IN OKEECHOBEE COUNTY. WE REACHED OUT TO SOME OF OUR FOOD BANKS TO FIND OUT HOW THEY PLAN TO FILL THE NEED, AND WHERE THOSE IN NEED CAN GO FOR HELP. WE ALSO ASKED THEM THE QUESTION ON A LOT OF PEOPLE’S MINDS HOW CAN WE HELP? REPORTER ANGELA ROZIER HAS ALL THE ANSWERS. WELL, WE STOPPED BY SEVERAL FOOD BANKS HERE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY ARE DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE READY FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED. VOLUNTEERS AT THE PALM BEACH COUNTY FOOD BANK ARE DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE DON’T GO HUNGRY. THE CEO SAYS 160,000 PEOPLE HERE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY ARE ON TRACK TO LOSE ACCESS TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OR SNAP. SHE SAYS THE FOOD BANK IS WORKING TO FILL THE SHELVES AND TELL PEOPLE WHERE THEY CAN GO TO GET HELP. NOW, VOLUNTEERS ARE ALSO KEEPING BUSY AT THE FEEDING SOUTH FLORIDA WAREHOUSE IN BOYNTON BEACH. THE CEO AND PRESIDENT SAYS THEY’RE WORKING WITH THEIR DONORS TO MEET THE NEED. HE SAYS THEY ALSO HAVE SOME FUNDING AVAILABLE FROM THE LOCAL FOOD PURCHASE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND THEY’RE DISCUSSING IS HOURS. IF SNAP BENEFITS END. NOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN HELP, OR IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, JUST LOG ON TO OUR WEBSITE WPBF.COM AND CLICK ON
‘Hearing a lot of panic’: South Florida and Treasure Coast food banks brace for loss of SNAP benefits
Updated: 5:42 PM EDT Oct 31, 2025
Thousands of SNAP recipients in South Florida are facing the potential loss of their benefits, prompting local food banks to step up efforts to provide support and resources. Volunteers at the Palm Beach County Food Bank are actively working to ensure that people do not go hungry. “Well, we’re hearing a lot of panic, is what we are hearing,” Jamie Kendall, CEO of the Palm Beach County Food Bank, said. Kendall said 160,000 people in the county receive SNAP assistance. “Many rely on this help every month, expressing concern about filling the gap,” Kendall said.Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 NewsThe food bank is focused on stocking shelves and guiding people on where to find help. “So, what we are able to do is talk to folks, find out what area of town they live in, what area in Palm Beach County, and then we can partner them with our contacts, our partners of when and where they are doing their distributions,” Kendall said.SNAP ASSISTANCE: Local organizations helping seniors as worry over SNAP benefits increasesVolunteers are also busy at the Feeding South Florida warehouse in Boynton Beach. Paco Velez, CEO and president, said they are collaborating with donors to address the need. “Palm Beach County is the largest agricultural producing county this side of the Mississippi. Combine that with Miami Dade County, and it’s harvest season now, so we’re asking our growers to help meet that need,” Velez said. He added that they have funding from the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program and are considering extending hours if SNAP benefits end. “In the state of Florida, those benefits are staggered, so not everybody’s going to lose benefits on Nov 1st. So we’re going to be available in our Boynton facility Monday through Friday, and we’ll most likely open Saturday if nothing changes,” Velez said.For more information about finding assistance or how you can help, log on to the websites below:PALM BEACH COUNTY FOOD BANKFEEDING SOUTH FLORIDATREASURE COAST FOOD BANKStay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. —
Thousands of SNAP recipients in South Florida are facing the potential loss of their benefits, prompting local food banks to step up efforts to provide support and resources.
Volunteers at the Palm Beach County Food Bank are actively working to ensure that people do not go hungry.
“Well, we’re hearing a lot of panic, is what we are hearing,” Jamie Kendall, CEO of the Palm Beach County Food Bank, said.
Kendall said 160,000 people in the county receive SNAP assistance.
“Many rely on this help every month, expressing concern about filling the gap,” Kendall said.
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
The food bank is focused on stocking shelves and guiding people on where to find help.
“So, what we are able to do is talk to folks, find out what area of town they live in, what area in Palm Beach County, and then we can partner them with our contacts, our partners of when and where they are doing their distributions,” Kendall said.
SNAP ASSISTANCE: Local organizations helping seniors as worry over SNAP benefits increases
Volunteers are also busy at the Feeding South Florida warehouse in Boynton Beach.
Paco Velez, CEO and president, said they are collaborating with donors to address the need.
“Palm Beach County is the largest agricultural producing county this side of the Mississippi. Combine that with Miami Dade County, and it’s harvest season now, so we’re asking our growers to help meet that need,” Velez said.
He added that they have funding from the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program and are considering extending hours if SNAP benefits end.
“In the state of Florida, those benefits are staggered, so not everybody’s going to lose benefits on Nov 1st. So we’re going to be available in our Boynton facility Monday through Friday, and we’ll most likely open Saturday if nothing changes,” Velez said.
For more information about finding assistance or how you can help, log on to the websites below:
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25