Jacksonville-area nonprofits that offer emergency food assistance have dealt with increasing demand for months, even before the Oct. 1 federal government shutdown.
Now they are expecting a new surge of people seeking help because of the likely funding suspension of two federal programs that provide food for low-income people.
The network of food pantries supplied by Feeding Northeast Florida, the Jacksonville-based regional food bank, was “already stretched thin due to earlier federal funding cuts,” CEO Susan King said. Since the shutdown, “we’ve seen demand surge dramatically.”
If food benefits for low-income people run out as well, she said, “the crisis will intensify significantly. Adding a surge … to the already increased demand from the shutdown would create an unprecedented hunger emergency.”
Malea Guiriba, founder and CEO of Pie in the Sky, a nonprofit working to end senior hunger in St. Johns County, said her conversations with needy seniors are “terrifying and heartbreaking.”
“The last senior I spoke to … when I asked how she was fixed for food today, she said what so many seniors who call say, ‘Oh, I’m OK. I have half a cucumber, a little bit of canned tuna and some peanut butter.’ That’s not OK in our book,” she said.
The Jacksonville area has many food banks, food pantries and other food assistance programs. Some require advance sign-ups and income screenings, others do not. Some offer weekly food, others monthly. Because of the increased demand, all need influxes of food and monetary donations and volunteers.
Here’s some things to know:
What federal food programs are being suspended?
The two programs are the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, or WIC.
Formerly called food stamps, SNAP is a federal anti-hunger program for low-income individuals and families. It provides food, including fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy and seeds and plants to grow food, and other items such as pet food, paper products and soap.
At the LJD Jewish Family & Community Services Max Block Food Pantry in Jacksonville, a volunteer, left, helps a young family get food items.
WIC provides nutrition support, including healthy foods, for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, as well as infants and children under five years old who are at nutritional risk.
SNAP and WIC payments for November are on hold because of the federal government shutdown and Congressional deadlock.
About 3 million Floridians receive SNAP benefits, about 400,000 are in the WIC program. State Rep. Angie Nixon of Jacksonville recently urged Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency and release emergency funds to support those families.
“Millions of families are about to lose access to food. Shelves are going empty. Kids will go hungry,” she wrote in an Oct. 27 Facebook post. “This is preventable, but we need action now.”
Where can people get food in the Jacksonville area?
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Feeding Northeast Florida
The food bank supplies free walk-up mobile food pantries in Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Levy, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns and Union counties. For times and locations, check out this monthly schedule feedingnefl.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FNEFL-MobilePantrySchedule-2025.pdf.
Also the food bank has an online tool — feedingnefl.org/find-food-now — that allows users to enter their address to find the closest pantries.
Sparsely filled shelves at the Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida food pantry await donations, amid increased demand because of the federal government shutdown.
“Across our 12-county region, partner agencies are reporting increases in need of up to 100% compared with last year,” King said. Distribution numbers have doubled at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport, she said.
“We’re activating every emergency response resource we have, but the scale of potential need if SNAP benefits are cut would far exceed our current capacity,” King said.
For more information, go to feedingnefl.org or call (904) 513-1333.
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Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida
“Need was already expected to grow as the holiday season approaches, but the government shutdown has created a crisis that will worsen” when SNAP and WIC funds run out, said Jennifer Barrett, chief development officer for LSS.
The nonprofit’s food pantry is currently distributing food in the back of the building at 4615 Philips Highway 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments are required: go to lssjax.org/pantry. For more information, go to lssjax.org/food.
Also, the Jacksonville Humane Society’s pet food bank is located at LSS. For more information, go to jaxhumane.org/pet-help/pet-owner-assistance
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LJD Jewish Family & Community Services
At the nonprofit’s Max Block Food Pantry on Tuesday, 124 households were served, compared to the usual 40 to 50, said Marilyn Darius, financial assistance and food pantry manager.
