Worship & Charity
The population of Lincoln is about 90 percent Christian with more than 200 churches and other places of worship. Two Jewish Temples and two Muslim Mosques are also available in the city, but the vast majority houses of warship are of protestant Christian faiths.
Regardless of faith and beliefs, most of these religious organizations, or organizations affiliated with them, offer services and assistance for those in need. Charitable organizations generally offer their services to anyone who needs or wants it, despite differences in religion, politics or race.
Refugees in Lincoln are already familiar with services from Catholic Social Services and Lutheran Family Services. Thousands of non-Christian families and have been helped by these two services alone, and they are but just two of the many organizations who are eager to help people in need.
Charitable and non-profit organizations can help with a broad range of things. Some offer job and computer training. Or help arrange discounted bus passes or other forms of transportation. Some help with complicated government forms, such as welfare and Medicare applications. Others provide for some of our most basic human needs such food, clothing, shelter and health care.
Several of these organizations have come together to form the New Americans Task Force, which meets monthly to discuss problems and solutions facing the immigrant and refugee communities. The Task Force recently collaborated with Mosaic to produce a series of videos about avoiding and treating bed bug infestations. The videos are avaiable in five different languages on the Mosaic YouTube channel. DVD versions are also available at the Center for People in Need and the Asian Community and Cultural Center.
A list of helpful resources and organizations can be found here.
Center for People in Need
A good place for anyone to start is the Center for People in Need.
The Center has access to several translators, and can help just about anyone who walks through the door. If the people at the Center can't answer your questions, they know people who can.
They publish booklets and guides that list and help explain everything from rent and utility assistance to free or low cost food. They also publish...READ MORE
Goodwill & Salvation Army
The Salvation Army and Goodwill are most recognized in the United States for their thrift stores that sell used clothes, furniture and a wide range of household goods at a low cost.
The Salvation Army also offers social services with a computer training lab, after-school programs for children, free food, diapers and...READ MORE
Other Organizations
Religious Schools
There are 22 private schools for elementary and high school students. While public schools are free, private schools in Lincoln are typically run by religious organizations and require tuition payments from students or their families.
Although all private schools in Lincoln are Christian-based, Christian beliefs are not required to enroll. For example, there are eleven Catholic elementary schools and nine Lutheran schools in Lincoln, but anyone, regardless of race or religion, may enroll. However, tuition rates may be cheaper for those of Catholic or Lutheran faith.