‘Food desert’: Nonprofit helping curb hunger expands to fourth Lincoln neighborhood

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The Food Fort is rolling into new territory.

The nonprofit is adding the South Salt Creek neighborhood to its route, bringing free meals directly to families who need them most.

“The reason we look at these neighborhoods is they either sit in an under-resourced area of town or in the middle of a food desert,” said Landon Bartel, the Director of Development.

South Salt Creek will be the nonprofit’s fourth location across the capital city.

They currently serve the Clinton, West Lincoln and Saratoga neighborhoods.

Every stop offers so much more than just a home-cooked meal.

Volunteers also help the kids with homework during the school year, and they do crafts during the summer.

They’re giving kids the chance to connect, learn something new and build life skills.

“We’re partnering with LincOne this summer to help build some spending and saving habits with some of the kids,” Bartel said. “And talk about the life skills of when you should save, and when you should spend and what its like to make a transaction with Food Fort bucks.”

The organization said summer can be one of the hardest times for kids without access to a proper meal.

This will take one stress away from Lincoln families who are struggling to put food on the table.

With this new location, they’re hoping more volunteers can help bridge the gap and give kids the tools to make healthier choices.

“We have stories of kids who want an adult to come watch their basketball game, or somebody to just come watch basketball with,” Bartel said. “We bring pickle ball paddles and have different activities. It’s just a fun, light environment to show what a family dinner table can look like.”

The nonprofit is looking for more bus drivers and volunteers to help prepare and distribute meals and academic support.