Food Programs
Staff and volunteers getting ready for perishable
food distribution.
The Good Neighbor Community Center provides
fundamental assistance and emergency necessities to
low-income individuals or anyone in need of our
services. Should you have a CLARITY card, kindly
bring it to your appointment; however, it is not
mandatory to receive services.
Non-Perishable Food Program
Mon, Tue. Wed. Thurs. : 10 AM - 12 PM | 1 PM - 2 PM
Fri: 10 AM - 12 PM
GNCC distributes non-perishable food items such as
canned goods, frozen meat, dried beans, and pasta
through our Shopper's Choice Pantry. Individuals with
pre-scheduled appointments are granted the
opportunity to visit our pantry and select food items
for themselves, considering their family size and the
availability of food. Clients are permitted to receive
non-perishable food every 30 days.
NOTE: An appointment is required prior to visiting the
pantryto obtain non-perishable food
Perishable Food Program
Mon. Wed.: 10 AM - 12 PM (Food Bank of Lincoln
delivery) | 1 PM (Retail pickup)
Tue. Thur. : 10 AM (Retail pickup)
Thur. 1 PM COMING THIS SUMMER (Community Crops
perishables - food from local farmers)
Every Monday and Wednesday, Food Bank of Lincoln
delivers perishable items such as fruits, vegetables,
bread, and milk, which are subsequently distributed.
No appointment is necessary to access this program,
and there are no eligibility restrictions as long as you
are in need of food. Through our partnership with the
Food Bank of Lincoln, we are able to obtain food
directly from stores in Lincoln, which is available in our
building on Tuesday and Thursday. You are welcome
to come for additional food on those additional days
or after we have completed the food lines on
Mondays and Wednesdays to see what is available
from the stores or left over. While limited space
remains a challenge for this program, we are actively
collaborating with the Cultural Centers of Lincoln
Collaborative to secure a new location. We eagerly
anticipate sharing progress updates regarding the
new facility, which will accommodate both GNCC's
perishable and non-perishable food programs. Stay
tuned.
NOTE: No appointment is necessary for perishable
food items.
FoodNet
Sun.: 1 PM
Every Sunday from 1 pm to 2 pm, GNCC partners with
Allon Chapel Seventh-day Adventist Church who are
on site to provide primarily perishable food items. The
program takes place at GNCC. Individuals are
randomly selected to go through the line and select
food items from what is available on those days.
NOTE: No appointment necessary
Annual Thanksgiving Food
Giveaway
November 24, 2025
A partnership with several community partners that
will allow us to provide perishable food, Thanksgiving
baskets, turkey, halal chicken, and other
miscellaneous donated food for the event.
Basic & Emergency
Needs Programs
Shopping Floor
GNCC gratefully accepts donations from the
community, which are subsequently distributed to
those in need at no cost. Items provided through this
program include but are not limited to clothing and
accessories, shoes, handbags, appliances, small
furniture (due to space constraints), and other
household items. After registering with our office
manager, each client is permitted to shop for donated
items at no charge.
DONORS: We request donations of clean items from
the community. Kindly note that we are unable to
collect donated items but are delighted to accept
them at our center from Monday to Thursday between
8 am and 4 pm and on Fridays from 8 am to 12 pm.
Due to limited floor space, we are unable to accept
large items such as furniture, beds, mattresses, and
other bulky items. We appreciate your understanding
and encourage you to donate these items to other
local organizations that can accommodate them.
Thank you for your support!
NOTE: Call our office to see most recent shopping
policy to access the shopping floor.
Diapers
GNCC Offers diapers in sizes 1 to 5 once per month for
each child in the family.
NOTE: No appointment required. You are welcome to
get diapers when our front office is open.
Personal Care Items (for all)
These items are distributed based on availability.
Senior Hygiene Closet
We are pleased to partner with Lincoln Hygiene
Network to support our senior citizens (55+) with
personal hygiene products. Please feel free to visit us
diring our front office hours. Products include but are
not limited to shampoo, hair conditioner, toothpaste,
toothbrushes, dental floss, deodorant, moisturizing
cream, bar soap, adult cleansing wipes, and
incontinence pads.
NOTE: No appointment required. You are welcome to
get your products when our front office is open.
Fans
In the summer months, we offer fans to clients in
need.
NOTE: Check with us in the summer as this is
dependent on grants and donations.
