Outreach Focus

Trinity supports a variety of ministries and organizations in Lincoln throughout the year. The Outreach Focus includes four different areas: Learn, Pray, Give, and Serve. Information about our Outreach Focus can also be found in the Narthex at Trinity Lutheran Church and on our social media.

Food Fort

October & November 2024

Learn

In Lincoln, over 12% of children are classified as “food insecure.” Additionally, 47% of students enrolled in Lincoln Public Schools qualify for free or reduced lunch, with more than 30% identified as “economically disadvantaged.” Alarmingly, over 65% of high school students in Lincoln read below their expected proficiency level, while nearly 75% test below proficiency in math. These challenges are particularly pronounced in under-resourced areas of our community, highlighting a pressing need for additional resources to address both food insecurity and academic support for our youth.


Food Fort is a nonprofit organization dedicated to tackling these critical issues within some of Lincoln's most underserved neighborhoods. Each week, Food Fort provides nutritious meals, educational services, and seasonal fresh produce year-round. Many residents may have noticed the vibrant blue, orange, and green bus that traverses the city. This mobile hub not only delivers meals but also fosters a communal environment where youth are invited to share meals, engage with peers, and connect with caring adult figures. Families are encouraged to take meals home to share with friends and relatives, with Food Fort’s meal services averaging over 200 individuals served each week.

Accompanying the bus is Food Fort’s “Treetop Trailer,” a renovated mobile educational hub that arrives at each site weekly. This trailer offers youth opportunities for homework assistance, supplemental educational activities, and mentorship from supportive adults. Under the guidance of Valorie Snow, Food Fort’s Education Director, supplemental educational activities are carefully planned and tailored to the needs of individual youth, with volunteers organized to help these youth in their academic pursuits. Food Fort is committed to ensuring that young people in these communities have access to the resources they need to thrive both academically and socially. By providing for basic nutritional needs and essential academic support, Food Fort aims to empower youth to achieve their goals and break the cycles of poverty and food insecurity.

PRay

  1. 9 children in foster care, being cared for within Food Fort staff and Calvary Family homes

  2. Food Fort would secure more financial monthly partners to be able to sustain the growth of our organization

  3. The upcoming holiday seasons for the youth and families we serve

  4. The new marriage of one of our college scholarship recipients


GIVE

Food Fort provides food to over 200 individuals per week. Grocery gift cards help greatly in helping our grocery budget go further and allow funds for investment in other areas. Thrivent Action Teams are also a wonderful way for Thrivent members to support Food Fort. Donations given through the Outreach envelope will be given to Food Fort.


SERVE

We hope to pack 32 Thanksgiving boxes for families who attend Food Fort! We are collecting turkeys, green beans,

cream of mushroom soup, gravy, stuffing mix, bags of fresh potatoes, and French-fried onions. On the Outreach Board in the Narthex are papers with each item needed for the Thanksgiving Boxes. If you would like to donate, please take the paper associated with that item so we know what has been purchased and what we need more of to complete the boxes. Please return the items to Trinity by November 10th. The Thanksgiving boxes will be put together by students at Trinity Lutheran School. Please contact Bethany at 402-474-0606 or bgebers@trinityoflincoln.org with any questions!