Hope 402 Selected for 100 Women Who Care Bennington Grant

By Marisa Dawson

Five women are standing together in front of a wall decorated with butterflies and framed documents. They are smiling and wearing name tags, showcasing a casual gathering. — From left to right: Ashley McMurchie representing Angels Among Us, nominated by Courtney Meysenburg, Lisa Nielsen representing Hope 402, Megan Kathol who nominated the Bennington Buzz, and Marisa Dawson representing the Bennington Buzz. Photo by Krisy Byers.

Hope 402, a nonprofit providing food assistance and outreach to people experiencing food insecurity and homelessness, was selected to receive the quarterly grant from 100 Women Who Care Bennington during the organization’s October 15 giving event hosted at Hay Jay Cafe.

Lisa Nielsen, founder of Hope 402, joined representatives from Angels Among Us and The Bennington Buzz to present to members of the local giving group. Each organization shared its mission and answered questions before members voted to determine which nonprofit would receive the collective donation.

The evening also featured a presentation from Megan Detjens (pictured below) of TeamMates Bennington, the recipient of the group’s spring giving event. Detjens shared how the previous grant was used and the difference it made for students and mentors in the community.

A woman with shoulder-length hair smiles and gestures while standing in front of a blue-themed artwork on the wall.

100 Women Who Care Bennington brings together women who pool their charitable contributions to support local nonprofits. Members commit to donating $100 at each of three annual giving events, with the group selecting a different organization to receive the combined funds. The group also organizes a volunteer event each summer.

Hope 402 focuses on food access and dignity

Nielsen started Hope 402 in December 2025 to help address food insecurity and support people experiencing homelessness. The organization operates a food pantry in Waterloo and provides grocery deliveries to families in Bennington, Elkhorn, Waterloo and Valley. Its outreach program also offers meals, care bags and opportunities to connect people with additional resources.

The need became clear quickly. Nielsen said that after posting about the pantry in a Bennington community social media group, she received more than 100 requests for food within 24 hours.

Hope 402 aims to make assistance accessible while respecting the privacy of the people it serves. Its grocery delivery service allows families to receive food without having to visit a pantry or explain their circumstances publicly.

A woman in a blue sweater passionately speaks to a small group seated in a cozy setting, with colorful artwork on the walls.

“Because everybody needs help and everybody is pretty much one disaster away from falling on their face anymore,” Nielsen said during her presentation.

The organization had completed 36 grocery deliveries since Sept. 15 at the time of the event, with requests coming from across its service area. Nielsen said 35% of requests had come from Bennington, followed by 22% from Elkhorn, 16% from Waterloo and 9% from Valley.

Hope 402 also plans to resume weekly street outreach in November in partnership with the Stephen Center and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. The outreach will provide meals and supplies while helping connect people who want assistance with shelter and other services.

For Nielsen, the grant represents both practical financial relief and encouragement to continue building the young nonprofit.

A woman in a blue sweater speaks while holding a phone, with a large blue and gray painting of a woman's face in the background.

“Honestly, I’m still emotional about it,” Nielsen said in an interview after the event. “I started Hope 402 last December while working full time, and eventually quit my job because I believed God was calling me to do this all the way, not halfway. There are days that leap of faith feels really heavy. Having a room full of women from my own community say ‘we believe in this’ means more than I can put into words. For Hope 402, it means we get to keep our doors open and keep showing up for our neighbors.”

The funding will help cover the organization’s ongoing operating expenses, including warehouse rent, groceries to fill gaps on pantry shelves and fuel for deliveries. Nielsen said the organization had delivered groceries to dozens of families in Bennington, Elkhorn, Waterloo and Valley since mid-September, with awareness of its services continuing to grow. The gift will also help Hope 402 prepare to resume street outreach and meet needs as they arise.

“It means we can keep saying yes when someone reaches out,” Nielsen said.

Nielsen said consistent community support will be essential to keeping the organization running. Monthly donations are particularly helpful because they provide predictable funding for recurring expenses.

“The biggest thing is becoming a monthly donor. Even $30 a month gives us steady support we can actually plan around,” she said.

Community members can also volunteer to pack and deliver groceries, donate food at the organization’s Waterloo warehouse or help spread the word about its services. Nielsen emphasized that even sharing information can help connect families with assistance.

