMAHA FOOD LOVERS" DISCOVERED HIS CRAFT WONTONS AND BREAKFAST MEALS. >> SO, OMAHA FOOD LOVERS ESSENTIALLY WAS OUR ASSISTANCE. EMILY: STACY WINTERS FOUNDED THE GROUP SO FOODIES COULD SHARE THEIR FAVORITE EATS, THEN THEY REALIZED THEY COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. >> WE NOW KNOW WHAT IT REALLY DOES MEAN TO THE COMMUNITY, AND HOW MUCH IT IS HELPING THESE PLACES TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE DURING THIS TIME. EMILY: AND OMAHA FOOD LOVERS ISN’T LIMITED TO OMAHA. MEMBERS HELPED ’MASTER’S HAND’ IN TEKAMAH. OWNER SUSIE ROBISON WENT FROM MAKING A DOZEN CINNAMON ROLLS A DAY TO 60. >> I KNOW IT SOUNDS DRAMATIC, BUT REALLY, THEY SAVED MASTER’S HAND. AND WE’RE STILL HERE SERVING PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY JUST KEPT TELLING OTHERS ABOUT US. EMILY: IT’S A SIMILAR STORY FOR PORKY BUTTS BBQ NEAR 156TH AND MAPLE. OWNER BLANE HUNTER SAYS THE GROUP HELPS SO MANY BUSINESSES STAY AFLOAT. >> GET OUT THERE AND SUPPORT RESTAURANTS. RIGHT NOW TIMES HAVE BEEN TOUGH, YOU KNOW, THERE’S A LOT OF RESTAURANTS ON OFL AND PLACES LIKE MYSELF THAT GET A LOT OF PUBLICITY, BUT DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE MA AND PA SHOPS, AND SMALLER PLACES. SUPPORT THEM ALL. EMILY: OMAHA FOOD LOVERS ALSO FUNDRAISES AND DONATES TO ORGANIZATIONS IN NEED. IN DECEMBER, MEMBERS RAISED $67,000 FOR CONAGRA’S SHINING THE LIGHT ON HUNGER CAMPAIGN. CONAGRA MATCHED THEIR DONATION, UPPING THE IMPACT TO $134,000. REPORTING LIVE NEAR 156TH AND MAPLE, EMILY TENCER, K