GEHS National Honor Society

The south parking lot of the school will transform into a runway for princesses, superheroes, monsters and other littles dressed in costumes today at 5 p.m. for National Honor Society’s second annual Trunk-or-Treat event.

While those involved wanted to create a fun, safe trick-or-treating event for local children, they also wanted to have a bigger impact.

“We wanted to make this a fun activity for the kids while still making a service project for the community,” National Honor Society sponsor Christina Modrell said. “We wanted the younger kids to see the older kids being involved.”

It is for that reason that the event was turned into a donation drive to help support Gretna Neighbors, a non-profit food pantry that serves those who live in the Gretna Nebraska Public Schools District, after the organization posted on social media on Sept. 11 that they were running low on supplies.

“The need is there; people just don’t associate Gretna with a need,” Gretna Neighbors President, Roxanne Wheeler said.
Gretna Neighbors, whose mission is to ensure every member of the community gets taken care of and never goes hungry, distributes food, cleaning products and self-care products for those in need.

“In 2023, we served over 1,400 people– a lot more than people think in Gretna.”

With inflation rates in the United States on the rise, having an organization like Gretna Neighbors in the community has been a welcome reprieve for many community members.

“I saw their posts on Facebook when we were having some trouble making ends meet,” one beneficiary, who wished to remain anonymous, said. “It has made things easier in the fact that I don’t have to spend quite as much on my grocery bill so the money stretches further for other things.”
The food pantry is able to help those in need thanks to the support of Gretna community members’ goodwill in the form of donations, fundraisers and grants.

“There are people that are less fortunate than us that just need a little bit of extra help, and it’s always good just to do something kind and do something good for other people,” volunteer Shelby McCord said.

Because anyone who receives assistance from the pantry lives in Gretna, giving to the pantry could mean a donor is helping a friend or neighbor, which is how the organization first started in the ‘70s.

“There was a wrestler that got hurt, and the community stepped up and they had leftover money. So that’s how the food pantry got started,” Wheeler said.

While they got their start in the basement of Gretna City Hall, they are now located at 107 Cort Plz, Open hours monthly are the first and third Saturday from 9-11 a.m. and the second Wednesday from 6-7 p.m. ID and current proof of residence in Gretna Public Schools District is required to receive assistance.

“I feel it’s one of the best-kept secrets that shouldn’t be a secret,” Wheeler said.

For tonight’s Trun-or-Treat event, there will be at least nine Gretna East clubs/organizations ready with their trunks decorated and treats to give out. Donations of non-perishable foods including boxed and canned goods will be collected upon entry and will be delivered to Gretna Neighbors later this week.