HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - The Salvation Army in Hastings is experiencing challenges with food procurement as it navigates a transition in payment systems and declining donations, while many residents face the suspension of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits due to the ongoing government shutdown.

SNAP benefits across Nebraska, and the country, are being paused as a result of the government shutdown, according to the state’s Department of Health and Human Services. The USDA notified DHHS that federally funded SNAP benefits will be delayed if the shutdown continues into November.

Data from the USDA shows that nearly 42 million Americans rely on SNAP benefits each month to buy food. More than half of those households have children, and according to the AARP over 11 million seniors use SNAP to purchase food as well. Over 150,000 Nebraskans rely on the program.

The timing creates additional pressure on local food pantries like the Hastings Salvation Army, which has seen a decrease in donations in recent months and has relied on purchasing food from retailers like Walmart when needed. However, their ability to make those purchases from Walmart will be interrupted Friday when their current corporate payment program ends.

Walmart currently provides special cards that corporations and nonprofits can use for purchases, but that program ends Oct. 31. The Hastings Salvation Army must apply for Walmart’s new program before it can resume bulk purchases at the retailer.

“Right now, the Salvation Army, the Central Territory, has adopted a stance where we don’t have just a regular corporate credit card that we use,” said Captain Joseph Irvine of the Hastings Salvation Army. “So, they’ve always been store specific. Which Walmart has had so far, up until the 31st, just had a program where we could do that. And now they’re just not carrying that anymore.”

Irvine said he doesn’t know all the details about why Walmart is ending the current program, but acknowledged it will have an impact on the organization in the short term.

The organization has had to rely more heavily on purchased food due to declining donations from longtime supporters.

“Some of the longtime donors that we have had, their life situations have changed. And so they haven’t been able to donate,” Irvine said. “So we’ve seen individual private donations of food really drop off. And so we’ve been working to find, okay, well, what are we going to do to be able to purchase food?”

The decline in donations has left the organization with limited resources. Currently, Captain Irvine estimates the Hastings Salvation Army has enough food to serve fewer than 15 families. The organization could use donations of unexpired food to help meet community needs.