Food banks and pantries across the state are bracing for a rough period.
At Monday’s gubernatorial COVID-19 press briefing, Executive Director for the Food Bank of Lincoln, Scott Young, says that non-profit organization Feeding America expects a 45% increase in food-insecure people in the next 6 months as the pandemic continues.
“In the state of Nebraska, we have 223,000 food-insecure people. If there’s a 45% increase that would mean a 100,000 addition people who are struggling with hunger ” said Young.
Young says his organization is concerned about the future as he’s noticed supply chains the Lincoln food bank running a bit slow.
“The food pipelines are starting to get a little bit awkward and are kind of choking up a little bit in terms of demand,” said Young. “Food we order now may take 4-6 weeks to show up at our food bank.”
Young notes both rural and urban communities are seeing an increased need.
If residents want to help, they can donate at Lincolnfoodbank.org or Foodbankheartland.org.