PARRAMORE, Fla. – Next month, there may be no food for thousands of families in Central Florida who depend on federal nutrition assistance, according to state officials and local advocates.
The Florida Department of Children and Families has notified recipients that if the federal government shutdown continues into November, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be issued until Congress restores funding.
“It’s going to be chaos big time,” Krista Williams, a Parramore resident, said at Saturday’s community food giveaway. “This is help for now, but I wish they would do more, whatever it’s going to take.”
Williams said she relies on SNAP to stretch her grocery budget each month and worries about neighbors who will be left with nowhere to turn.
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The ongoing government funding impasse threatens nearly 3 million Floridians, including many veterans, seniors, and working families. In seven of Central Florida’s nine counties, at least 10% of households depend on SNAP, with Osceola County approaching 19% of families eligible for the benefit.
[MORE: SNAP delays loom for Florida families amid government shutdown]
The monthly Project 814 pop-up in the Parramore neighborhood of Orlando has seen growing lines, even before the threat of November benefit cuts.
“And so the line you see are all the community, residents coming to get groceries, coming to get fresh fruits, vegetables, a hot meal, a haircut, maybe some possible food,” said Lorainne Woldehanna with the Desire Foundation.
Williams echoed that uncertainty.
“I sure am, I’m sure I need it, it helps me,” she said, adding that while she thinks she’ll be able to make it if SNAP is cut next month, she prays for others.
“It’s hard for a family of even four to maintain food in the house, especially with one person not working, another disabled,” another attendee at the food drive said. “I share with neighbors what I have.”
While uncertainty is mounting, event organizers are urging the public to step up, whether by donating, volunteering, or spreading awareness.
“Everyone can do their part. So we volunteer, we serve in a leadership capacity, but you can come volunteer, you can come donate, you can provide food, you can provide clothes. There’s so many different ways the community can show up,” Woldehanna said.
The monthly pop-up happens on the fourth Saturday of every month.
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