Center for People in Need Inc

"Without the Center for People in Need, we would have starved a long time ago," Rob says, referring to himself and his wife.

Rob started a new business after having been laid off, painting the Best of Big Red Store in the Haymarket Neighborhood of Lincoln.  He doesn't make quite enough to pay for his rent and utilities, however.  And because of his wife's work in housekeeping, he makes too much to qualify for government support programs like SNAP.  The Center helps to provide him with basic food almost every week to keep him working.

Mona has lived in the United States for 11 years, arriving from Egypt where she was born in the 1960's.  She still calls her home country often, where her mother still lives who she would like to visit again before her death.  The Center helped her to fill out her application for citizenship, and she just has to complete her fingerprint appointment before traveling to see her mother again.  The Center also provides critical support for her, including food and other needs, in order to help her make the transition to a brighter future.

These are just two stories from people here in Lincoln who have come to the Center for assistance. There are thousands more stories to tell.

Who We Serve

We serve the poor and marginalized people of Lincoln and Lancaster County:  those without education or employment; those with additional barriers of disability or limited English proficiency; the "new poor" who have lost jobs and homes during this recession; and the new Americans – refugees, immigrants, and the displaced. 

What We Offer

Our Neighborhood FOOD program distributes food and USDA commodities weekly to four neighborhood sites in Lincoln.  Through our Truckloads of Help program, we increase the resources of other Nebraska service agencies by serving as a clearinghouse for donated goods from national retailers. Products distributed include household goods, personal care items, furniture, and even miscellaneous items such as dog and cat food to animal shelters. 

Our new TRADE program assists in transitioning individuals from the criminal justice system to the community, including those incarcerated within the last 18 months in Nebraska, on felony probation, parolees, and individuals on work detail.  It offers vocational training in Construction, Janitorial/Building Maintenance, Forklift/Warehouse, and Food Service, as well  as life skills training, wraparound health services, and additional support.

Our Health Hub program is an innovative program for connecting uninsured clients with health care and other assistance.  Health Hub advocates help the Center's low-income clients access appropriate medical care and establish medical homes via a system of referrals to local care providers.  Advocates evaluate clients' needs and eligibility for health-related programs and resources, and help clients complete applications for General Assistance, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other government assistance programs. 

Our job skills training program offers training in warehousing, forklift operation, retail, construction, janitorial, office skills, food handling, child care, and basic computing.  Janitorial and food handling programs are also offered with Vocational ESL, meaning clients learn English as they learn job skills and gain work experience.  

Our special events include Giving ThanksGiving Food (holiday food distribution), Toyland for Kids (parents shop for free holiday gifts for their children), Tools for Education, Teen for a Day, and Mothers' and Father's Day (kids shop for free gifts for parents). 

ESL and citizenship classes are offered at the Center. All programs, classes, and events are free.  

Community Resources

Our handbooks are available for food, medical services, healthy living, children's services, services for the homeless and nearly homeless, miscellaneous services and holiday services.They are compiled, updated, printed, and distributed at no charge to clients and human services agencies. Some have been translated into Spanish, Arabic and Karen.