LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) -Alongside being one of downtown Lincoln’s most popular restaurants, Muchachos is now taking on a second identity as a food pantry in response to the recent pause of SNAP benefits for thousands in the state.

“We lived off WIC and programs like that when I was really young,” owner Nick Maestas said. “To see so many of our people in our community, our neighbors, struggling...we had to do it.”

Maestas announced the initiative in a post on social media last week, inviting the community to bring in food items for those in need to come take home free of charge. He says the response was bigger than expected. The front of his store is now full of items and even more are stacked high back in his kitchen.

Now, anyone in need of any item can walk in, grab a sack, choose their

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