Lincoln nonprofit volunteers brave the cold to bring aid to the homeless

LINCOLN, NEB. (KLKN) – Once a week, the volunteers at Atlas Lincoln hit the streets to seek out the homeless and provide them with food and other necessities.

The group is doing this despite the frigid temperatures this week, and those helpful handouts are proving to be heartwarming.

“This time of year, it becomes hard because everything feels just heavier because there’s so much risk involved for people who are on the street and don’t have shelter, don’t have housing,” Brody Van Roekle said.

Roekle is the executive director of Atlas, a small nonprofit in Lincoln with only four employees.

Atlas receives food and items through donations from churches, businesses and larger nonprofits in the area. The nonprofit also relies on the commitment of its volunteers for outreach.

“Our volunteers are just so faithful in being present, and showing up fully dressed for the winter and trudging through the snow,” Roekle said.

He said they don’t get as many volunteers during this time of the year, but the nonprofit perseveres.

“Just going out there, seeing who’s out there and meeting people where they are at, which is really important to us,” Roekle said.

One person they’ve helped is Anthony Turner, who describes what it’s like for him living on the streets during dangerously frigid times.

“It varies from day to day. When it’s really cold, I have a disability, so it’s really hard on my body but my dog helps me push through it,” he said.

Also by his side was Edwin Quintanilla, the community outreach coordinator for Atlas.

“We get to talk to them and hear exactly what they’re going through and see if we can help in any way,” he said.

He says Atlas is all about providing a point of connection for everyone they meet and then following through with resources that fit their needs.

“When you’re houseless, the primary thing you need to do is be warm,” Quintanilla said. “Whether that’s finding a place to honker down, in a shelter, or connecting them with the housing authority.”

Atlas gave out 70 meals on Monday with only 10 volunteers. As for Anthony Turner, he found a bed at the F Street Mission for the night.