Covid-19 Impact on Food Insecurity in Southeast Nebraska and Raising the Response to Hunger

The Mission of the Food Bank of Lincoln is to alleviate hunger in Southeast Nebraska.

Michaella Kumke is the Community Engagement Director of the Food Bank of Lincoln. As a student of UNL’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications (CoJMC), she worked as an intern at NET. That role turned into a full-time job following graduation. It fueled her passion for nonprofit work and an enduring appreciation for public broadcasting.

Ms. Kumke has nearly 20 years of nonprofit experience that includes educational broadcasting, health care, early childhood development, and human services. She is a proud member of the Food Bank’s leadership team and co-leads the organization’s Raising Our Response to hunger capital campaign, a $10 million project focused on finding hunger solutions.  

When she’s not collaborating to end hunger, Ms. Kumke is an active community volunteer. Most recently, she concluded her term as Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln’s Board Chair and currently serves on the Lincoln Journal Star's Inspire Lincoln Advisory Committee, LPS Community Communications Advisory Committee and volunteers as a UNL CoJMC student mentor.

Originally from Hastings, Nebraska, Ms. Kumke grew up in a modest home with her loving parents and 11—yes, ELEVEN!—siblings. In her free time, Ms. Kumke enjoys spending time on her bike or in her running shoes enjoying Lincoln’s incredible recreational trails system. Otherwise, you’ll find her hunkered down at home with her spouse Ari, their dog Frankie, an adorable Heinz 57 mix of a mutt, and an overdue library book. (With gratitude and apologies to Lincoln City Libraries.)