The Trump Administration will partially fund benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, but it's currently unclear when beneficiaries will receive their payments.
The Food Bank of Northern Nevada gave food to over 500 families at a drive-thru distribution on Saturday to address growing need. Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada has multiple ongoing programs open to anyone.
"We know that SNAP benefits have a certain degree of uncertainty," said Marie Baxter, CEO of Catholic Charities.
Catholic Charities will serve hot dinners at St. Vincent's Dining Room every weekend through November.
"It's a complete meal," Baxter said. "We had spaghetti and meatballs. We had macaroni and cheese and ham. We had chicken pot pies. It's going to be something that's really approachable and friendly for everybody."
Families can stop by every Friday through Sunday between 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to get a free meal.
The group is also holding a baby formula drive for parents with small children. You just need to bring your child's birth certificate to Catholic Charities at Fourth Street and Valley Road.
Baxter said the nonprofit is extending this help to rural Nevada.
"We visit as far as Ely. We're up in Elko. We do a lot of micro distributions to the very small communities across the entire state," she said.
A local chef is also partnering with the Food Bank of Northern Nevada to collect cash donations.
"We got together with a bunch of other business leaders and said, 'how can we affect this?' And we came up with the 'One Table, One Nevada,'" said Mark Estee.
Estee is the CEO of Local Food Group. LFG owns a handful of restaurants around town, including Great Basin Brewery and Liberty Food and Wine Exchange.
He said all donations will be matched, so every dollar given will pay for six meals.
LFG is hanging flyers with a QR code to donate in its restaurants and other local food stops. Estee said any business can partner with them too.
"From real estate agents to construction companies to coffee shops to restaurants to retail shops, you name it," he said, "we can all get involved to help."
Baby formula donations can be made at any Catholic Charities donation center.
You can click here to donate to One Table, One Nevada.
