Project keeps cafe turning out Easter Sunday meals for customers, shut-ins, pandemic heros

Friday, April 10, 2020

UPDATED

Flower, flour -- important ingredients for an Easter meal.
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McCOOK, Neb. — A McCook bakery and cafe forced to close to diners found a way to provide traditional hot Easter meals to customers isolated in their homes as well as free meals to hero healthcare workers and first responders on duty Sunday.

Matt Sehnert on duty at Sehnert's Bakery and Bieroc Cafe.
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“It went really well,” said co-owner Matt Sehnert, who enlisted the help of major sponsors and individuals to purchase the extra meals.

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“Having enough money to add the shut-ins was great ... it also presented plenty of logistical challenges. But we got through it all pretty smoothly.”

Besides customers who ordered family-style Easter dinners, free meals were delivered to workers on duty Sunday at Community Hospital in McCook, Tri Valley Health Systems in Cambridge, Hillcrest, McCook Police Department, McCook Fire Department, Brookdale, Highland Park and many shut-ins.

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Sponsors included Valmont McCook and parent company Valley, First Central Bank, Horizon Bank, Lincoln Federal Bank and many individual donors, Beth Siegfried at Heritage Senior Center and Sehnert’s Bakery & Bieroc Cafe itself.

McCook Christian Church set up a fund to receive and distribute donations, and is also working with the McCook Community Foundation Fund to use some COVID relief money, Matt said.

The church also gifted some flowers and peace lillies from Keystone Floral and McCook Greenhouse/Country Floral.

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“On Sunday, manager Jamie Mockry and his family, (Thressa, Anita, James and Katy) joined the Graff family (Jon, Ronda, Eric and Ethan) and the Sehnert family to cook the meal, organize and hand out,” Matt said.

Altogether, the bakery prepared about 500 traditional meals of ham, potatoes, sweet potatoes, vegetables, rolls and more, for customers who ordered family meals, as well as the meals for a number of shut-ins.

In a letter to potential sponsors, Matt wrote: “Full disclosure, we are finding ways to continue our business and keep our employees earning a wage while giving sponsoring opportunities and try to bring a little normalcy or sunshine in our community.” He is hoping a special PPP-Cares Act loan comes through this week to help with cash flow.

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The recipients are glad to get to get a meal, of course, he said, “but perhaps the best part for them is just the gesture — being thought of and appreciated.”

“Also, there are many people who ‘want to do something to help!’ We have had many anonymous donations. Some are sending meals to specific people. Several just put money toward the Easter Dinner cause.”

Matt said there were many volunteers who helped deliver the meals.

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“One volunteer moved here from Las Vegas in October. She says that they love McCook and are embracing the community. She volunteers for Meals on Wheels and called us to offer her help. Very cool.”

While he knows members of his staff need and appreciate the paychecks, “work is more than a paycheck. Work gives us all hope.

“Work gives us purpose and self-esteem. Making and creating to help our community is fulfilling for us,” Matt said.

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“I’m so proud of our staff for stepping up and doing whatever job is needed to keep moving forward.”

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Extra volunteers turned out to fill take-out containers for Sunday’s special Easter dinner project.
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A few of the 500-or-so Easter meals ready to go Sunday.
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