OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — COVID-19 continues to impact businesses and events throughout the city of Omaha, but it didn't stop one Omaha native from hosting the third annual Taste of North Omaha.
For many, food has a way of bringing people together.
It's why Malcolm Tiller says he wanted to bring North Omaha's comfort foods to one place.
"When somebody wants some good cooking, some good food... you can go to the big restaurants. They're great," Tiller said. "But when you [want] something like I got it at home, everybody goes to North Omaha."
It's part of the reason Tiller says he took on the role of organizing the Taste of North Omaha.
"The way the city has embraced it and love it," Tiller said. "I just I can't thank the city enough."
The event was supposed to take place on Junteenth weekend, but because of the coronavirus pandemic, Tiller was forced to make changes.
This year's Taste of North Omaha was held outside in the parking lot of Eagle's Nest Worship Center. It's usually held at Hope Skate, but the building shutdown due to COVID-19.
"I don't want to be here with a mask on in the hot sun working like this but it's keeping everybody safe," Tiller said. "They can feel a little bit normal, they can get their food, they can get their items, [and] they can go feel like, 'Hey, I got out the house, I came back home safe and my life is not like it's been for these last few months, crazy!"
For many vendors, it's a chance to show support for other small businesses.
"It's good to support one another,"owner of Charlene's JoVonna Ballard said. "I'm here [and] there's other vendors that come and support me, they come and get my food, and I'll go into their establishment and I'll buy stuff from them so we come together and we support one another."
For others it's a teaching moment.
Ronnequa Clayton, who started a cosmetic line (Uniques Boss Life Beauty) with her daughter, says it's important to teach the youth the value of owning your own business.
"I just love supporting the culture and it's powerful to support Black business owners," Clayton said. "We need more Black business owners that aren't afraid to be different and to show their kids how important it is to have and run their own business."
Melanie Henderson owns her own mixology academy and has attended the event for the past two years.
She encourages Tiller to continue hosting the Taste of North Omaha.
"This right here, COVID-19, and a lot of people not being out here today is not going to stop us from doing what we do," Henderson said. "We are North Omaha and we're going to make it happen and we're going to turn everything around and be positive about our businesses."
"If we don't support our own who will?" Tiller asked.
Tiller says he hopes the Taste of North Omaha continues to grow, and host it on Juneteenth weekend in 2021.