As the United States moves into its second month of the government shutdown, families across the nation are struggling to put food on the table.<\/p>\n
The issue was compounded Nov. 1 when the Trump administration failed to release emergency funds for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which helps to feed approximately 42 million Americans each month.<\/p>\n
Although two federal judges have ruled that the Trump administration must continue to fund SNAP, it is unsure if or when those benefits will be allocated to the public.<\/p>\n
In the interim, community organizations, nonprofits and businesses have stepped up to the plate to make sure no one goes hungry in Pinellas County.<\/p>\n
By the numbers<\/p>\n
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP, about 250,000 Tampa Bay area households receive food stamps. Of that number, 39% are children, 20% are seniors and 10% are disabled.<\/p>\n
According to the Pinellas Community Foundation, almost 97,000 Pinellas County residents \u2014 approximately 10%, receive SNAP benefits.<\/p>\n
An annual review by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows that 86% of SNAP recipients have jobs.<\/p>\n
The Area Agency on Aging Pasco-Pinellas estimates that in Pinellas County, more than 24,000 senior households depend on SNAP each month. Statewide, the organization says 12.1% of older adults in Florida live below the poverty line.<\/p>\n
Food insecurity<\/p>\n
Feeding Tampa Bay is a nonprofit that provides food assistance for 10 Tampa Bay counties, including Pinellas, Pasco, Citrus, Hernando, Sumter, Hillsborough, Manatee, Polk, Hardee and Highlands.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur role here at Feeding Tampa Bay is to be here when someone is in a time of crisis, whether it\u2019s a crisis that is going on in your life at the moment or if it\u2019s a crisis that comes to you unexpectedly,\u201d Shannon Hannon-Oliviero, director of public affairs, told Tampa Bay Newspapers. \u201cDuring this government shutdown, people are unexpectedly working for no pay, and also having benefits they depend on in jeopardy, so we are here to make sure we lean into that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The organization, which is headquartered in Tampa, has launched a government shutdown page on its website (https:\/\/feedingtampabay.org\/governmentshutdown<\/a>) with information about where to and how to seek help, but urges those in need to look locally first.<\/p>\n \u201cFolks are struggling. You don\u2019t need to spend money on gas to come to the Causeway Center,\u201d Hannon-Oliviero said, referring to her organization\u2019s main campus in Tampa. \u201cThere is a location near you that will have enough food to get you by.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to its community pantries, the organization also offers hot meals through its Trinity cafes, where anyone can walk in and get served a meal, just like in any other restaurant, for no charge.<\/p>\n To find the closest Feeding Tampa Bay location or partner pantry, visit www.feedingtampabay.org\/findfood<\/a>.<\/p>\n On Oct. 31, the Pinellas Community Foundation announced it would spend $150,000 in emergency funding to support food banks and pantries throughout the county.<\/p>\n \u201cPrivate philanthropy cannot replace government funding,\u201d said Duggan Cooley, the organization\u2019s CEO. \u201cThis is not about substituting for public responsibility. In moments like this, we act to stabilize. Our goal is to help local systems and families hold on until public functions resume.\u201d<\/p>\n Groups receiving emergency funding through the organization include the St. Petersburg Free Clinic, Hope Villages of America, FEAST Food Pantry, Gathering of Women, Florida Dream Center, Tarpon Springs Shepherd Center, Dunedin Cares, Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center and Oldsmar Cares.<\/p>\n The Area Agency on Aging Pasco-Pinellas is also gearing up to help during the shutdown.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are very concerned about how the lack of SNAP benefits will impact seniors,\u201d said Ann Marie Winter, the agency\u2019s executive director. \u201cThis is their most basic need \u2013 food.\u201d<\/p>\n The agency has set aside emergency funds to help and has manned its helpline with additional volunteers to help during the expected influx of calls this month.<\/p>\n You can reach the helpline at 1-800-963-5337 or 727-217-8111.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t know how long this is going to last,\u201d said Winter. \u201cBut AAAPP will continue to look for ways to help our seniors through this difficult time.\u201d<\/p>\n Local pantries prepared to lend a helping \u2018can\u2019<\/p>\n Interfaith Food Pantry director Kathy Burke said she is already seeing an increase in families since the shutdown began Oct. 1.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve already started doing some things because our numbers went up in September to 297 families, which is probably a good 60 or more than we are used to getting,\u201d Burke said. \u201cWe are getting five or six new families every day.\u201d<\/p>\n The pantry, housed at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Seminole, represents the efforts of 10 area churches, including Aldersgate, Faith Community Church, Lake Seminole Presbyterian Church, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Oakhurst United Methodist Church, Saint Francis Ecumenical Catholic Church, Saint Justin Martyr Catholic Church, Saint Matthew Catholic Church, Seminole First Baptist Church and Seminole United Methodist Church.<\/p>\n Burke worries that as the holidays are right around the corner, donors may not be able to give as much as they have in the past.<\/p>\n \u201cThe problem is that the people who normally donate don\u2019t have the means to do so now,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Burke said she has been leaning on their churches to donate more when possible.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a constant worry about what we are going to have,\u201d she said. \u201cSo far, we\u2019ve been OK. Our churches are wonderful. They collect so much food for us.\u201d<\/p>\n The pantry is open three days a week \u2014 Mondays, Tuesday and Thursdays \u2014 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information about the pantry, call 727-392-9365. If you would like to make a donation to the pantry, Burke asks that you drop them off on one of the days it is open. The pantry is at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 9530 Starkey Road.<\/p>\n Kristina Garcia, executive director of Dunedin Cares, a partner of Feeding Tampa Bay that serves north county residents, said she has already seen an influx of new families at the nonprofit pantry.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had quite an increase in October and I\u2019m sure November will be the same,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Garcia said that the organization doesn\u2019t require registration, so she never knows from one week to the next how many people will turn up in need.<\/p>\n \u201cAs far as what to expect, there\u2019s really no way to know what or how many to expect,\u201d she said, adding that she estimates that the pantry could see up to a 25% increase in families needing to use the pantry.<\/p>\n \u201cWe basically just have to figure it out. That\u2019s the way it goes,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Garcia said she has reached out to the organization\u2019s higher donors to prepare for the increase in need, but is gratified by the support of the community.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s definitely a lot of people rallying,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cWe\u2019ve had a lot of merchants reach out to us and let us know they are going to gather for us. People here are always willing to pull together and help when needed.\u201d<\/p>\n