Where to find free food in Tallahassee, Big Bend as shutdown cuts off SNAP, food stamps

Fearing the “greatest food scarcity since the Depression,” state Rep. Allison Tant has been on a mission to ensure residents in her district won’t go hungry when food assistance benefits are cut off on Nov. 1 amid the ongoing government shutdown.

Tant, a Democrat representing Tallahassee and the surrounding area, said she’s working closely with local food banks, churches, and community groups to prepare for what could be a devastating wave of need when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits lapse next week.

“All of the food banks are ramping up to attempt to step in the gap, but it will not be enough,” Tant said in a Facebook post. “What is really going on is that D.C. politicians are playing chicken with the lives of Americans.”

The looming suspension of SNAP – also known as food stamps – comes as Congress remains deadlocked over federal spending. With no budget agreement in place, key nutrition programs have been left without funding, putting millions of families at risk of losing access to food assistance that helps them buy groceries each month.

From USA TODAY: SNAP benefits won’t go out Nov. 1. ‘The well has run dry,’ USDA says.

SNAP currently supports more than 40 million Americans, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities. Analysts warn that if the shutdown continues past Nov. 1, grocery stores could see a sharp drop in sales, rural farmers could lose a key market for their crops, and food pantries that are already operating at capacity could be overwhelmed.

Tant said the ripple effects will touch everyone, from farmers to truck drivers to grocery clerks.

“If you can’t care about hungry children, seniors and people with disabilities who are the majority of individuals on SNAP, then please care about the farmers who grow the food, or the people who process it and move it to stores,” she said. “SNAP users are our neighbors and are shopping right beside you.”

Ss the shutdown drags on and federal aid stalls, local relief networks are bracing for an unprecedented surge in need. Here’s where residents in the Big Bend region can turn to for help (as compiled by Rep Tant’s staff):

Community food distribution event

On Saturday, Nov. 1, Second Harvest of the Big Bend will be teaming up with local organizations and WTXL for an emergency food distribution to feed 1,000 families. It will be at Governors Square Mall in the Sears’ parking lot beginning at 7 a.m. Tant says every $1 donation to Second Harvest at fightinghunger.org/donate-today allows them to purchase four meals for needy families.

Leon County Food Distribution Sites

• Saints In Unity/Mt. Moriah COGIU (Call for availability)2719 Lake Mary St., Tallahassee, FL 32304

• Life Deliverance Ministries (9–10 am, 2nd/3rd Sat)3377 Jim Lee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32301

• Salvation Army (9 am–12 pm, Mon/Thurs)2410 Allen Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32302

• Good Samaritan Network (10:30 am–12:30 pm, M–F)2706 North Monroe St, Tallahassee, FL 32303

• CESC (7:30–8:30 am, 11:30 am–12:30 pm, 3–3:30 pm, 6–7 pm)2650 Municipal Way, Tallahassee, FL 32304

• Elder Care Services (Seniors Only; 8:30 am–5 pm, M–F)2518 W Tennessee Street, Tallahassee, FL 32304

• Freedom Church (FAOG) (4–6 pm, Wed)2801 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308

• TLH Housing Authority (12–4 pm, 1st Tues / 10–11 am, 1st Fri)2940 Grady Road, Tallahassee, FL 32312

• Frenchtown Improvement Assn. (10 am–12 pm, Fri)524 N MLK Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32301

• Grace Mission Episcopal Church (Check website)303 W Brevard Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301

• Bond Community Health Center (9–11 am, 2–4 pm; M–Th)1720 S Gadsden St, Tallahassee, FL 32301

• FAMU Student Health (11 am–2 pm, W–Th)1735 Wahnish Way, Tallahassee, FL 32307

• Tallahassee Urban League (9–10 am Mon/Fri, 7–8 am T–Th)923 Old Bainbridge Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32303

• Good News Outreach (9 am–2 pm, W–Th)606 W 4th Avenue, Tallahassee FL 32303

• Philadelphia’s Foundation (9–11 am, 2nd Wed)840 Dunn St, Tallahassee, FL 32304

• Walker Ford Community Center (10 am–1 pm, Wed)2301 Pasco St, Tallahassee, FL 32310

