New North Corps kitchen preparing meals for people in need across Omaha metro

OMAHA, Neb.—The Salvation Army of Omaha’s North Corps Community Center now has a new kitchen, thanks to the building’s ongoing renovation-and-expansion project – and it’s quickly ramped up operations since opening in late 2025.

At the operation’s helm is Chef Kevin Newlin, who has worked with The Salvation Army for around a decade.

“I just love to be able to give back,” Newlin said.  “This opportunity is allowing me to do that and also allowing me to rescue and re-use a lot of food that would [otherwise] go in the trash."

His partnership with Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue, Inc allows him to give food a second chance.  Catering companies, hotels, and restaurants send Newlin their leftovers through Saving Grace, and he evaluates the leftover food’s quality before repurposing it.

Newlin said that includes adding fresh ingredients to the rescued food.

“We have fresh salad, fresh vegetables -- we make fresh meals daily,” he said.

Those meals are served at the weekday free lunch program that North Corps (2401 Manderson St.) offers to the community.

The impact of Newlin’s work has not gone unnoticed.

"He's a blessing we didn't know we needed until we got it," said corps officer Lt. Marsha Williams-Miller.  She said staff are using the new kitchen to serve these meals during a time when demand is increasing.

"We have seen not just single adults walk through our doors, but we are also seeing families walk through the doors,” she said.  “At North Corps, we are here to support them."

As all that happens, Newlin’s impact is reaching beyond North Omaha.

Area Commander Maj. Dan Sawka said Newlin and the North Corps kitchen team are now making meals not just for the free lunch program there, but also for other Salvation Army programs around the metro. 

"The Salvation Army is making sure that every dollar in counts in every program that we have,” he said, noting that Newlin and team are making meals regularly for “our Mental Health Respite program, which on a daily basis has individuals that are in need of food for all three meals.”  This amounts to around 980 meals per week for that specific program.

Elsewhere, volunteers are currently delivering North Corps kitchen-prepared meals five nights a week to the Omaha homeless population as part of the Winter Night Watch program.  Newlin said he and his staff prepare meals for between 800 and 1,000 people a week for it.

What’s more, Maj. Sawka noted:  "Our Family Meals of Hope program, which debuted last summer—which was a huge hit—the chef and his team will be providing meals for that, as well."

“This wonderful kitchen is not just serving the North Omaha area, but quite frankly, it's touching every life in the Omaha metro area," Maj. Sawka said.