Bigger Table
1982
The Gathering Place has been serving Lincoln for 44 years.
1m
In that time, we’ve served over one million meals to our guests.
120
All of those meals were made in a kitchen with only 120 square feet.
The story
When a neighbor climbs the front steps of The Gathering Place, your generosity is already waiting inside.
It’s felt by our guests in the familiar greeting and the chance to sit down without having to explain why they came. And your generosity is part of what allows us to place a warm meal before our guests each evening from 5 to 6 p.m.
As Lincoln has grown, so has the number of neighbors in need. In 2024 alone, The Gathering Place served 55,600 meals. Behind every plate was someone who chose to help: a volunteer who gave their time, a donor who gave what they could, or a team member who made each guest feel welcome.
We’re building a larger Gathering Place where more neighbors can find a meal and a seat at the table, and we need your help.
From the very beginning, The Gathering Place has answered a real need in Lincoln. Guests come for a hot meal at the end of the day, but they also find conversation, laughter, and the comfort of being welcomed by name. At The Gathering Place, no one is alone, and we’re looking ahead to make sure we can serve everyone who needs us.
We are preparing to move just up the street to 919 South 12th Street, where a larger facility will nearly double our space. This expansion is essential to serving the neighbors who need us.
It’s time for a little more room.
the Need
Let’s build a bigger table.
the Need
Let’s build a bigger table.
The new space gives The Gathering Place room to serve more guests with hot, nutritious meals in a safe and welcoming environment.
A larger building means we’ll be able to create room for our guests who need a private space for case management discussions, which are difficult to hold in the current space. These conversations make a meaningful difference for guests who need help beyond the dinner table. The new building is also in close proximity to the F Street Community Center, the Center Terrace development, and The Hub Central Access Point for Young Adults, making the move valuable to our neighborhood.
With your charitable gift, you can strengthen Lincoln’s entire network of care.
The Plan
We’ve found our next space.
As a matter of fact, it’s just up the street! We love our neighborhood, and so we were thrilled when the opportunity to move into the beautiful brick building at 919 S. 12th Street became an option for us.
Because the new building is twice as large as our current location, we’ll have more kitchen space to produce more meals and cook a wider variety of items at the same time—for healthier, more balanced dinners. More storage will allow us to accept larger donations and store produce more readily. An elevator will save staff and volunteers from having to carry food up and down our decades-old stairs every day.
Turning this building into the next home of The Gathering Place will take all of us. Your gift can help bring a bigger table to life, creating more room for meals, hospitality, and the neighbors who count on both each evening.
We’ve found our next space.
As a matter of fact, it’s just up the street! We love our neighborhood, and so we were thrilled when the opportunity to move into the beautiful brick building at 919 S. 12th Street became an option for us.
Because the new building is twice as large as our current location, we’ll have more kitchen space to produce more meals and cook a wider variety of items at the same time—for healthier, more balanced dinners. More storage will allow us to accept larger donations and store produce more readily. An elevator will save staff and volunteers from having to carry food up and down our decades-old stairs every day.
Turning this building into the next home of The Gathering Place will take all of us. Your gift can help bring a bigger table to life, creating more room for meals, hospitality, and the neighbors who count on both each evening.
To purchase and renovate our new Gathering Place, We need to raise $3.5 million in total.
2026
70% of funds raised.
2026
Groundbreaking begins.
2027
First Meal Served at 919 S. 12th Street.
Be a Neighbor!
Giving at one of the levels listed below can help bring the Gathering Place into its next chapter, and provide food and support to our guests into the future. These levels are named for some of our favorite Lincoln neighborhoods, that have surrounded and supported us for years!
South Salt
Creek
$100,000 – $249,999
You will receive a large plaque on our donor wall, with your name and an optional dedication line.
Antelope
Park
$250,000 – $499,999
At this level, a room, office, or equipment area at the Gathering Place will be named in your honor.
Near
South
$500,000 – $999,999
At this level, a wing, specialized program, or feature at the Gathering Place—like our pantry, storage, or prep area—will be named in your honor.
Everett
$1,000,000+
Named for our very own neighborhood, giving at this level means that a flagship feature within the Gathering Place will be named in your honor—such as the kitchen, dining hall, or community space.
LAURIE COLWIN