Matt Talbot sees more working poor
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By HILARY KINDSCHUH / Lincoln Journal Star
When Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach started 16 years ago, it mainly served homeless men.
Last month, the nonprofit soup kitchen served more working poor than homeless people, and the split between men and women was pretty equal, said executive director Susanne Blue.
Over the years, Matt Talbot has expanded its services, which means expenses are increasing.
- In 2007, Matt Talbot ended the year with a $25,000 deficit - the first time it has ended the year in the red, said executive director Susanne Blue. The agency is down $31,000 from January through July this year, compared to a $23,000 deficit over the same period last year.
- From January through July 2007, the kitchen served 59,685 meals. Matt Talbot has served 61,000 meals over the same period this year.
- The agency’s outreach services has seen the biggest increase, having served 8,678 people from January through July. That’s compared to 6,995 people during the same period last year.
- From January through July 2007, Matt Talbot received about $70,000 in donations, not including grants and special events, compared to $52,000 during the same period this year.
- Most of the agency’s funding comes from donations and tends to come during the last quarter of the year, Blue said. “We could make it up,” she said, referring to the current deficit. “We didn’t last year.”
- The agency serves meals seven days a week. Lunch is 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and dinner is 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
However, donations, which make up most of the its funding, are down this year, Blue said.
Meanwhile, more people than ever are in need, she said — and many of them are working people still not able to make ends meet.
People like Shelly Beem.
“I work too much to qualify for food stamps, but it’s still not enough to buy groceries,” she said Monday as she ate a lunch of beans and rice at the kitchen.
Beem, who is staying with someone nearby, comes to Matt Talbot about once a week for outreach and about three or four times a week for meals, she said.
But she and others who come to Matt Talbot are worried it might not be so easily accessible in the future.
The St. Vincent De Paul Society, which owns the building at 19th and R streets, sold it to make way for the Antelope Valley Project.
Matt Talbot must find a new location before the tentative deadline of next summer, Blue said.
“It’s a short time to find a location, renovate or build and raise the necessary funds,” she said.
Still, the move would be an opportunity to find more space and alleviate overcrowding, Blue said.
A space needs analysis showed Matt Talbot needs about 14,000 square feet, including green space and parking, in a new location.
The kitchen now occupies about 3,500 square feet, Blue said.
“We’re just bulging at the seams in terms of space,” she said.
Staff are doubling up in offices, and common rooms are used for storage. The agency has had to turn away donations for perishable food and other items because of limited storage, Blue said.
The move also is an opportunity for Matt Talbot to convey to the community all the services it provides, Blue said.
The organization provides assistance with housing, life skills training and health care, including an annual foot care clinic and a quarterly vision clinic, she said.
Matt Talbot also helps people with utilities, rent and prescription costs, but there never is enough money to help everyone in need, Blue said.
“We’re so much more than a soup kitchen,” she said.
Reach Hilary Kindschuh at 473-7120 or hkindschuh@journalstar.com.
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Pat on the back wrote on August 21, 2008 5:31 am:
Steve U wrote on August 21, 2008 8:00 am:
Working Poor wrote on August 21, 2008 8:17 am:
Carl wrote on August 21, 2008 8:47 am:
Nina wrote on August 21, 2008 10:15 am:
Did Great even read the article wrote on August 21, 2008 10:28 am:
arrogance wrote on August 21, 2008 10:37 am:
cee wrote on August 21, 2008 11:06 am:
There well always be people how take advantage, but for the most part they don't. "
Wait wrote on August 21, 2008 12:26 pm:
and Nebraska are NOT IN the Bible Belt!!! Years and years I took loads
of food to the missions in the city I lived in and NEVER saw the people
with jobs depending on meals from the missions. Yes they went to food
pantries and had food stamps, but their jobs paid them a salary to rent
or live in their homes. Sometimes hard winters they had to seek help with
fuel bills, but I never saw what I see here in Lincoln. The missions I
saw were truly homeless people - without homes!!!! Lincoln and Nebraska
has over taxed their citizens so much even the middle class are shivern
in their boots as to whether they are going to be able to pay their taxes,
not to mention the taxes that will be imposed when the white elephants
are built and already being built. This town wants the moon but refuse
business and industry. What makes the difference? My x-city is and has
been on the list of highest taxed states # 41, Lincoln is #17. In 2004
Lincoln was # 9, 2005 #10. My x-city retireds don't pay state tax on
social security, EVERY one gets a homestead exemption, state income taxes
are half Nebraskas'. You can buy alot of bread when your property taxes
are $910.00 verses in Lincoln $4,100.00. If you don't have a progressive
city your goin down the drain. Two men working neighbors want to move
out of this state but they paid waaay too much for an overpriced house.
I know the feeling. The Nebraska little towns are ghost towns, elders
needing to move to retirement homes and can't afford them. When your
biggest employers are your state government and schools, that only spells
bad news. No matter how many degrees and As' you get, you stay here and
your going down the drain, or should I say the homeless shelter, or you
pocket every dime you can to be rich off the working class and care less
about those who end up at the missions. Sound like the Bible Belt in
Lincoln to you?????? "
JL wrote on August 21, 2008 2:44 pm: