‘Tidal wave of hunger’: Lincoln pantries prepare as food stamp freeze nears

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – One Lincoln man is rushing to prepare as more than 150,000 Nebraskans could soon lose SNAP benefits.

If the government shutdown continues, food stamps will be frozen in November, leaving thousands without benefits.

Demand at Lincoln’s Little Free Pantries is already high, and the people who stock them say things will get much worse if the shutdown isn’t solved.

One of the organizers, Michael Reinmiller, said he’s trying to get all of his ducks in a row for a massive spike in need.

“We know it’s coming,” he said. “It’s like a tidal wave of hunger is coming our way, and we’re already dogpaddling through this ocean of terror.”

Reinmiller said he’s not trying to scare people, but many families in the area are in dire need of food assistance.

“We’re all needing food, so it’s nothing that we should be ashamed of,” he said. “But I think there’s a stigma about being food insecure.”

Right now, Reinmiller and his wife are updating a map to show every single Little Free Pantry in Lincoln.

And he’s reaching out to churches and corporations to spread the word that they need help keeping the shelves stocked.