Advocacy Hub

Nebraska Families Deserve Food Security and Stability

October 17, 2025 | Advocacy Alerts , Economic Stability

Child hunger is a policy choice.

The rush to implement significant changes to state and federal assistance programs is creating chaos and confusion for Nebraska families—especially at a time of record inflation and rising costs for food and housing.

Families are struggling to meet basic needs, and food prices are nearly 3% higher than last year. Meanwhile, the USDA has notified state governments and food banks to ready for a potential pause in food assistance benefits in November, should the federal government shutdown continue.

These challenges are not inevitable. Child hunger does not have to exist. The instability caused by sudden policy changes and whiplash funding decisions does not have to exist. Yet families are being placed in unimaginable situations—forced to choose between paying rent, seeking needed medical care, filling the gas tank, and putting food on the table.

Programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) reflect Nebraska’s core values: caring for one another, supporting hardworking families, and ensuring that every child can grow up healthy and nourished. These programs are lifelines—and when they are undermined, children pay the price.

Take Action

No child in Nebraska should go hungry. Policymakers must prioritize stability, transparency, and compassion as changes to assistance programs move forward.

Join us in urging Nebraska leaders to protect SNAP and ensure families have access to food. Food security is a vital component of community wellbeing.

Call and email your federal representatives. Encourage our delegation to end the shutdown by approving a budget that funds critical programs for families and preserves access to healthcare through premium tax credits on the ACA marketplace.

Call and email your state legislature. States will need to step up to fill budget gaps left by the passage of H.R.1 earlier this year. Our legislators need to hear from Nebraskans that we support programs that keep children fed and healthy.
Call and email Governor Pillen. State leadership from our Governor and administration, particularly the Department of Heatlh and Human Services (DHHS), is critical to provide clarity and available resources for families who rely on SNAP.

Resources

We are sharing information and resources for Nebraskans to make the best decisions for their families.

If your child’s eligibility for free or reduced lunch was previously based on SNAP eligibility, your child may still qualify – check with your school district about whether you will need to complete a new application. Please refer to this FAQ sheet from DHHS for more information about recent SNAP changes.

Food Bank of Lincoln – Food Finder

Food Bank for the Heartland – Find Food Near You

Food Expiration Guidelines

Omaha Food Resources