Yesterday, Nebraska DHHS officially announced that SNAP benefits in Nebraska are on hold for November. That means all 150,000 Nebraska SNAP participants won’t receive their benefits as scheduled on Nov. 1.
This is happening because of 1) the federal government shutdown, and 2) the Trump Administration’s refusal to use a SNAP contingency fund that could pay out most of November benefits. Nonprofits like food banks and pantries will not be able to make up for the loss in SNAP benefits, as SNAP provides 9 meals for every 1 served by a food bank.
At least 320 (!) of you have already emailed or called your members of Congress about this, and we want to see even more! You can use our easy connection portal: bit.ly/fundSNAP
After you’ve made your call – here are other ways we can meet immediate needs stemming from the SNAP benefit hold:
- Call the United Way’s 2-1-1 hotline for assistance finding resources throughout the state.
- Visit our Nebraska food bank websites (we have 2!) for distribution info (Lincoln and Southeast Nebraska & Omaha, Northeast and Western Nebraska).
- Review this consolidated resource for Douglas County Food Pantries and distributions.
- Review this consolidated resource for the Lincoln Food Pantries, deals and distributions.
- Search “little free pantries (+ your location)” online to find community resources outside of formal food bank networks.
- Mutual Aid: Pick a little free pantry and make sure it is stocked all month – or start a new one!
- Reach out to a school in your neighborhood, or in a neighborhood you know is impacted by poverty, and ask the school social worker and PTO if they have a fund to support families.
- Connect with your local community center and ask if they have a meal program you could support financially or by volunteering.
- Support local food banks and pantries with monetary donations.
- Hand out food options along with Halloween candy.
Thank you for using your voice to demand SNAP benefits reach families this fall. To those who are able, thank you for supporting one another during this crisis.
We know that funding SNAP fuels our families. While we demand SNAP benefits continue (and advocate for our government to take care of vulnerable people, not just billionaires), we can also support each other with these steps now.