We Have No Food

Written on Thursdsay, February 5th, 2026

Dear Restoring Dignity Supporters,

This morning, I went to the home of Rohingya refugee family of seven. Mom had recently given birth. Two toddlers adorably waddled around inside. The house was cramped. 15 people lived in the home – one family upstairs and one family in the basement. It wasn’t always like this. Last month, both families lost SNAP due to the passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill. Since they haven’t received their green cards yet, they no longer qualify for SNAP, LIHEAP or ADC (and soon Medicaid starting in October). Both families were brought to the USA in 2024 by our federal government. This was after going through extensive years long vetting by six national security agencies, in addition to meeting the criteria to enter the United States through our refugee admissions program.

Normally, it takes a few years for refugee families to get their foothold in Omaha. Six months after arriving, they begin paying back the government the cost of their airline tickets. For a large family, this can be a significant payment every month. It usually takes a few years for a family to save enough to get a car and reach some modicum of stability. Minimum wage jobs are often the only starting option, due to language barriers. Parents grit their teeth through the struggle, believing that their sacrifice is worth it for their children’s future.

Last month, these two families had to make a difficult decision: become homeless or move in together and share all expenses between their households. They chose the later. This month, they are out of food. To add insult to injury, the $290 they currently receive in SNAP (since the new baby was born in America and still qualifies) was stolen by scammers who placed credit card skimmers around Omaha over the past few months.

“We have no food,” mom told me through a phone interpreter.

This family of seven’s groceries consist of a small amount of food, plus a few items in their refrigerator.

I ask the dad if they have tried going to food pantries. He told me: “We do not have a way to get there, because we cannot afford to buy a car. And when we can get people to drive us, the pantries are closed.” Dad works full-time at a minimum wage job and carpools to work. He and his family are solely reliant on people with vehicles to get him and his family where they need to go.

As we’re talking via the phone interpreter, I notice one of the toddlers. She’s drinking diluted milk in her bottle. I assume it’s because they are almost out of milk and are stretching what they have.

Remaining groceries to feed this family of seven.

Over 3,000 refugees in Omaha are in similar situations like this one, and are losing SNAP as you read this. The cuts started in October and will continue through April, when the final round of the six month SNAP certification cycle ends. Restoring Dignity continues to have families like this one referred into our Feed A Family program. But Feed A Family cannot run without community support.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of Omahans (and people outside of Omaha!), we have been able to distribute $30,366 in grocery gift cards to very vulnerable families thus far. We have about two months left of funding for food support, based on our current list of families needing assistance. And then we will be out.

The only feasible way we can see moving forward is building a strong base of supporters who give $10/month. If we can get 2,500 of our supporters to sign-up as $10/month donors, we can provide $25,000 in food assistance a month. While it cannot help everyone, it can assist some of the most vulnerable refugee families in this city. Every dollar feeds a family. Every dollar counts.

I am asking you to join this group of food donors and give $10/month (or more).

Generous donors have already committed to $1,605 in monthly donations.

Click here to set up your monthly donation

As I leave the family’s home, they thank me for spending time talking with them and trying to figure out solutions. The newborn coos softly as her father rocks her back and forth. I look into the eyes of the infant’s mother, a young woman who must be no older than 26, and wonder how she is handling breastfeeding her baby without consistent nutrition. I wonder how similar this experience is to what she went through in her refugee camp, where hunger often leads to malnutrition. I turn on my car and begin driving away. Tears fall down my face. And I wonder why any of this is happening in the wealthiest country in the world.

Sincerely,

Hannah Vlach

Founder & Executive Director

Restoring Dignity