Shine the Light 2026
Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach hosted its third annual Shine the Light Walk on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at Antelope Park, bringing the community together to raise awareness about the realities faced by people experiencing unsheltered homelessness during the winter months.
Approximately 100 community members participated in the one-mile, family-friendly walk, which took place along an illuminated path through the park. The event raised more than $9,000 to support Matt Talbot’s outreach and homelessness prevention services.
Designed to foster understanding, the walk encouraged participants to experience the cold firsthand while learning about homelessness in Lincoln. Along the route, walkers encountered signs sharing the stories of three individuals and families who experienced different paths through homelessness, highlighting both the challenges of homelessness and the hope that support services can provide.
"We like it to be cold for the walk," said Alynn Sampson, Executive Director. "Experiencing unsheltered homelessness is a hard journey, and participants get a glimpse of that as they walk. They also gain empathy, compassion, and awareness that, working together, our community can solve the problem of homelessness."
The evening began with brief remarks from Juan Carlos Huertas, Minister of Proclamation and Practice of Justice at First Plymouth Congregational Church and a Matt Talbot board member, before participants set out on the illuminated course. In addition to personal stories, signage throughout the walk provided information about homelessness, Matt Talbot’s mission, and ways community members can get involved.
Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach extends its sincere gratitude to all who walked, donated, and supported the Shine the Light Walk. Together, the community continues to shine a light on homelessness and take meaningful steps toward compassion, awareness, and change.
