SNAP Outreach
Food Bank for the Heartland’s SNAP Outreach team helps families and individuals navigate the application process, understand program benefits, and access additional community resources. As an equal-opportunity provider, our team helped submit 6,327 applications in Nebraska and 12,352 applications in Iowa in FY 2023. Our SNAP Outreach team can help families and individuals apply over the phone in as little as 15 minutes.
About SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest anti-hunger program in the country, helping thousands of Nebraskans and Iowans afford high quality food. SNAP provides important nutritional support for families and individuals with low incomes. It’s intended to fill the gap between the cash a household has available to buy food and the cost of a “thrifty” food budget as set by the USDA.
Our SNAP Outreach team is extremely well versed in eligibility requirements and the various benefits and programs offered to Heartland residents. SNAP applications submitted with our support have an approval rating of 81%. This is nearly double the approval rating if an individual were to apply themselves. This expertise ensures applications are filled out correctly, decreasing the time it takes for recipients to qualify, receive federal benefits and access food for their families. This technical assistance would not be possible without the tremendous support of our donors and partners.
How SNAP works
If you’re eligible for SNAP benefits, you can use your EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card to acquire food for your household, including:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Dairy products
- Breads and cereals
- Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages
- Seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat
You can also take advantage of Double Up Food Bucks when you purchase from local farmers and retailers. Learn more in the callout box below.
Households cannot use SNAP benefits to purchase:
- Vitamins, medicines, and supplements
- Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
- Any nonfood items such as pet foods, cleaning supplies, paper products and other household supplies, hygiene items, and cosmetics
Am I eligible for SNAP?
Each state has its own unique SNAP eligibility requirements that can be complex and are subject to change. To find out if you qualify, call the experts on our SNAP Outreach team today.
Nebraska Residents
1-855-444-5556
Iowa Residents
1-855-944-3663
How to apply for SNAP
Our SNAP Outreach team can help you navigate the application process and understand program benefits. Call them today to get started.
Nebraska Residents
1-855-444-5556
Iowa Residents
1-855-944-3663
The numbers above are your best resources to learn about—and apply for—SNAP and other community benefits. Nebraska residents may also click here to apply for SNAP benefits online. Iowa residents can click here to apply for SNAP benefits online and click here to download the Iowa DHS Financial Support Application.
SNAP/Food Resources Contact Form
If you prefer, you can fill out the form below and a member of our SNAP Outreach team will contact you to answer questions and see if you qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Any information you provide is completely confidential and will not be shared outside our team.
If you are not a resident of Nebraska or Iowa, visit Feeding America to find SNAP and food resources near you.
SNAP contact form
Additional Resources
Learn more about other helpful programs designed to help you and your family stay safe and healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
At Food Bank for the Heartland, we want to make sure anyone facing food insecurity in our communities has access to helpful programs like SNAP. These FAQs will provide some added insight on common questions.
Yes, our SNAP Outreach team is extremely well versed in eligibility requirements and the various benefits and programs offered to Nebraska and Iowa residents. SNAP applications submitted with our support have an approval rating of 81%. That’s nearly double the approval rating if an individual were to apply themselves.
Each state has its own unique SNAP eligibility requirements that can be complex and are subject to change. To find out if you qualify, call the experts on our SNAP Outreach team today. Nebraska residents can call 1-855-444-5556. Iowa residents can call 1-855-944-3663.
Our SNAP Outreach team can help families and individuals apply over the phone in as little as 15 minutes. Nebraska residents can call 1-855-444-5556 and Iowa residents can call 1-855-944-3663 to get started.
Sí. Para asistencia con la aplicacion o preguntas adicionales sobre snap o otros recursos de la comunidad.
Nebraska: 1-855-444-5556
Iowa: 1-855-944-3663
Have additional questions? Contact our Nebraska SNAP hotline at 1-855-444-5556 or Iowa SNAP hotline at 1-855-944-3663 today to learn more about benefits, eligibility, and other resources.
Call our SNAP/Food Resource Hotline
Food Bank for the Heartland’s SNAP Outreach team can help you find a pantry, walk you through the SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) application process, and access additional community resources. Se habla Español.
Double Up Food Bucks
Double Up Food Bucks is a public-private partnership that gives SNAP recipients bonus dollars to use when they purchase fruits and vegetables from local farmers and retailers—an initiative that benefits our communities, our farmers and the health of our citizens.
As a SNAP recipient, you can earn up to $20 in Double Up Food Bucks when you spend $20 on fresh produce at participating retailers. Learn more about Double Up Food Bucks in Nebraska and Iowa.
SNap in the news
SNAP Outreach Program seeks to connect more people with community resources
Cindy Doerr, Food Bank for the Heartland’s Nebraska SNAP Manager, talks to KBEAR Country radio about the SNAP Program and how Nebraskans can access community resources.
What to do if you’re denied public benefits
Food Bank for the Heartland’s SNAP Outreach team is a great resource to turn to, if you’ve been denied public benefits in the past.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider. View the full USDA Nondiscrimination Statement here.
