OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Federal workers are going without pay and SNAP recipients don’t have their benefits, as we are now in the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history.

Now, food pantries say the need for help is increasing for families and for their pets.

“Out of eight food pantries in Council Bluffs alone we’re the only one that has dog and cat food,” said the Rev. Pastor Doug Rothgeb of Savior’s Lutheran Church in Council Bluffs.

Their church hosts a pet food pantry twice a week in collaboration with the Midlands Humane Society.

The church has seen the use of their pantry double in the last month and one-third of those people also need pet food.

Nikki Cruickshank, the Executive Director of the Midlands Humane Society added, “We have seen an increase in need just in gen

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