Lincoln flea market raises money for youths in need

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Around 65 vendors are at the Lancaster Event Center this weekend for the Fabulous Finds Flea Market.

Three have partnered with Kiwanis to raise money for children and youth in need.

The Lincoln Center Kiwanis Club serves around 2,000 kids in Lincoln by making sure they have food to eat, giving free books and granting scholarships.

“We think that if we keep them fed, keep them in school, we feel that that’s very important,” club member Linda Helzer said.

One vendor is Food Fort, which uses food to connect with around 200 youth who need support.

“We can go into the neighborhoods where they’re already spending time and be able to provide for the physical need of hunger, but also be able to provide present adults that are there to do homework or to talk about their day or really just be in relationships,” Executive Director Michaela Akridge said.

The third vendor is focused on an older population.

The Hub has around 800 young people who have aged out of the foster care system or otherwise need support.

It started a program to help young adults furnish their homes with things like trash cans, toilet brushes and shower curtains.

“They’re not things that people think to donate, certainly not used, and our young people need those,” said Rose Hood Buss, executive director of The Hub. “So this was an opportunity for us to raise some funds to be able to purchase those items for our young adults.”

Kiwanis, Food Fort and The Hub are all nonprofit organizations.

“When you come out to the flea market, you’re supporting not just the vendor that you’re purchasing from, but you’re supporting a community that’s helping our community, our kids in the community,” Hood Buss said.

The flea market continues Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The $7 admission will also go to support youths in need.