Nebraska For Us leads second summertime food drive as SNAP cuts lead growing hunger

Local coalition nets 450 pounds of donations to support Lincoln-area food pantries

LINCOLN, Nebraska (June 16, 2026)—With summer break now in full swing for Lincoln-area students, Nebraska For Us is calling attention to the issue of hunger when those daily school meals are no longer available. Nebraska For Us hosted its second food drive this month. This time, it was in support of the Food Bank of Lincoln and Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach.

“SNAP participation has fallen significantly in Nebraska in the past year, according to recent data from Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services,” Nebraska For Us State Director Angie Lauritsen said. “This drop is not about Nebraskans not needing the assistance. Instead, it is because of SNAP cuts that have made it more difficult for eligible families to get those benefits.”

Nearly one year ago, Congressmen Mike Flood and Don Bacon voted for massive cuts to SNAP to fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. At the same time, the war in Iran has caused gas and grocery prices to soar over the past 100-plus days. That dynamic has made the pain that much worse.

These cuts and the rising prices combined with the usual summertime slump for food access for kids creates a perfect storm. Nebraska For Us sought to help address the demand by accepting donations of non-perishable food items while providing free coffee to members of the community who donated. The drive led to 450 pounds of donated food to support Lincoln-area residents in need.