As they complete the final phase of their facility expansion, Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach (MTKO) will host an open house and dinner for guests, volunteers and community members tonight, May 30th, from 5:30-6:30pm.
This project marks the completion of the company's relocation to North 27th Street, which began in 2010. The latest additions include an extension to the north side of the existing facility, a three-car garage and a new “Welcome Home Shop” for new customers.
The new garage will house the agency's vehicles, which it uses to transport clients and assist them with moving, as well as donated furniture.
A view of the Welcome Home Shop. (Courtesy of Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach)
The Welcome Home Shop on the second floor offers free household items to guests moving into a new home or first home/apartment, including dishes, towels, cleaning supplies, sheets, pillows, and more.
Staff will be leading tours of the new space during tonight's open house, which coincides with the 2024 “Give to Lincoln Day,” the city's annual day of giving to local nonprofits. Executive Director Allyn Sampson told KLIN News that all funds raised during last year's “Give to Lincoln Day” went toward the facility's latest expansion, and that this year's “ask” is that “we need to keep the facility full and running.”
“We hope to expand this service and continue to offer it to guests and clients looking for a place to stay, and donations will help us continue to provide them with sheets and towels,” Sampson said. “The needs of the community continue to grow, as do the numbers of people coming to our facility looking for help.”
MTKO’s old garage has been converted into a curated food storage facility, providing produce, meat and dairy products, as well as shelf-stable foods, free of charge to customers.
“We provide two things: a home full of household items and a cupboard full of their favorite foods,” Sampson said. “We just want people to feel successful and hopeful as they move into their new home.”
Outdoor seating will be available during the open house, weather permitting, and staff will be on hand to show guests around the facility.
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New meeting room/training space
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New garage exterior (Courtesy of Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach)
