JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With SNAP benefits in limbo, a local church is stepping up to help.
The Bethel Church has been helping the community for decades, so Bishop McKissick Junior and his team have created a store inside the church campus that will help now and in the future.
“This is our SNAP store, and I came up with an acronym, ‘SHOWING NEIGHBORING ACTS OF PROVISION,” said Bishop Rudolph McKissick Junior, Senior Pastor of The Bethel Church in Historic Springfield.
It’s been on Bishop McKissick Junior’s heart to help.
“I said, well I think I’d rather be in the church because the politics are the politics and they are hurting people,” said McKissick Junior.
To help ease the hurt, this SNAP store was created.
McKissick Junior called his team and announced the idea on Sunday and help has been pouring in ever since.
Any kind of non-perishable food you can think of is inside this store.
McKissick Junior says the community is entering the holiday season, and with people laid off from work and furloughed there will still be a need after the holidays. His idea is to keep the store. They’ll even have a place for prayer if someone needs it.
“The church is for community, so anyone whose on SNAP benefits, bring your SNAP card. It doesn’t matter if you’re not in the church, we want you to know we are here for you,” said McKissick Junior.
As we walked from one row to the next, a staff member alerted McKissick Junior to a man at the door. He had a towering stack of donations.
As we walked from one row to the next, a staff member alerted McKissick Junior to a man at the door. He had a towering stack of donations. (Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.)
While there is despair for many, it is also bringing out the compassion in others.
WHEN DOES THE STORE OPEN
Monday, Nov. 10, and Thursday, Nov. 13, and then every Tuesday and Thursday thereafter from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
WHAT TO BRING
SNAP verification
LOCATION
Come to the First Street entrance on the Bethel Church campus and a greeter will help assist you.
Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.