Even before the government shutdown brought stark visibility to the necessity of SNAP benefits for people who are at risk, Nebraska Panhandle organizations and nonprofits were organizing to address food insecurity. The recently-formed Food Access Coalition is comprised of about two dozen community organizations and individuals.
As the federal budget crisis loomed and expanded, the group focused on inventorying current resources, figuring out how to share the information, and addressing gaps in the system. This included making contacts to update existing lists of churches with food pantries, places providing free meals and other organizations providing aid, along with the capacity of each list member. It’s a big job: the list encompasses an 11-county area. Members also collaborate to offer space or any other resources like printing or email distribution and information sharing to extend the reach of individual organizations.
Churches are a main resource for people in western Nebraska communities who need help and may not already be connected to social services. The Food Access Coalition sprang from the existing structure of the Cooperative Ministries group, a cross-denominational group with a long history of working together to address issues like homelessness and poverty in the Panhandle. Members of the Coalition include but are not limited to:
- Panhandle Public Health
- Cooperative Ministries
- Scottsbluff Volunteer Center
- The Aging Office of Western Nebraska
- Community Action Program of Western Nebraska (CAPWN)
- Disability Rights Nebraska
- United Way of Western Nebraska
- Western Community Health Resources
- Center for Rural Affairs
- Meals on Wheels
- 11:13 Ministries
- Weekend Backpack Program – Cat Packs & Pup Packs (Scottsbluff & Gering Public Schools)
- Senior Centers
- Early Head Start, Head Start and Local Preschools
- Cirrus House
- DOVES - Sexual, Domestic & Dating Violence Services & Prevention
- Youth Centers
- Educational Service Units (ESU’s) & School Districts.
Several of the partners work with the local migrant farmworker population through their individual programs, and Panhandle Public Health is the current convenor for the Coalition.
Our advocate’s goal, and the goal of all the partners, is to develop a broad enough network of contacts and knowledge of their specialties that they can provide a warm handoff to anyone calling who needs a referral. Their research has shown that a person in need will typically only make two phone calls before giving up. That may be due to their work schedule, access to a phone, or simply time and energy. But if a coalition member can do a little bit of groundwork after receiving the initial call and connect them with a person they’ve confirmed may be able to provide assistance, the interaction is much more likely to be successful.
For the group’s inaugural meeting, The Center for Rural Affairs coordinated Ken Meter to present data from the 2024 Nebraska Panhandle Local Farm & Food Economy Report. After his presentation, the partners collaborated to conduct a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the Panhandle food systems as they currently operate.
Members considered questions such as,
- What are we doing well in our local food systems (including food banks and meals) programs?
- What isn't meeting the community's needs?
- What new services, partnerships, or programs could help?
- What community or regional conditions make food access complicated?
The Coalition’s work rests on a deep foundation of cooperation and collaboration in an area of the state known for its wide-open spaces and distance between communities and resources. As the partners flex to address the current challenges, they continue to build on that foundation with an eye toward the future. With a keen awareness of the intersection of disability and income restriction, Disability Rights Nebraska is proud to be a part of this local process.
This article is based on a conversation with Mindy Larson, Community Outreach Disability Advocate. Mindy staffs the Disability Rights Nebraska Scottsbluff office that serves the Panhandle area of the state and the bordering eastern counties. Mindy has been with the organization since 2011.
Community Engagement Director Sharon Ohmberger cherishes the annual opportunity to travel west, meet with her colleague and community members in person, explore connections and build relationships as part of our Outreach work. For more information about our outreach focus areas, contact Sharon at 402-413-2016.
