MIAMI (WSVN) – Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava rallied food bank partners and urged the community to donate food and other items ahead of a federal funding deadline for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

At an event in Miami, Levine Cava addressed the impact of food stamps benefits being cut off starting Nov. 1 on half a million Miami-Dade residents across the area, especially the elderly and low-income families.

“Nearly one-in-four of our households in Miami-Dade County that depend upon SNAP,” she said.

The county mayor was joined by local nonprofit organizations such as Feeding South Florida and Farm Share.

Farm Share CEO Stephen Shelley said the current situation is already dire as food banks try to feed federal workers who have gone unpaid due to the ongoing government shutdown, which has now lasted for nearly a month.

“Things are already dire. You got a government shutdown, you got federal workers who don’t have access to food, and we, as food banks, are trying to meet that need already, and we are struggling,” he said. “It is the first time that I’m concerned that I don’t have the resources I need.”

Despite the situation, Shelley says his organization is planning 42 food distribution events and will use county data to target areas where SNAP recipients live.

Feeding South Florida’s Paco Velez talked about how losing this funding will impact people as well as Florida’s economy.

“SNAP benefits are the first line of defense against hunger, and if we lose those benefits, not only will families go hungry, but more than $5 to $6 billion in revenue a year comes to Florida through SNAP benefits, which are going to affect our grocery stores, retail stores, and convenience stores,” said Velez.

He had two messages for residents: if they need help, ask for it and if they can help, to do so.

Calling it an all hands on deck situation, Levine Cava outlined an emergency food distribution plan in collaboration with these nonprofit organizations and asked residents to pitch in if they can.

“To all our residents who are able, we ask that you donate what you can. We are going to coordinate, to make sure that there’s a one-stop place for information where people can go to get the help or to give the help,” she said.

She added that despite the bickering in Washington over the shutdown, Miami-Dade is stepping up.

“These are our children, families, grandparents, neighbors, workforce, and we need everybody to step up and treat this as the true emergency that it is,” said Levine Cava. “I’m losing sleep, we’re all losing sleep. This situation is just beyond our worst imaginations.”

Up north in Broward, Meals on Wheels officials say they’ve already seen a spike in applications from homebound seniors this week.

“They don’t have to go to sleep at night hungry. That’s why we’re here,” said Wendy Bourgault with Meals on Wheels South Florida. “We know that there are people out there that are just barely hanging on.”

Back in Miami, Levine Cava pleaded with Congress to reach a deal before millions across the country are impacted.

“Please, see pass the politics and get this done,” she said.

Late Wednesday afternoon, U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez responded to Levine Cava’s press conference. He said it was Democrats’ fault for the loss of food benefits.

“It is [New York Senator] Chuck Schumer and the Democrats in the Senate that have closed the government and have put at risk the SNAP benefits to millions of Americans,” he said.

Gimenez added the best way forward is to open the government.

“Let’s get back to work for the American people, open the government and make sure that millions of Americans also don’t suffer the loss of their SNAP benefits,” he said.

Florida Democrats have called on Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency and free up funds for SNAP, something other states have already done. As of Wednesday afternoon, it remains unclear what he will do.

For more information on ways to volunteer or donate food or money to Feeding South Florida, click here. You can also find other organizations accepting donations here.

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