North Platte High School expands food and essential item pantry with $5,000 grant from BCBSNE

Students at North Platte High School (NPHS) have access to an expanded food and essential item pantry thanks to a $5,000 donation from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska’s (BCBSNE) Healthy Home Team initiative.  

BCBSNE introduced Healthy Home Team in 2024, inviting schools across Nebraska to apply for a $500 grant to support health and well-being projects in their communities. In total, 100 high schools received $500 grants to boost health-focused projects addressing local needs. 

In November of 2024, NPHS was selected for an additional $5,000 grant based on their plan to expand the school’s food pantry to provide students and families with fresh, nutritious food options on campus.  

Since their selection, NPHS said the grant has provided a higher standard of food for students, allowing the pantry team to purchase 100 pounds of hamburger and introduce new food and fresh produce options for students. 

“Fresh produce is the hardest thing for our food-insecure students to get access to,” said Aaron McCoy, activities director at NPHS. “When we put our team together, we’re able to look at things that help normalize these kids’ lives. This grant helps us round out and take our pantry to the next level by offering fresh produce items.”  

Jeff Russell, president and CEO of BCBSNE, highlighted the company’s commitment to championing health and well-being statewide and the importance of supporting community-driven initiatives like North Platte’s. 

“At Blue Cross, we know that supporting students’ health and well-being is essential to the future of our state,” said Russell. “We’re proud to partner with North Platte High School in this endeavor, helping to ensure that every student has access to the nutritious food they need to learn and thrive.” 

Looking ahead, BCBSNE plans to reach all 309 high schools across Nebraska over the next three years. The initiative will continue welcoming 100 new schools as Healthy Home Team partners each year, providing 100 $500 grants and one $5,000 grant annually. By contributing over $165,000 directly to schools across the state, BCBSNE will champion health and well-being in a way that is meaningful to each community. 

Learn more about the Healthy Home Team initiative at NebraskaBlue.com/HealthyHomeTeam.