“Local families … are feeling the effects of the government shutdown,” she said. “Without SNAP, they’ll face difficult choices between putting food on the table or paying essential bills like electricity. We are ready to step in and help so they don’t have to make that decision. “
Food bags are readied for distribution at the Catholic Charities Jacksonville food pantry, which has had a 20% increase in clients since the federal government shutdown Oct. 1.
The pantry, which serves the entire Jacksonville community, is open 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6261 Dupont Station Court East, off St. Augustine Road. For more information, go to jfcsjax.org/services/max-block-food-pantry.
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Catholic Charities Jacksonville
Catholic Charities’ food pantry has had a 20% increase in clients since the shutdown and expects that number to rise if benefits are suspended, according to Regional Director Eileen Seuter.
“These are working families with children, single mothers, seniors and those just trying to make ends meet,” she said.
The nonprofit’s pantry distributes food at 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays for up to 60 people at 1430 Bernita St. in Arlington. A recent new addition is a monthly mobile distribution for seniors — next stop is 9:30 a.m. Nov. 17 at the Bennie Furlong Beaches Senior Center, 281 19th Ave. S. in Jacksonville Beach.
For more information, go to ccbjax.org/food-assistance or call (904) 354-4846.
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UCOM (United Community Outreach Ministry)
The nonprofit’s food pantry, which serves about 1,200 people a week, has had a recent 21% increase in the number of people coming there for the first time, according to Executive Director Sara Mitchell.
The first-timers are “not wanting to ‘take’ from others that might need it more, but not wanting to go without themselves,” she said. One recipient told pantry staff, “‘Losing my job would have been easier. It’s not knowing and being strung along that makes it tough,'” she said.
“This doesn’t have to be catastrophic,” Mitchell said. “SNAP covers food and pantries will cover that for them — as much as they need — until the benefits resume.”
The UCOM food pantry is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday at 3349 St. Augustine Road in Jacksonville. Appointments are required: call (904) 396-2401 or email [email protected].
Pie in the Sky (St. Johns County seniors only)
Even before the shutdown, federal funding cuts led to 238 new senior clients and increasing the nonprofit’s food delivery routes from 53 to 73, Guiriba said.
About 225, or 27%, of the nonprofit’s total 823 senior clients receive some SNAP benefits, she said.
“For the seniors we serve and those to come, it means an increased risk of skipping meals, ending the month with empty shelves, increased vulnerability to chronic illnesses, and of course, a heavier burden on safety-net agencies like Pie,” she said.
To apply for help, call (904) 382-9939. For more information, go to pieintheskystjohns.org.
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Jacksonville Military Affairs and Veterans Department
The city’s Military Affairs and Veterans Department offers free food giveaways for active duty military families with military IDs. Here are upcoming distributions:
Mayport Food Farmacy (every second Thursday of the month) —10 a.m. to noon, 390 Mayport Road, Atlantic Beach
NAS Jax Food Farmacy (every fourth Tuesday of the month) — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 25, 5391 Collins Road, Jacksonville.
Check jacksonville.gov/departments/military-affairs-and-veterans-department/events/all-events for future distributions.
This pantry, which serves the broad Mandarin community, is open 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11730 Old St. Augustine Road in Jacksonville. For more information, go to themandarinfoodbank.com/where-to-go-for-help, call (904) 292-1675 or email [email protected].
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Arlington Community Services
This 1450 Rogero Road nonprofit includes a food pantry for people who live in the Arlington area. Appointments are required: call (904)503-8496 between 8 and 9:00 a.m. Mon through Friday or email [email protected].
Are there other food assistance options?
Many area churches, shelters and other organizations throughout Jacksonville host their own food pantries or offer emergency food services. Go to findhelp.org and plug in your ZIP code for a list or call the United Way of Northeast Florida’s help line at 2-1-1.
Florida Times-Union news partner First Coast News contributed to this report.
[email protected], (904) 359-4109
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Deluge of SNAP recipients expected at Jacksonville-area food pantries
