Nebraska communities, neighbors work to fill food assistance need during SNAP pause

Nebraska neighbors and businesses are coming together to help bridge the food gap during the federal government’s pause on food assistance. Nebraska’s cities are also considering measures and working with nonprofits to help meet needs while the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is paused.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday paused the state’s SNAP program. States distribute SNAP benefits across the country, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture directed them to pause programs Wednesday due to lack of funding.

Program beneficiaries can still use money left on their EBT cards, but it’s unclear when or if cash benefits will be distributed for November. The Trump administration said it would not use supplemental funds to pay November benefits, but two federal judges on Friday ordered officials to do so.

The SNAP funding freeze has left Nebraska’s counties and cities scrambling to connect those in need with food assistance.

Douglas County’s Board of Commissioners will consider a resolution Tuesday to provide eight local nonprofits with $25,000 each to meet food assistance needs.

“It’s unfortunate that we’re in this situation, but now is the time for all of us to rally together to help those in need,” Commissioner Chris Rodgers said in a press release. “This isn’t something local government can sustain long term, but it’s essential that we do what we can to make sure families are fed and that their immediate needs are met.”

A food drive is also running in Omaha through Wednesday at the direction of Mayor John Ewing.

The City of Grand Island is trying to connect families to meals provided by nonprofits in the community. Spencer Schubert, Grand Island’s communications manager, said the city’s Salvation Army has seen “an unprecedented rise in need, serving approximately 250 people” between Tuesday and Thursday of this week.

“The strength of Grand Island lies in our people and the way we come together in challenging times,” Schubert wrote in a news release. “We’re deeply grateful to our local partners who are stepping up to ensure families don’t go hungry.”

Businesses offering SNAP meals

Several business owners across Nebraska announced this week that they’ll be rolling out special meals for people who need a hot plate.

Noli’s Pizzeria in Omaha was one of the first businesses that announced it would provide free meals to people in need. Since its announcement on Tuesday, the restaurant said it’s provided $8,000 worth of meals.

“We know that there are a lot of our neighbors and friends out there who already struggle to feed their families,” Screamers restaurant owner Kevin Witcher said this week in a video message. “It breaks our hearts to think that that struggle is only going to get more difficult as people lose access to their SNAP benefits in November.”

Witcher said his restaurant, located in Lincoln’s Haymarket business district, will provide meals, dubbed the “SNAP Special,” for people affected by the SNAP pause.

The restaurant is partnering with the nonprofit Some of Us for All of Us to make meals available.

Downtown Lincoln business Muchachos is rolling out “Snapadillas” — hot quesadillas with either pork or chicken.

“We are in some pretty gall darn uncertain times. With SNAP benefits being cut [and] people not being paid to work, we’ve got a lot of people who need some help,” Muchachos owner Nick Maestas wrote in a social media post. “So, that’s just what we are going to do.”

Since the announcement earlier this week, the restaurant owner said he’s heard a lot from patrons and community members offering food donations and monetary support to help with the free meals and the restaurant’s new community food pantry.

Neighbors unite to bring food to their streets

In Scottsbluff, Mary Cerda-Arrellano has been stocking a small outdoor pantry she calls her “Blessing Box,” filled with shelf-stable food. She said the small food nest is stocked daily, but the items go quickly in her neighborhood.

Amber Weis, who helps collect food and other donated items at Potter’s Wheel Ministries in Scottsbluff, said the organization is trying to stock up on needed items over the coming weeks. People in the Scottsbluff and Gering areas are welcome to visit their pantry, which supplies frozen, refrigerated and shelf-stable food.

Near Lara Kibler's home in central Lincoln, her friend transformed her Little Free Library to a Little Free Pantry. Kibler took her turn stocking up the little cabin with spaghetti items, cooking oil and powdered milk.

"I think it's really important for us to do what we can, when we can," Kibler said. "And this is something that I'm able to do, so I'm happy to do it. It's just an easy thing, but it means so much to so many people."

Kibler wanted to pack the pantry with food items to make spaghetti — her daughter Elliot's favorite meal — that will hopefully warm the bellies of families in need. She said it's the community's job as citizens to look out for one another.

"It takes a village, and this is the village," Kibler said. "I'm a part of that. You're a part of that. The people that need it are part of the village. Coming together to do that is important."

Behind-the-scenes legal battle

Orders from two federal judges on Friday stated the Trump administration must tap into the federal government’s emergency funds to help cover food assistance costs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said earlier this month that the “well has run dry” for the SNAP program. Several federal websites, including a few Nebraska state agency websites, have posted partisan messages blaming the shutdown and food assistance pauses on Senate Democrats.

Governors and attorney generals from 25 states sued the federal government on Wednesday over the funding freeze, claiming USDA emergency funding is available. Between $5 and $6 billion is available in reserve funds and could be used to distribute at least partial benefits as the shutdown continues.

Nebraska did not join the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges a now deleted contingency plan released by the USDA on Sept. 30 —before the shutdown began — stated the agency planned to use emergency funds. In an Oct. 10 letter, the USDA warned SNAP agencies that funds would run out at the end of the month. On Oct. 24, the USDA said emergency funds were “not legally available.”

New federal eligibility requirements go into effect

Despite the funding lapse, new federal work and citizenship requirements for SNAP added by the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act are still going into effect.

Beginning Oct. 20, immigrants without citizenship or a green card became ineligible for SNAP. About 6,300 immigrants and refugees in Nebraska have been affected, according to the Nebraska DHHS.

Work requirements were also added this month for able-bodied adults 18 to 64 years old. Beneficiaries will need 80 hours a month of training, volunteering or employment to qualify for SNAP. Some previously exempt groups like veterans, young adults who age out of foster care and unhoused individuals will now be subject to work requirements.

New enrollees and those recertifying their benefits will be affected.