‘Fills your heart’: Local nonprofits see huge impact on Giving Tuesday

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Giving Tuesday means more than just dollars; it means being able to serve those in need a little more.

Several nonprofits across the capital city saw the community’s impact as donations came in.

“Giving Tuesday is such a great way for the community to get involved and help all of those nonprofits,” said Jason Pauling, Director of Community Partnerships for the Food Bank of Lincoln.

Many different organizations posted on social media, detailing how to help and how what they receive goes back into the community.

And at the Lincoln Bike Kitchen, the nonprofit has already seen almost 40% more bikes repaired and given away than they did this time last year.

“That takes a lot of bike parts, a helmet and locks,” said Executive Director Shari Shanks. “We rely on events like Giving Tuesday and the end-of-the-year donations, and just donations throughout the year to be able to make these bikes rideable and safe so that we can donate them to the community.”

The Food Bank of Lincoln said the day helps fill shelves at a time when families need it most.

“It’s been a steady stream of people coming in and bringing food and donating it at grocery stores around town,” Pauling said. “The financial donations help a lot. For every dollar that comes in, we can turn that into around two meals for people in the community. Seventy thousand people in Southeast Nebraska are food insecure.”

Both organizations said that what they receive, big or small, has a direct and measurable impact on local families.

“It just fills your heart that they can have reliable transportation,” Shanks said.

And the support not only brings smiles to many faces but also shows how much Lincoln cares.

“The community has really stepped up in the last month and a half, and that’s no exception today on Giving Tuesday,” Pauling said.