Food assistance programs & information
The number of people needing food assistance at this time is greater than ever before. If you are a food resource that is not listed below, please contact Nebraska Preparedness Partnership to discuss adding your organization.
If you want to assist your community with purchasing food and/or volunteering, please consider donating money or volunteering time to your local food pantry.
Nebraska Hunters Helping the Hungry (HHH)
Cash donations received to the Nebraska Hunters Helping the Hungry (HHH) program in the next couple of months can lead to more protein availability this fall/early 2022. The HHH supplies ground venison to the Food Bank, their partners and other charities. My hope is that there may be a role for some of you to communicate to the public the need for cash donations now, to make more venison available later.
In a nutshell, the program uses voluntary cash donations to pay wild game lockers to process donated deer from hunters. The venison gets picked up by charities who distribute it. The kicker is that contracts to pay processors this fall, must be based on dollars received by 6/30/2021 (end of this fiscal year). Donations will help get more protein in the form of frozen ground venison to charities later this year.
For more information on how to donate: http://outdoornebraska.gov/hhh/
Summer Food Service Program (Department of Education):
In mid-May, summertime meal site information will be available on the Summer Meals Site Finder: https://www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids
Families are also encouraged to text "FOOD" or "COMIDA" to 877-877 where they can provide their zip code and will be provided messages with information about the nearest summer meals sites.
Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) benefits FAQs and how to apply:
COVID-19-Pandemic-EBT-FAQ (PDF)
Food Banks:
These food banks serve and support multiple food pantries throughout Nebraska and Western Iowa. They are always in need of volunteers as well as donations. Please considering donating your time.
Food Bank of Lincoln:
https://www.lincolnfoodbank.org/
Food Distribution Schedule: https://www.lincolnfoodbank.org/get-food/food-distribution-schedule/
This document lists the most needed food and personal care items has been shared by the Food Bank of Lincoln: Most-Needed-Items-FoodBankLincoln.pdf
Food Bank for the Heartland:
https://foodbankheartland.org/
Get Food: https://foodbankheartland.org/get-food/#section02
Mobile Pantries (PDF) June 2021
Mobile Pantries (PDF) July 2021
Volunteer: https://donate.foodbankheartland.org/default.aspx?tsid=9195
Feeding America has compiled ways to volunteer with your local food bank remotely, from your own home:
How to become a virtual food bank volunteer: https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-blog/how-become-virtual-food-bank-volunteer?s_src=W214XSOCL&utm_medium=social_tw&utm_source=owned&utm_term=aware&utm_campaign=covid19
Heartland Hope Mission (HHM):
Heartland Hope Mission is having a block party on Saturday, June 26th, 11a-2p. We have a lot of fun things planned, including free food, games, splash pad and much more! HHM Block Party.png
Get information on HHM food pantry hours and locations, services provided, and other events: https://heartlandhopemission.org/gethelp/
Heartland Hope Mission Pantries 20201221 (PDF)
Food By Zip Codes 12-2020 (PDF)
Additional food pantries and assistance available throughout Nebraska:
Additional Food Pantries and Resources (PDF)
Kearney/Buffalo County Food Resources:
FoodResources6.16.2020 Buffalo County
Spanish version: SpanishFoodSupportInfo – Buffalo County
No More Empty Pots “Feeding Our Neighbors” Program:
https://nmepomaha.org/feeding-our-neighbors/
Enrollment can be done by phone as well by calling 402.690.0888
Brochure: NMEP Feeding Our Neighbors Flyer (PDF)
Local Food Producers (buy direct): LocalFoodDelivery.v2 (PDF)
Market Maker tool for connecting local producers with providers, and vice versa. This can also be used by consumers: https://ne.foodmarketmaker.com/
Food & other resources from the Nebraska Legislature: Resources for People Impacted by COVID-19 (PDF)
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services website, with links to child nutrition, food security, and assistance programs: https://www.fns.usda.gov/disaster/pandemic/covid-19
USDA Announces Funding Available to Assist Socially Disadvantaged Farmers, Ranchers under the Pandemic Assistance for Producers Initiative
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced Monday the availability of $2 million to establish partnerships with organizations to provide outreach and technical assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
The funding was made possible by USDA’s new Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, an effort to distribute resources more broadly and to put greater emphasis on outreach to small and socially disadvantaged producers impacted by the pandemic.
Learn more about Pandemic Assistance for Producers: https://www.farmers.gov/pandemic-assistance
USDA has also reopened FSA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) signup as part of the Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative and is is now accepting applications. Farmers and ranchers will have at least 60 days to apply or make modifications to their existing CFAP 2 applications.
Get More Details About CFAP2: https://www.farmers.gov/pandemic-assistance/cfap