New Quilts
Newly arrived refugees and immigrants to Lincoln and
Lancaster County are offered new quilts to assist
them during their transition. Additionally, quilts are
provided to individuals who have lost their belongings
due to theft, fire, flood, or other unfortunate incidents.
The rest of the clients are encouraged to select
blankets and beddings from our shopping floor.
StarTran Low-income Bus Pass
Sales Site
GNCC sells monthly StarTran low-income bus passes
for $8 and low-income HandiVan passes for $16. Prior
to purchasing a pass, StarTran necessitates a valid
photo identification card which we have to see.
NOTE: Currently, no appointment is needed before
one can come in to purchase a bus pass
Volunteers Income Tax
Assistance (VITA)
Every Sunday: February 16 - March 30, 2025
The GNCC collaborates with Union College and the
University of Nebraska to provide a valuable service to
families in need. Through the Volunteers Income Tax
Assistance (VITA) program, these dedicated
volunteers assist families with filing their tax returns at
no cost. This not only saves families the expense of
professional tax preparation but also ensures that they
receive the maximum tax refund to which they are
entitled.
NOTE: By appointments only at Vita.unl.edu/signup
Grandparents’ (Christmas)
Room
December, 2025
During the holiday season, grandparents are given the
opportunity to shop for their grandchildren in alternate
years. To qualify, recipients of gifts must be ten years
of age or younger. To ensure the legitimacy of the
request, grandparents are kindly requested to provide
proof of their grandchildren's existence, such as a
Social Security Number or a birth certificate.
Note: Please call to make an appointment or inquire if
you are eligible.
Refugee and Immigrant
Support Services
As a community center, the Good Neighbor
Community Center provides support services to all
refugees and immigrants in Lincoln and Lancaster
County. They receive essential and emergency
assistance and are eligible for all of the programs
described above.We are honored to have staff
members who speak several languages: Arabic, Hindi,
Pashto, Dari, French, and Swahili. This enables us to
provide enhanced support for refugees and
immigrants from the Middle East and North Africa
(MENA Hope Project), Asian refugees and immigrants
from Afghanistan and India, and African refugees and
immigrants who speak Swahili or French.
Resettlement:
We collaborate with community partners and
resettlement organizations to facilitate the successful
integration of refugees and immigrants to Lincoln and
Lancaster County. We provide essential resources and
support services to empower individuals and families
in their journey toward self-sufficiency. Home visits
may be conducted to assess specific needs, and
these families are given priority access to our center,
where they can obtain clothing, food, and enroll in
educational programs and support groups.
Interpretation services are provided to aid in
appointments and the translation of various
documents.
In partnership with Legal Aid of Nebraska, we offer on-
site legal assistance every Thursday afternoon.
Interpretation in Arabic is available during this time. To
schedule an appointment, please contact Zainab Al-
Baaj.
GNCC is a recipient of the Minority Health Initiative
(MHI) grant, which aims to:
•
Leverage Lancaster County MHI efforts to
enhance collaboration in the community, fostering
health equity
•
Reduce barriers to accessing affordable and
culturally and linguistically appropriate healthcare
and education
•
Provide mental health awareness and increase
access to affordable, culturally and linguistically
appropriate support services
Friday Women’s Support Group:
Each Friday (when public schools are in session), we
host educational gatherings featuring various
speakers covering a wide range of topics, including
health, public safety, culinary arts, career
development, and parenting. Prior to the
commencement of each session, participants engage
in an English language learning opportunity from 11:00
a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with teachers assigned based on
individual English proficiency levels. Following the
English language session, participants assemble to
listen to the esteemed guest speaker of the day.
Peer Support Group:
The Good Neighbor Community Center has a Peer
Support Specialist that offers support groups for
mental health issues.
Maternal Care Support Group:
This group is intended to provide a secure and
supportive environment for mothers to share
knowledge, practical assistance, and emotional
connections.
Circle of Security Group:
GNCC supports mothers and their daughters from
Afghanistan through the KENO fund, which is
designed to assist programs for children and families
in preventing crisis situations through early
intervention.
English, Citizenship, Health, Finance,
and Computer Classes:
GNCC offers all of these classes from Monday through
Friday. Our staff rotates these courses to cover all of
these areas effectively. Please note that classes are
currently not available on Monday and Wednesday
mornings.
Transportation:
GNCC may provide transportation for refugees who
lack their own transportation to attend GNCC for a
variety of services or other essential services within
our community. Before scheduling an appointment
and relying on GNCC for transportation, please
confirm with the GNCC staff member assisting you
that they will be available to transport you to your
appointment.