SNAP changes and Treasure Coast Food Bank<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTreasure Coast Food Bank is now warning about proposed federal changes to SNAP and how it could increase food insecurity across Florida. That includes our area. We’re talking about Indian River, Saint Lucie, Martin, Okeechobee counties. Joining me now is Chris *** Garafola, the chief strategy officer of um, excuse me, of the Treasure Coast Food Bank. Thank you so much for being here with us this morning. Um, so talk to us about the proposed SNAP benefits change that I thought it was the ones that went into effect in April because this is completely different. Yeah, so there are changes that went into effect in April that um impact the work requirements, and now there’s more people that don’t qualify for the waivers for the work requirements. So we are working through that and seeing increases in people that. are not able to access benefits, but these changes that could be coming down the pipeline have to do with the error rates. The USDA just announced each state’s error rate, um, which ties back to, um, not necessarily fraud. People think it’s just fraud. If there were any underpayments or overpayments through the program. Um, and any state that has over 6% error rate now has to start contributing to the cost of the food benefit. Up until now, the federal government paid 100% of the food benefit, um, so it’s going to cost the state more money to run this program, which means there could be cuts coming down the pipe. And how would that impact people here in our area who rely on those benefits and then also food banks, so the food banks, um, food assistance and federal nutrition programs, they go hand in hand, and you can’t really have one without the other. One can’t make up for any gaps or lacking in the other programs, so. Um, we anticipate if this goes into effect seeing more people that don’t qualify that are gonna come to the food banks. There’s gonna be more people coming to our food pantries, um, our mobile distributions, and, and like I said, we are not gonna be able to make up for that gap. We, we just can’t, um, so you know, we need more people to, um, support our. Organization to try to do that, but it’s it’s just not going to happen. We really have to work hand in hand with the federal government and when do these proposed changes possibly go into effect and how can people help? So the proposal right now is for them to go into effect in 2027. We are urging Congress to allow the states to take more time to improve their error rates so that perhaps they can, um, you know, have the amount of benefit that they may have to cover come down or maybe just be eliminated if it’s under 6%. So if we could just have some more time. Um, they’re working on it. It has gone down in the last couple of months. It’s just we don’t feel it’s been enough time to really work on that, and people can donate monetary donations or food to the food bank. Yes, um, monetary donations are the best way to impact us because we can buy *** lot more for $10 than you can at the grocery store. So if you go to Stophunger.org, um, click donate, um, you can. Contribute to our mission, help feed people in the community, um, and if you do want to donate some food, there’s information on there on how to donate, how to do *** food drive, and also if you can’t do either of those things, we’d love your time. Perfect. There you go. So Krissa just said she just gave you that website it’s on our website as well, WPBF.com. Just head there and you can download our free WPBF 25 news app and find out how you can help. Thanks so much for being here with us, Krista, talking about this very important, important, important information here. Niki. and\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tTreasure Coast Food Bank stopped by our studio to talk more about how federal changes to SNAP benefits could increase food insecurity across Florida.Stay up to date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25Get the latest weather updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Treasure Coast Food Bank stopped by our studio to talk more about how federal changes to SNAP benefits could increase food insecurity across Florida.<\/p>\n
Stay up to date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25<\/a><\/p>\n