• Greater Love COGIC (10 am–12 pm, 3rd/4th Sat)524 E Orange Ave, Tallahassee, FL 32301

• Anderson Chapel AME (9 am–12 pm, 3rd Sat)1307 Harlem St, Tallahassee, FL 32304

• TLH Housing Authority (12–4 pm, Thurs)1702 Joe Louis St, Tallahassee, FL 32304

• Tabernacle Missionary Baptist (12–2:30 pm, 3rd Wed)615 Tuskegee St, Tallahassee, FL 32305

• Palmer Munroe Teen Center (11 am–2 pm, Tues)1900 Jackson Bluff Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32304

• Jacob Chapel Baptist Church (1:30–2:30 pm, 1st T–Th)2333 Lake Bradford Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32310

• A New Day Initiative (8–9 am, 2nd Sat)1317 High Road, Tallahassee, FL 32304

• Maranatha S.D.A. Church (3–6 pm, 2nd Wed)3121 Jim Lee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32301

• Mission Possible Enrichment Center (9–11 am, 4th Sat)2532 West Tharpe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32303

• Catholic Charities (9 am–12 pm, T–Th)1380 Blountsville Hwy, Tallahassee, FL 32304

• Mt. Pisgah AME Church (9–11 am, 3rd Sat)2009 Tram Road, Tallahassee, FL 32311

• Imitators of God (8:30–10 am, 3rd Sat)4750 Capital Circle SE, Tallahassee, FL 32311

• Fernwood Baptist Church (8:30–9:30 pm, Wed)1324 Fernwood Road, Tallahassee, FL 32304

• Tallahassee Spanish SDA Church (10 am–3 pm, Wed/Fri)4823 N Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32303

• Tabernacle of Praise (4–6 pm, Tues/all but 1st Fri)170 Geddie Road, Tallahassee, FL 32304

• Farm Share – Destiny Church (Oct 30th, 8–9 am)5295 Corwin Dr, Tallahassee, FL 32305

• Farm Share – Supervisor of Elections (Nov 8th, 8–9 am)2990-1 Apalachee Pkwy, Tallahassee, FL 32301

Jefferson County Food Distribution Sites

• Eagles Wings Food Pantry(9–10 am, 1st/3rd Wed)290 E Dogwood St, Monticello, FL 32344

• Christ Episcopal Church(7:30–9:30 am, 4th Fri)425 N Cherry St, Monticello, FL 32344

• A New Day Initiative Monticello(8–9 am, 4th Fri)1599 Waukeenah Hwy, Monticello, FL 32344

• New Bethel AME Church(7–8 am, 4th Sat)6496 Ashville Hwy, Monticello, FL 32344

• Bethel AME Church(8:30 am, 1st Fri odd months)410 E York St, Monticello, FL 32344

• Bethpage M.B. Church(10 am–12 pm, Thursdays)379 Beth Page Rd, Wacissa, FL 32344

• Central Baptist Church(12 pm, every other Wed)625 Tindell Rd, Aucilla, FL 32344

• Jefferson Co. Health Dept.(8 am–5 pm, M–F)1255 W Washington St, Monticello, FL 32344

• Macedonia Church (10 am-12 pm 1st/3rd Sat) 3093 S Jefferson Hwy, Monticello, FL 32344

Madison County Food Distribution Sites

• Fellowship Baptist Church(9 am–12 pm, 1st/3rd Tues)1997 NE Colin Kelly Hwy, Madison, FL 32340

• New Testament Christian Center(9 am–11 am, Wed)2558 E US Hwy 90, Madison, FL 32340

• Consolidated Christian Ministries(4–6 pm, 2nd Fri)133 Captain Brown Rd, Madison, FL 32340

• Senior Citizens Council Madison(8 am–5 pm, M–F)1161 SW Harvey Greene Drive, Madison, FL 32340

• Lee United Methodist(12–2 pm, 2nd Tues)292 SE CR 255, Lee, FL 32059

• Greenville Methodist(8:30-10:30 am, 3rd Wed)174 Church St., Greenville, FL 32331

• Midway Church of God(4-6 pm, 1st/3rd Wed)2485 SE Midway Church Rd. LEE, FL 32059

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Need food help in Tallahassee? Here’s where to go