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Reverse Trick-or-Treat Collects 7,000+ Items for the Maverick Food Pantry

The items directly support members of the campus community and beyond facing food insecurity.

A person organizes food items on a pantry shelf, placing boxes of Great Value Boil-in-Bag white rice next to boxes of Rice-A-Roni and Hy-Vee Spanish Rice. The shelves are stocked with various boxed and packaged food products.

A University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) student stocks items in the Maverick Food Pantry. Photo: UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications

Thousands of canned goods, boxes of pasta, and hygiene products poured in from across the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) in October for the 2025 Reverse Trick-or-Treat Food Drive benefiting the Maverick Food Pantry.

➡️ What’s new: The campus-wide initiative led by the Office of Spirit, Tradition, and Signature Events and The Maverick Store collected more than 7,000 donated items, making it one of the largest Reverse Trick-or-Treat drives in recent years.

💡 Why it matters: Located in UNO’s Community Engagement Center, the Maverick Food Pantry provides non-perishable food items and personal hygiene products to campus and Omaha community members in need.

🔎 Zoom in: During the month of October, individuals who donated items received a 10% off coupon to use on one general merchandise item at The Maverick Store.

  • Top campus office: International Programs with 656 items.
  • Top student organization: Maverick Maniacs with 212 items.

🎤 What they’re saying:

  • Madeline St. Clair, Assistant Director of Basic Needs and Innovation: “We were blown away by this community’s generosity this year. At a time when support for basic needs is more critical than ever, Mavericks stepped up in a big way. These donations directly impact our students, and that kind of support means everything.”
  • Bill Pickett, Director of Spirit, Tradition, and Signature Events: “I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who showed up with donations, their time, energy, and their hearts. This drive is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together for a cause that truly matters.”
  • Denise Kjeldgaard, Director of Auxiliary Services: “Thank you to the Maverick Store team and the Office of Spirit, Tradition, and Signature Events for their leadership on this amazing initiative. From the smallest item to the largest box, every donation helped make a difference and it shows how deeply this campus cares.”

❤️ Using the pantry: The Maverick Food Pantry serves UNO students, faculty, and staff, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) students, College of Saint Mary, and more.

🤝 Volunteer at the Maverick Food Pantry: Volunteers help a few hours on a weekly basis during the pantry's hours of operation. Volunteer applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university, committed to innovating for the public good, advancing social mobility, powering workforce development, and serving as a hub for community engagement. Nearly 15,000 Mavericks choose UNO for its hands-on education experiences, nationally ranked online and graduate programs, military-connected student support, and innovative approaches to supporting lifelong learning. UNO holds the Carnegie Research Activity “R2” designation, securing more than $40 million annually in external research funding and counts its faculty among the world’s most cited scholars. Sixteen Omaha Athletics programs compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Summit League and National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). 

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