Nebraska organizations raise awareness for food insecurity amid national SNAP benefit cuts

By McKenzy Parsons

OMAHA, Neb. (KETV)—The U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee passed a bill cutting funds that would go toward food aid and climate-smart farm practices.

Local organizations like Open Sky Policy, Nebraska For Us, and Black Men United are joining forces to spread awareness of the proposed $30 billion cuts which would normally go to SNAP benefits.

Nebraska For Us said food insecurity in the metro is ever-growing, and the bill limits increases from the U.S. Department of Agriculture towards the thrifty food plan which is the USDA's estimated family food budget that helps determine the amount of SNAP benefits.

"Well, we started the food drive about four years ago. We started with about 25 families. And now we're looking at probably about 1,200 families a month," said Willie Hamilton, CEO and founder of Black Men United.

"One in seven Nebraskans face food insecurity and one in five children in Nebraska face food insecurity, and about 41% of all Nebraskan children are on SNAP," said Health policy analyst for Open Sky Policy Rasma Sethi.

Nebraska For Us said they work with SNAP recipients and anyone who does not meet the criteria for SNAP benefits.

A Feeding America report in May found nearly 60% of Nebraskans facing food insecurity were above SNAP criteria.

Nebraska For Us reported 270,000 Nebraskans are food insecure which is 13.6% of Nebraska's population.