The mission of Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach is to relieve hunger, overcome homelessness, address addiction, and provide outreach and advocacy in Lincoln.
Anyone can walk through the open doors of Matt Talbot and have a nutritious prepared meal two times a day, every day. Lunch is served from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm and dinner is served from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm. Meals are provided, prepared, and served primarily by volunteer hunger relief teams.
Matt Talbot is making nutrition a top priority through their Freshen Your Plate initiative which enhances the nutritional quality of meals with the offer of one fresh fruit or vegetable with each meal. Their goal is to ensure that everyone who dines at Matt Talbot receives nutritious food that supports their overall health and well-being.
Matt Talbot recently opened the Fresh Choice Pantry. Designed to look like a small grocery store, the pantry promotes dignity and autonomy by inviting guests to choose food items that best meet their family’s needs, including refrigerated items like meat, dairy, eggs, and produce. The pantry is open on Mondays (1 pm - 4 pm), Wednesdays (1 pm - 3 pm), and Fridays (1 pm - 3 pm). Individuals interested in visiting the pantry can sign up during lunch for a time and can “shop” once a month (all food is provided at no cost to the guest). If emergency food is needed outside of pantry hours, Matt Talbot can provide a prepackaged bag of groceries.
The Fresh Choice Pantry is stocked with USDA food and items that have been donated. If you are interested in volunteering on a hunger relief team or helping with the pantry, visit their website and click on the Volunteer tab at the top of the page. Please email Victoria O'Neil or call her at 402-817-0623 for more information.
Outreach staff are available in the dining room during meal times (Monday – Friday) to connect people to resources that take care of the whole person - providing beyond basic needs to embolden people to have hope. While on-site guests can learn about the other programs available at Matt Talbot such as:
- Case management
- Tenant education classes
- Housing
- Assistance with acquiring vital documents
- Substance use services and support
- Hope Garden
- Street outreach
- Message and mail services for those who are homeless
- Shower and laundry services
- Assistance with basic and emergency needs.
Because of the welcoming setting as a first stop for people entering or at risk of homelessness, many partnering agencies come regularly to offer services during meal times. For example, the Food Bank of Lincoln comes to Matt Talbot three times a week during lunch and helps hundreds of individuals each year receive SNAP benefits and other vital economic support services by assisting with the lengthy and complex application and recertification process. These kinds of collaborations help make the community healthier by improving the food security and well-being of guests.
For more information visit their website.