People can learn more, donate or find volunteer opportunities at hope402.org.

Angels Among Us supports families facing childhood cancer

Ashley McMurchie represented Angels Among Us, a Nebraska nonprofit that provides financial and emotional support to families whose children are undergoing cancer treatment in the state.

A woman in a maroon sweater is speaking while gesturing. In the background, there are colorful paintings of cocktails and flowers. A seated woman is visible on the left.

Founded in 2006, Angels Among Us works with social workers at Children’s Nebraska and Nebraska Medicine to connect eligible families with assistance. The organization helps cover essential expenses, including rent or mortgage payments, utilities, car payments and medical bills, allowing parents to focus on their child’s treatment.

“Angels Among Us is a local nonprofit, 501(c)(3), that provides financial and emotional support to pediatric cancer families that are either living in or being treated in Nebraska,” McMurchie said.

The nonprofit provides monthly financial assistance directly to creditors for the duration of a child’s critical treatment plan. According to McMurchie, the organization supported between 120 and 130 families over the course of a year, with approximately 70 to 90 of those families in Nebraska.

Angels Among Us distributed $890,000 in financial assistance in 2025, McMurchie said. The organization hopes to exceed $1 million in assistance in 2026.

Beyond financial support, Angels Among Us offers family connection events, overnight stays, support groups, meals for hospitalized families and bereavement services. These programs help families connect with others who understand the challenges of a childhood cancer diagnosis.

McMurchie noted that the organization is particularly important in communities such as Bennington, where families have recently faced pediatric cancer diagnoses.

“We truly walk alongside these families for the duration of their child’s critical treatment plan, trying to make sure that they are taken care of for their entire journey,” she said.

Community members can support Angels Among Us through donations, fundraising events and volunteer opportunities. Information about its programs and ways to give is available at myangelsamongus.org.

The Bennington Buzz shares its community mission

The Bennington Buzz was the second organization to present. The nonprofit local news organization shared its mission of keeping community journalism freely accessible to residents.

Launched Jan. 1, 2026, The Bennington Buzz covers local government, schools, public safety, sports and community events. Its reporting aims to keep residents informed about the decisions, accomplishments and issues affecting the Bennington area without placing news behind a paywall.

Community support helps sustain reporting and distribute local news to readers who might otherwise lack access to reliable coverage of their own community.

Readers can support The Bennington Buzz through donations, sponsorships and sharing its reporting with others. More information and local coverage are available at benningtonbuzz.com.

Community support extends beyond the quarterly grant

A group of women seated at a table participating in a creative workshop, with a presenter speaking in front of them. The room has colorful artwork on the walls and a relaxed atmosphere.

Although Hope 402 received the group’s collective donation, all three organizations offer opportunities for residents to contribute to their work throughout the year.

100 Women Who Care Bennington’s giving events provide a way for members to combine their contributions for a meaningful community impact. Its approach also introduces members to local organizations they may not otherwise know about, creating opportunities for future donations, volunteering and partnerships.

A woman standing while speaking to an audience, wearing a blue shirt with the text 'DO WOMEN WHO CARE'. She holds a notebook in her hand and is positioned near an abstract painting on the wall. — *Molly Hoge explained the mission and goals of 100 Women Who Care before introducing each of the organizations.*

For Hope 402, consistent monthly donations, food contributions and volunteers help keep groceries moving to families who need them. Angels Among Us relies on donations and community fundraising to help families manage the financial and emotional challenges of childhood cancer. The Bennington Buzz depends on community backing to maintain free access to local journalism.

Each organization serves a different need, but all three share a commitment to strengthening the community and helping people access the support they need.

A decorated table with various bowls, colored cupcake liners, fresh green apples, and a collection of pumpkins, including a glittery yellow one, set against a backdrop of a dining area.

A group of people interacting at a registration table in a bright, open space. One woman in a blue shirt is speaking with another at the table, which is covered with a blue cloth and has snacks and informational materials on it.

A group of women attending a workshop or seminar in a cozy indoor setting, sitting around tables decorated with flower centerpieces and various materials. An instructor stands at the front, engaging with the audience, while colorful artwork adorns the walls.