ORLANDO, Fla. – With the pause in SNAP benefits, delayed pay for some federal workers, and rising grocery prices, food pantries across Central Florida say demand for donations is surging.
For people who work during the day, however, finding time to attend a food drive can be difficult. That’s why the North Orlando Seventh-day Adventist Church is offering a nighttime food distribution, helping families who can’t make it to traditional daytime events.
“I work in the daytime, so it’s perfect,” said Shanoi Reid, a mother of two who stopped by after getting off work. “I just got off at 5:30 p.m. and came right on over.”
Reid said her family relies on food assistance after temporarily losing SNAP benefits.
“I normally get them, but right now I’m not,” she said. “This was a good resource for us.”
Others waiting in line shared similar struggles of working full-time jobs but still not qualifying for government aid.
“They said I make too much at $18.50 an hour,” one mother of six said. “I work, but I don’t make enough to afford everything.”
Pastor Gregory Carol said the evening distribution is designed for convenience, allowing families to stay in their vehicles while volunteers load boxes of food.
“Food insecurity hits everybody,” he said. “Not just the unemployed. There are a lot of people who have their regular jobs and still need help.”
Organizers said they packed about 150 boxes of food but ran out halfway through the event, forcing them to prepare more to meet demand.
Director of Community Services Cheryl-Ann Duncan said the church chose Wednesday evenings specifically because most nearby food pantries operate only in the mornings.
“We were very strategic,” she said. “We looked at all the other pantries in the area. Most of them were mornings, so we wanted to fill that gap.”
By the end of the night, volunteers said more than 200 vehicles passed through the drive-thru line.
Organizers said if SNAP benefits remain paused and grocery costs continue to rise, they expect to see even more people in need at their next evening food drive.
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