Local Organizations Prepared for a Potential SNAP Suspension

Millions of low-income Floridians rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to get essential groceries. With the government shutdown approaching nearly a month, SNAP benefits were scheduled to be suspended Saturday.  

Twenty-five state governments collectively sued the Trump Administration Tuesday because it chose to halt SNAP assistance. 

In the hours before two federal judges ruled that federal food subsidies must continue, several Tampa Bay area organizations and restaurants were prepared to deal with a worst-case scenario. 

Nonprofit St. Pete Free Clinic was already seeing the impacts of the situation. The organization’s pantry locations serve over 30,000 people monthly. The number of individuals have increased recently, said executive director Jennifer Yeagley. 

Over the last two weeks, the organization has served approximately 700 more people.  Roughly 65 percent of these individuals were first-time visitors. 

SPFC plans to extend operation hours for its We Help FRESH pantry, at 863 3rd Ave North on Tuesday evenings. 

Two mobile food distributions are scheduled for next month, Yeagley added. An event in partnership with BayCare and the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County will be held at BayCare’s Clearwater corporate office, at 2985 Drew St., Nov. 8. 

A drive-through event is also scheduled Nov. 22 at the We Help FRESH pantry. 

“What we are committed to doing is monitoring what the need looks like in real-time so that we can then continue to make adjustments and expand services as needed in where we’re seeing the highest spikes,” she said. 

Karen Rae, executive director of nonprofit Positive Impact ST. PETE, wants families and individuals to know that it’s okay to ask for assistance. 

“During this period of time, it’s humbling for people to have to come out and seek support,” she said. “We want to give those families that are faced with hard times the dignity and support that they deserve to be given.” 

The nonprofit, in collaboration with organization partners including St. Pete Free Clinic, hosts a free grocery distribution event every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Tangerine Plaza (1794 22nd St. S.). 

Pia’s Trattoria, located in Gulfport, was planning on offering a free meal starting Saturday for families in need. 

“This government shutdown is affecting some of our neighbors like the hurricanes we went through last year,” said owner Pia Goff. “People are scared and need to know that the community is there for them. If we all help together, we are all better for it. It’s simple, really.”

St. Petersburg-based Love Thy Neighbor Community Market owner Joanne Braccio was also already starting to see the effects of a potential suspension. She said her food pantry got “hit really hard” Thursday with long lines.

Tampa-based Skipper’s Smokehouse is another restaurant that was willing to help local families. It planned to offer free kids meals Thursday through Sunday until SNAP benefits were restored. Additionally, the restaurant partnered with nonprofit Feeding Tampa Bay to collect non-perishable food supplies for community members. 

“It’s not about politics – it has absolutely zero to do with that for us. It just has to do with being present for our community,” managing partner Cricket Larson said. 

“There’s no way for us to embrace all of the folks who are going to need help. We can’t afford to do that. But the thought of a child, who can’t fend for themselves and is at the mercy of adults, going to bed hungry is just not something I could do nothing with.” 

Read the article as originally published at https://stpetecatalyst.com/local-organizations-prepared-for-a-potential-snap-suspension/