OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Culxr House DJ, Marcy Yates, is setting a different mood as people drive up and collect food for their families.
"Some of the greatest feelings is when I'm seeing the helpers out here dancing and then when I'm seeing the cars pull up and they thumbs up...they're like, 'Yo, great music,' and the kids are in the car grooving," Yates said. "It's a good feeling."
He plays a variety of music to hopefully engage everyone.
"The music is pretty nice, I like the throwback," said Majama Aweys, a client of Heart Ministry Center.
So as they hand out food to music, you may see a move or two, plenty of communication and a hearty laughter made to lift the spirits.
"Music makes things a little bit better," said Eric Crawford, CEO of Heart Ministry Center. "Our clients, they really enjoy hearing the music when they're in line...for their car to pull up, they will roll down their windows, and it just creates a good energy and makes people feel good."
Along with making sure everyone receives some of the best food a pantry can provide, Heart Ministry Center also gives everyone words of encouragement and a message they can take home with them:
"Making sure that no matter what situation someone is experiencing, that they're treated with dignity and respect and that they feel like they have their own personal dignity and respect intact," said Crawford.
And while the lines are long, the wait is just a bit more pleasant. If you are a family with kids, they are not forgotten either.
"If there's kids in the car, I am giving them bubbles," said Buffie Somers who works with Art from the Heart at the ministry center.
Crawford says they went from serving about 500 people a week to almost a thousand. It's a hard time for some families so anything they can do to lift spirits, they are all in: from an old school, two-step to the finest meats Omaha has to offer.
"Sometimes you forget how much of an impact music, just is, as you're going through a tough time or, you know...just going through life," Yates said.
The center moved from being a walk-up service to a drive-up service and from operating five days a week to six days a week during the pandemic.
