Area residents reduce food insecurity at Extra Mile Walk

April 30, 2025

Cold weather didn’t deter hundreds of people from creating a warm outpouring of support at the 18th annual Extra Mile Walk on April 26 – in a new location.
 
Lincoln community members gathered at Northwest High School’s Union Bank Stadium for a major charitable event. Lincoln Public Schools partners with the Food Bank of Lincoln each spring to collect money for multiple food-based programs. In past years, LPS and the Food Bank hosted the Extra Mile Walk at East High School.

Food Bank of Lincoln President and CEO Michaella Kumke said she was grateful to everyone who donated and participated. Multiple high school cheerleaders gathered on one part of the stadium’s track to encourage people who walked in cool and windy weather. Participants of all ages donned stocking caps, sweatshirts and coats as they moved along the route.

“You being here helps us raise awareness and take action,” Kumke said. “We want to thank LPS for 20 years ago this school year, starting with us the BackPack program. Two years later, they started this event to help make sure we have the resources to continue feeding kids and their families.”

Organizers didn’t only change up the walk’s host spot. They also added more opportunities for family fun. The event featured food trucks and many activities for children on the stadium’s playing surface. 

LPS Interim Superintendent John Skretta welcomed the crowd to the morning walk. He recognized team captains who organized groups of people to come to Union Bank Stadium. The list of participants included elementary, middle and high schools, LPS academic departments and mothers of University of Nebraska-Lincoln athletes.
 
“You’ve done a great job and we appreciate all the work you did getting your teams ready this year,” Skretta said.

This year’s fundraiser has already netted more than $174,000 toward the goal of reducing hunger across 16 Southeast Nebraska counties. The Food Bank of Lincoln continues accepting donations to help thousands of local residents. An estimated 64,500 people experience food insecurity in the service area, which includes more than 20,000 children under the age of 18.

The Extra Mile Walk benefits thousands of LPS students. LPS and Food Bank of Lincoln launched the BackPack Program initiative at Clinton Elementary School in the 2004-05 academic year. The effort now reaches more than 1,200 students at 28 LPS sites. They receive food-filled backpacks each Friday to ensure they have enough to eat throughout the weekend.
 
Thirty-three LPS buildings also host school food markets and pantries. Approximately 4,600 students and families have access to nutritious food and fresh produce each month during the academic year. Each food market includes menu-specific items, bakery products and donated goods.
 
A $10 contribution to the Extra Mile Walk provides a student with a food-filled backpack for one weekend, while $60 supplements the needs of a four-person family at their monthly school food market for a semester. A $125 donation supplements the needs of a four-person family at their monthly school food market for the entire academic year, and $275 provides a student with a food-filled backpack each weekend for an academic year.
 
Students and staff at many LPS buildings raised money for the 2025 Extra Mile Walk campaign. Maxey Elementary School ($9,293.03) was the top site and Randolph Elementary School ($4,980.07) and Wysong Elementary School ($4,856.91) captured the next two spots. Pyrtle Elementary School ($3,739.37) and Pound Middle School ($3,028.47) rounded out the top five.
 
Staff members of many LPS departments also gathered funds. The Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Department produced a total of $3,203.70, and the Computing Services Department generated $2,132.41 for the Food Bank of Lincoln. The Early Childhood Department collected the third-highest amount of $1,339.68.
 
The Acklie Charitable Foundation provided an extra incentive this year. The foundation matched every dollar donated to the Extra Mile Walk up to $200,000.
 
Kumke and Skretta highlighted several people who have made a difference in the Extra Mile Walk effort. The crowd gave a round of applause for LPS Director of Operations Scott Wieskamp, who will be retiring from the school district this spring.
 
“Over the years Scott has been a major supporter of the walk, instrumental in ensuring facilities are ready and organizing staff for this,” Skretta said. “He will be greatly missed next year.”
 
The crowd also clapped for Lincoln Board of Education member Kathy Danek and Matt and Julie Rhule. Danek is retiring from the school board this spring after representing District 1 since 2001. Matt Rhule, the head football coach at UNL, and Julie Rhule donated $10,000 to the 2025 Extra Mile Walk.
 
Kumke congratulated everyone on their contributions to campaigns over the past 18 years. She said the Extra Mile Walk has directly resulted in 6.8 million meals being delivered to students in Southeast Nebraska. The event has generated more than $2.4 million, which is being used to help families.

It’s not too late if you’d like to donate to the Extra Mile Walk!

Please visit the Food Bank’s website at https://www.lincolnfoodbank.org/extramile/.

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