Hot Meals USA feeds residents and first responders in Gibbon

GIBBON, Neb. KHGI

A Kearney group is helping people in need here in Central Nebraska after the flooding.

Hot meals USA has been feeding Nebraskans all over the state since the recent floodings, and now their goal is to feed people all over the U.S.

Preparing the food is an easy task for hot meals founder Richard Cochran, he says he’s been doing it for years.

After living in several states and experiencing several disasters, he and his wife decided that there was a need to help others.

“We’ve been on the ground for 5 hurricanes, we were on the ground for the Joplin Missouri tornado and one of the things that always came about is yes, people get fed, but sometimes they tired of bologna sandwiches after 3–4 days,” said Hot Meals founder Richard Cochran.

Since the recent flood disaster in Nebraska Cochran has been visiting areas that needed assistance like Gibbon and he said that all are welcome to a hot meal.

“Anybody, anybody that walks up and is hungry we’re gonna feed them,” said Cochran. ” I don’t care if there a victim or a first responder or just somebody that happened to come by and try to help.”

Cochran says he doesn’t do this alone. The Rotary Club also lends a hand by volunteering to help pass out food, with the setup and clean up.

Rotary members say that they train volunteers to be able to help with programs like hot meals.

“We developed a grant through the Rotary to help pay for the construction of the trailer and the vehicle and also a training program which will be assisted with the University of Nebraska education service,” said District Rotary Foundation Chair Don Peterson.

Cochran says there are plans in the future to feed many more people at one time with additional appliances.

“One piece of equipment we still have left to go is gonna be a boiler that we can make sides like mashed potatoes, green beans and things like that,” said Cochran.

For now Hot Meals USA will continue to feed everyone including the kids.

“It was good”.

And move onto other areas.

“We do Wood River, we have them on the schedule already, we know now that we’re going to be heading to Wisner and Niobrara,’ said Cochran.

While Cochran continues to raise money for future appliances, he says that the show will still go on.