In 2022, 19% of children in Lancaster County experienced
food insecurity. Overall, 13% of residents faced food insecurity. Further,
almost half of all students enrolled at Lincoln Public Schools are eligible for
the free/reduced meal program and 13% of all Lincoln households are enrolled in
the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. These figures show that
even though we are very lucky to live in such an amazing community, access to
food is still a significant issue, and also remind us that behind every one of
these statistics is a
child—hungry, uncertain, and needing our support.
Enter Food Fort, a local nonprofit grounded in the belief
that nourishing children nurtures both bodies and futures. Founded in 2016 by
Michaela Akridge, Food Fort seeks to create meaningful relationships with youth
residing in under-resourced areas of our community through programs that
address some of their most basic needs. Each week, Food Fort travels to three
neighborhoods in Lincoln to offer free meals, educational resources, academic
support, and fresh produce. Through these programs, Food Fort creates
meaningful and lasting relationships with these youth, many of whom do not have
a consistent adult presence in their lives during after school hours. Food
Fort’s mission is to provide “more than just a meal,” by providing love,
respect, and consistency to these youth on a weekly basis in addition to
addressing their basic needs.