North Corps kitchen team turning rescued food into meals for those in need
By Joe Harris /
OMAHA, Neb.—Chef Kevin Newlin is the at the helm of The Salvation Army of Omaha’s North Corps Community Center kitchen, which just opened a few months ago.
His work with the organization goes back more than a decade, though.
"I've been involved with Salvation Army since 2009, and I worked for the Kroc Center,” Newlin said. “I fell in love with just helping people there. I just think that we all need a little help sometimes, and giving back, for me, has just become part of my composition of who I am these days."
Newlin said he has stayed around Omaha his entire life—not only getting his culinary education here, but also getting his feet wet working in the field.
"I did a chef's apprenticeship at Metro Community College, studied with some really good chefs around the city, worked at Metro Community College as an adjunct instructor for 15 years. I've worked for hotels, country clubs, restaurants, dining centers—and now, in an EDS kitchen."
Working for nonprofit organizations is a calling for Newlin.
“I just love to be able to give back,” he 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."
Allowing him to rescue food is his partnership with Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue, Inc. Catering companies, hotels, and restaurants send Newlin their leftovers through Saving Grace. He then evaluates the food’s quality before repurposing it.
He uses the repurposed food to make meals for the daily free lunches that the North Corps serves to the North Omaha community—up to 1,000 meals per week.
He and his staff also make meals for several more Salvation Army programs in other metro-area locations.
For his part, Newlin said feeding so many mouths would not be budgetarily possible without the rescued food.
"'Doing the Most Good' means being good stewards of our finances and utilizing all food that comes in the door with zero waste, while feeding hungry and homeless people."