Food Assistance

Food Assistance is available in many forms, from monetary food supplements to food pantries to ready-made meals. Food pantries and ready-made meal programs serve to meet an immediate hunger need for individuals and families. They can also supplement other food assistance, such as SNAP or WIC. SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Women, Infants and Children) are monetary-based food assistance programs. They provide funds for individuals and families to purchase food on a monthly basis.

Families can find it difficult to budget these monthly food supplements for the entire month. For budget resources, budget-friendly recipes and classes on getting the most nutrients per dollar spent, visit the NEP Program page and connect with a program leader to join a nutrition education class.

Monetary Food Resources

SNAP

SNAP is given to each individual or family based on family size. The SNAP funds are automatically transferred to an “EBT” card. The EBT card is used similar to a debit card at food establishments that accept SNAP. Most major grocery retailers accept SNAP. If you shop at a smaller grocery store or market, ask the staff if they accept SNAP or look for signs around the store that say they accept SNAP.

Some grocery stores also accept SNAP for online grocery purchases. View the store’s website or application to see if their items are eligible for SNAP.

• Visit this website to find more information about how to use SNAP/EBT
• Visit this website for details on what can and cannot be purchased with SNAP
• Visit the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services website to learn more about SNAP in Nebraska
• To check if you qualify for SNAP, go to this link to complete a screening questionnaire
• To apply for SNAP, go to Access Nebraska and complete the application.
  • Access Nebraska main page
  • Access Nebraska application page in English
  • Access Nebraska application page in Spanish

Double Up Food Bucks

Double food dollars up to $20 per day with Double Up Food Bucks. Double Up Food Bucks offers a dollar for dollar match on fruit and vegetable purchases when an EBT card or SNAP is used to purchase foods. Any person with an EBT card is automatically eligible for Double Up. Simply find a location that offers Double Up, purchase fruits and vegetables there, and receive your Double Up dollars to be spent on another fruit and vegetable purchase. To find the nearest Double Up location, go to doubleupnebraska.org

WIC

WIC stands for Women, Infants and Children and is a supplemental nutrition program for pregnant women, infants and children up to age five. Women also receive nutrition benefits in the post-partum term for nutritional support for breastfeeding. Support for infant formula is also available. The Access Nebraska application process serves as the application for WIC. Learn more about WIC and apply

Phone: (402) 471-2781
Email: dhhs.nebraskaWIC@nebraska.gov

Food-specific resources

Commodities Supplemental Food Program

“Commodities” is a food supplement program for individuals at least 60 years of age. This supplement comes in the form of food

Food Bank for the Heartland

Food Bank for the Heartland is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, but operates food access in the majority of Nebraska and western Iowa. Their mission is to provide nutritious food needed to work, grow and thrive to individuals and families.

Find Food Near You

Lincoln Food Bank

The Food Bank of Lincoln is a robust resource for food in Lincoln and surrounding communities in Southeast Nebraska including Polk, York, Fillmore, Thayer, Butler, Seward, Saline, Jefferson, Saunders, Lancaster, Gage, Otoe, Johnson, Pawnee, Nemaha and Richardson counties. The Food Bank of Lincoln’s vision is to nourish communities to end hunger. They also offer financial literacy classes called, “Getting Ahead in a just Getting by World”, to support families with budgeting and reaching financial goals.

Food Finder

Garden-fresh Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs

Growing Together Nebraska

Growing Together Nebraska is a food donation garden project that increases nutrition security for families needing food assistance. Learn more at the Growing Together Nebraska webpage.

Have produce to donate? Contact these participating Extension Offices where you can donate your clean, ripe, extra produce. The Extension staff will get the produce to a local food or meal distribution program in your area.

Find food in your area

MyLink

MyLink is a website and phone application where a variety of services can be searched for and found, including food. Select your preferred language. Then click on the “Food” button or type “Food” or “Hot meal” or “Food Pantry” into the MyLink search bar to get food resource results.

MyLink started as MyLNK and was specific to Lincoln, Nebraska. The success of the phone application and website for searchable resources was so popular that it expanded to include the entire state. MyLink is dependent upon agencies and organizations to update their own hours and information. Call the agency prior to arriving. If the agency’s information is outdated, let them know.

FoodPantries.org

FoodPantries.org contains information specific to food pantries and food distributions across the United States. Search specifically for Nebraska to find food pantries in the state. There is an address-specific search engine. You can put in your address and the website will tell you which food pantries are closest to you.

Food by Community

Lincoln

Lincoln Fresh Food Truck

The Lincoln Fresh Food Truck is a mobile truck that distributes fresh fruits and vegetables in various neighborhoods throughout Lincoln. The Truck is operated by the Lincoln Food Bank. The schedule for the Truck is seasonal and generally operates mid-March through mid-November. No documentation is needed to receive the fresh produce from the Lincoln Food Truck. Each family receives on bag of items from the produce items that is being distributed in the truck that day.

FoodNet Sites

FoodNet gets food from local donors in order to reduce food waste. They provide donated food, free of cost, at local distribution sites throughout Lincoln. See their website for more details about the sites’ locations and operating times.

Little Free Pantries

Little Free Pantries are similar to the Little Free Libraries except that the Little Free Libraries have a ‘take one, leave one’ model whereas the Little Free Pantries are a ‘take as you need’ model. The Little Free Pantries are small structures outdoors that are typically in people’s or organization’s lawns. These little pantries hold food and personal care items that are freely available to whomever needs it. This effort is coordinated by Civic Nebraska. Their website has a list of addresses where Little Free Pantries are available as well as a map of locations.

Ready-made Meals

Catholic Social Services

In addition to the Food Market at Catholic Social Services, which offers individual assistance and a shopping experience for choosing foods from the pantry, they offer a free breakfast lunch program which operates most weekdays. The meals are served by volunteers near the front entrance. They are free, no questions asked, and available on a first come first serve basis.

2241 O Street
Lincoln, NE 68510
(402) 474-1600
Mon-Thurs 9:00am-Noon and 1:00-4:00pm, Fri 9:00am-Noon

Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach

Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach serves ready-made Lunch and Dinner meals daily. Meals are currently available to "dine in" or "take out" and are served from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm and 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm every day. Everyone is welcome to go to Matt Talbot and eat two meals each day. Matt Talbot also has a food pantry items for individuals and families that do not have enough food at home.

2121 N. 27th St.
Lincoln, NE 68503
(402) 477-4116
11:30-12:30pm and 5:30-6:30pm daily

The Gathering Place

Community Action Partnership’s “The Gathering Place” is a house and hospitality center that serves a free evening meal every night from 5:00-6:00pm.

1448 E St
Lincoln, NE 68508
(402) 476-7398
5:00-6:00pm daily

The Food Fort

The Food Fort is a converted school bus along with a trailer that offers a space for youth to engage in after school activities and homework support along with getting free food. The trailer houses a “market” of sorts that have shelves of food available for youth and their families to “shop” for food.

29th & Holdredge on Mondays at 5:30pm
N Chester St & W Dawes Ave on Tuesdays at 5:30pm
13th & Saratoga on Wednesdays at 5:30pm

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