Food Bank for the Heartland was featured in the NBC News Special Report: Coronavirus Pandemic that aired nationally on April 7, 2020.
“In an average month, Brian Barks, the CEO of Food Bank for the Heartland, spends about $73,000 buying food to distribute to people in need across Nebraska and western Iowa. Last month, as the coronavirus was spreading across the U.S., he spent $675,000.
That’s a nearly tenfold increase, because Food Bank for the Heartland, like food banks and pantries across the country, is facing a steep drop-off in the bread and butter of its operations: food donated by supermarkets and farms.”
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If your child was on free or reduced lunch in Nebraska this last school year, you may be eligible for Pandemic EBT funds (similar to food stamps). Up to $281 per child. This program is not based on income, only on your child’s free or reduced lunch status. Call the SNAP outreach hotline at 1-855-444-5556 today. It only takes 5 minutes to apply. Please have your child’s student ID ready.
If you already receive SNAP benefits, you do not need to apply because you will automatically be enrolled. Please apply if you do not currently receive SNAP benefits.
As part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program, Food Bank for the Heartland is scheduled to begin receiving food boxes on Thursday, May 28. These critical food resources will be distributed to individuals and families in need across Nebraska and western Iowa through the Food Bank’s network of pantries and its Mobile Pantry program.
In the first week the Food Bank is scheduled to received 3,840 protein boxes from Cargill plants in Nebraska and 1,760 cases of fresh produce from C&C Produce in Kansas City, Missouri. Each protein box contains 5 lbs. of ground sausage and 5 lbs. of hot dogs. Each fresh produce box contains 26 lbs. of mixed fruits and vegetables.
The Food Bank will begin distributing these boxes on June 1 to Omaha pantries Together and Heart Ministry Center to fulfill their protein and produce needs. The produce boxes will also be distributed through the Food Bank’s Mobile Pantry program at distributions starting June 2.
