LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -- Nevada lawmakers allocated more than $30 million Thursday to help feed families who rely on SNAP for food, but officials warn it may not be nearly enough.
More than half a million Nevadans used the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program to buy groceries in 2024. On Saturday, federal funding for SNAP runs out until the government reopens, meaning SNAP benefit cards will stop working at midnight.
Nevada's food banks are racing to stock their shelves to meet the need, but they say it will take time and more money.
Food banks face efficiency challenges
"One of the reasons that SNAP is such an effective hunger relief program is because it's highly efficient. It's a program that simply loads money onto cards that then individuals, families can use at their leisure and in grocery stores supporting our economy," said Three Square President and CEO Beth Martino. "We have to get food in the door, which we are already doing. And then we have to get it back out the door and into the homes of the neighbors all across Nevada. And that takes time. So it's not as efficient. And that's one of the challenges that we'll face."
Lawmakers also approved another $20,000 to help military families who are going without a paycheck due to the shutdown.
Demand surge strains resources
Over the past four months, food banks have seen a 16 percent increase in visits, with the majority of people coming for the first time. Officials say they've seen the biggest surge over the past 29 days. It costs around $90 million a month to keep those families fed.
The president of Three Square, which provides food to residents of Clark, Nye, Lincoln and Esmeralda counties, told lawmakers the transfer will help but won't go very far.
"First is that this is exactly what the food banks are here to do. So absolutely, these resources are meaningful. And we will move as quickly as possible to get them into the community," Martino said. "But I'm always going to be honest, this is not enough to meet the need. And there's probably no way that philanthropy can fill this gap. The answer is to reopen the government and run these programs as intended."
Three Square calls for community support
In a statement issued in response to the government shutdown and state funding, Martino said the organization is grateful for Nevada's emergency funding.
"Three Square is incredibly grateful to the State of Nevada for stepping up with emergency funding. These dollars will help us buy more food and get it out into the community quickly, which is exactly what's needed right now," Martino said. "When people can't count on federal programs like SNAP to put food on the table, the need grows quickly, and that's what we're seeing across Southern Nevada. This state support will make a real difference, but philanthropy alone can't fill the gap that's being created by the federal shutdown. We need the federal government to get back up and running so those programs can resume."
Martino said her organization will continue operating while asking for community donations.
"In the meantime, Three Square will keep doing what we do best, getting food to families who need it. And we're asking the community to stand with us. Every donation helps us keep our trucks on the road, our warehouse stocked, and food on our neighbors' tables," she said. "Together, we can make sure no one in Southern Nevada goes hungry."
More than half a million Nevadans rely on SNAP to feed their families. Come Saturday, their only option will be to turn to food banks. Officials warn people to prepare for long lines and say it could take up to 12 weeks for pantries to restock their empty shelves.