Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach (mkto.org) is starting two new initiatives this fall to increase access to nutritious food among individuals and families experiencing homelessness or who are on the edge of homelessness.
The “Freshen Your Plate” project ensures every meal served at Matt Talbot includes a serving of at least one fresh fruit or vegetable. A paid student intern will work with kitchen staff and volunteer hunger relief teams to plan menus, provide education and coordinate with local growers to increase garden-to-table options. This effort to advance health equity in Lincoln is funded through a grant from the Community Health Endowment.
Matt Talbot also opened the “Fresh Choice Pantry” which is set up like a small grocery store with food choices that include meat, dairy, produce and canned or boxed items. Guests are able to sign up for a time to walk through the pantry and select the food they want. The Fresh Choice Pantry is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons.
“We are the main source of nutrition for many of our guests so it is critical that we provide healthy options,” said Alynn Sampson, Executive Director. “Being able to choose healthy foods for yourself and your household not only impacts health, but also offers a sense of control and dignity.”
The mission of Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach is to relieve hunger, overcome homelessness, address addiction and provide outreach and advocacy. Last year Matt Talbot provided over 250,000 meals and 50,000 homeless prevention services such as housing, drug and alcohol evaluations, life skills classes and help with obtaining vital identification documents. Learn more at mkto.org.