YES: Meals Needed For Homeless Youth

On average, 60 youth visit Youth Emergency Services’ (YES) (www.yesomaha.org/meals) Street Outreach Center to receive a hot meal each weeknight. Because this may be the only food a homeless youth receives that day, the Street Outreach Center provides a basic need to youth aged 12-21 that isn’t available anywhere else. YES relies on the generosity of the community to provide these meals to youth. Individuals, community groups, and businesses are invited to prepare these meals off-site or deliver catered meals from restaurants.

YES’ Street Outreach Center, located at 2602 Harney Street, allows homeless and near homeless youth the opportunity to not only eat a warm meal but to take a hot shower, do laundry, meet with heath care professionals, receive job training, and more. This vital program serves more than 1,000 youth at the Center every year.

In addition to the Street Outreach Center, YES outreach workers hit the streets of greater Omaha, looking for youth in crisis. They carry backpacks filled with basic needs and emergency supplies and patrol areas where homeless and near homeless youth tend to congregate. Outreach workers are trained to identify a young person in need and to provide immediate information and services. YES has been providing critically-needed programs and resources to homeless and at-risk youth in Omaha for more than 40 years.

If you would like to provide a meal, please visit www.yesomaha.org/meals for more information and to sign up.