When the doors open at Heartland Hope Mission, the first thing you notice is the carts and shelves stocked full with food. Individuals walk down aisles of canned goods, pasta and produce, choosing what they need to get through the week.
It’s not a grocery store; it is a pantry, located in the heart of the country. And for many who walk in, especially as SNAP benefits are delayed, it can be the difference between a full dinner and an empty fridge.
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Demand surges at local food pantries
This past weekend, the pantry witnessed something that staff have been experiencing more frequently.
“Our numbers had been up 30% because of the shutdown, but this past Saturday, we served double the number of people,” said Chelsea Salifou, CEO of Heartland Hope Mission.
SNAP serves about 1 in 8 Americans and costs roughly $8 billion per month, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Salifou said fear is what pushed many Nebraska families through the door. Some are worried about making rent. Others are trying to stretch food to cover more mouths than usual.
“We’ve had a lot of people coming in requesting rent assistance or utility assistance, since they’re not getting paid, and then people coming in because they’re very concerned about losing SNAP benefits,” she said.
Ripple effects beyond the kitchen table
Families in Omaha are not the only ones feeling the strain. Salifou said the effects are reaching the people who support them, too.
“Someone that’s furloughed, or you have somebody who now has to go to work, but they’re not getting paid. Well, they can’t afford to pay for day care now, right? So the day care provider is not getting paid, or they’re not sending their kids to day care, and they’re staying home with them, and so now the day care provider is impacted.”
The uncertainty comes as federal food assistance programs remain in limbo during the government shutdown.
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Studies show that SNAP can act as an economic driver during times of economic turmoil, providing between $1.50 and $1.80 in economic impact per dollar spent.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said SNAP benefits could start up again as soon as Wednesday. SNAP helps nearly 42 million Americans buy groceries each month.
Courts order emergency SNAP funds
Last week, two federal judges ruled that emergency funds must be used to keep SNAP payments moving during the shutdown. The USDA informed a federal judge that it will tap $5.2 billion in contingency funds to cover part of the November benefits, but full payments are expected to cost approximately $9 billion.
Even with approval, families may not see funds immediately. Loading benefits onto cards can take up to two weeks in some states.
In the meantime, states, cities and food banks are stepping in to help families who cannot wait. Still, food banks say they cannot fill the gap. For every meal pantries provide, SNAP typically covers nine.
For those asking how to help, Salifou said donations make the most immediate impact.
“Protein items, meats. We really need meats. Those have been in high demand. And then side items to make with your meal; mac and cheese, those types of things, spaghetti and spaghetti sauce, things that are easy to cook,” she said.
How to support local pantries
Community support can take many forms. Some choose to donate funds or groceries, while others show up to pack boxes or distribute food. Schools, offices and faith groups are also launching collection drives to help keep shelves stocked for the weeks ahead.
No matter how long the shutdown lasts, Salifou said the mission remains unchanged: welcoming families with dignity and making sure they have a place to turn when they need it most.
“We’re more than a pantry, so we meet one-on-one with every client that comes in and work to surround them with everything they need, so they don’t become homeless, and so we can help them become self-sufficient,” she said.
