Afghan refugee, father of 10 braces for hunger pains as ‘big beautiful bill’ sets in

The line of people seeking assistance at an Omaha food pantry last November spilled out the door. Pantries and emergency food providers across the state are bracing for additional stress and demand as changes to the SNAP public food assistance set in and nudge some recipients out. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

OMAHA — He said he worked 20 years for U.S. troops in his homeland of Afghanistan, in roles ranging from soldier to cook and interpreter, before his at-risk family was flown out of the country in 2021 as it fell again to the Taliban.

Now age 46 with 10 children, the Afghan refugee works full-time in a Nebraska production job and says $2,100 in monthly public grocery assistance has helped his family make ends meet. He and his wife expected to gain financial independence as thei