DELAND, Fla. \u2014 Food insecurity across Central Florida is something that\u00a0nonprofits are constantly\u00a0looking to address.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and one of its partners in Volusia County, The Neighborhood Center of West Volusia<\/a>, say demand for food remains high and hasn\u2019t let up.\u00a0<\/p>\n What You Need To Know<\/p>\n Food insecurity continues to be on the rise across Central Florida\u00a0 \u201cThis place is special and we\u2019re happy to help feed our neighbors and individuals that are looking to feed their families,\u201d Savannah-Jane Griffin, CEO of The Neighborhood Center of West Volusia\u00a0said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Savannah-Jane Griffin says\u00a0food needs have increased since\u00a0October, when\u00a0the federal government shutdown\u00a0led to the pause of SNAP benefits.\u00a0<\/p>\n Those\u00a0benefits have\u00a0since\u00a0been reinstated, but she says the cost of food still remains high.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis time last year, we saw about 100 people a day come through our pantry. Now, we\u2019re close to seeing 200 a day coming to get food for the month,\u201d Griffin said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Those impacted the most, Griffin says, are seniors, families, and working adults.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis healthy food is going to help them thrive,\u201d Jackie Nitti, philanthropy officer for Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida,\u00a0said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Nitti says\u00a0if\u00a0food prices\u00a0continue on an upward trend long-term,\u00a0even\u00a0more people\u00a0will\u00a0need assistance.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere are so many families who are really just one paycheck away from not knowing how they\u2019re going to move forward,\u201d Nitti said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nLeaders with The Neighborhood Center of West Volusia in DeLand say\u00a0food needs have increased since\u00a0October\u00a0when\u00a0the federal government shutdown\u00a0led to the pause of SNAP benefits
\nThose\u00a0benefits have\u00a0since\u00a0been reinstated, but\u00a0The Neighborhood Center of West Volusia CEO\u00a0Savannah-Jane Griffin says the cost of food remains high<\/p>\n