The Trump administration said Monday it will partially fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program after a pair of judges’ rulings required it to keep the food aid program running.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the nation’s largest food program, said last month that benefits for November wouldn’t be paid out due to the federal government shutdown.
One judge gave the administration a noon Monday deadline to say how it would fund the program for November, laving 42 million Americans — including nearly three million Floridians — who receive assistance in limbo.
It’s not clear how much beneficiaries will receive, nor how quickly beneficiaries will see value show up on the debit cards they use to buy groceries. The process of loading the SNAP cards, which involves steps by state and federal government agencies and vendors, can take up to two weeks in some states.
Tasha Cohen-Glynn, a community outreach liaison for a Tampa credit union, said that there are multiple backup plans that many people may not have considered.
“It’s time to tighten your budget and stock up on essentials,” she said. “Families need to seek short-term relief options and prepare.”
There are food banks and pantries throughout the state. Mobile pantries are available for those unable to travel.
Many financial institutions offer emergency assistance services and free financial counseling for their members.
Some food delivery services, like DoorDash, are waiving delivery fees to those with a valid SNAP or EBT card, and a growing number of Tampa Bay area restaurants are offering free meals to children in need.
Cohen-Glynn said it’s okay to seek out help if you need it.
"I want people to know that local help is available, it's accessible without judgment,” she said. “A lot of times people feel, and I think they let their pride get in the way in receiving assistance that we need. But this is exactly what we're here for."
But, beyond seeking external help, Cohen-Glynn said there are other steps people can take.
“Look for ways for your meals to go further by buying in bulk when you can and planning your meals in advance,” she said. “You should also set a small savings goal for when things like this happen again.”
Here are some sources for assistance:
A large number of national and statewide organizations offer searchable databases of food banks:
- Feeding Florida
- Salvation Army
- Ampleharvest.org
- Food Finder
- Feeding America
- Share Food Program
- Full Cart
The Too Good To Go app is a free app designed to reduce food waste by connecting users with restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, and cafés that have unsold surplus food left at the end of the day. You just have to create an account and enter your zip code.
In the Tampa Bay area,
- Metropolitan Ministries offers assistance to residents in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, and Polk counties at its facility at 2002 N. Florida Ave. in Tampa.
- Metropolitan Ministries is also beginning to register families who need Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties.
- Feeding Tampa Bay serves 10 counties around the greater Tampa Bay area. It plans to use its grocery store at the Causeway Center at 3624 Causeway Blvd. in Tampa as an emergency food support site for families who rely on SNAP starting Nov. 3. It also has a series of emergency response events scheduled from Nov. 3-8 across the greater Tampa Bay region.
- First Contact, formerly known as Tampa Bay 211 Cares, offers rental or social assistance.
In Hillsborough County,
- The United Food Bank & Services of Plant City serves families in Eastern Hillsborough County.
In Pinellas County,
- St. Pete Free Clinic offers an interactive map of Pinellas County allowing people to search by zip code to find the closest food resource. It also plans to offer extended hours in its
- The Free Clinic's We Help Services FRESH Pantry offers fresh, nutritious produce, meats, food staples, and hygiene items for free to any Pinellas County resident in need through an indoor choice option and two drive-thru options. They also plan to extend hours of service at its FRESH Pantry on Nov. 4.
- Positive Impact St. Pete offers free groceries every Saturday from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at 1770 22nd St So. in St. Petersburg.
- The Juvenile Welfare Board offers assistance in paying electric, water, or gas bills, as well as with other basic needs, such as transportation and diapers.
- Hope Villages of America serves families and others in need at its location at 700 Druid Rd E in Clearwater.
In Pasco County,
- Pasco County Continuum of Care has a number of food pantries.
- Hudson Community Health & Resource Center has a pantry, clothing closet, resource hub and offers dental, medical and mental health services for children.
- The Volunteer Way has one of the county's largest food pantries at 8061 Congress St in Port Richey.
In Manatee County,
- Food Bank of Manatee is a program of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, operating at 811 23rd Avenue East in Bradenton.
In Citrus, Hernando, and Sumter counties,
- Community Food Bank of Citrus County serves the northern Tampa Bay region.
And a number of Tampa Bay area restaurants are offering free meals to children in need:
- All Chicken Salad Chick locations in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, and Hernando counties, as well as its Bradenton and Lakeland locations
- BurgerMonger locations in St. Petersburg, Wesley Chapel, and Safety Harbor
- Gigglewaters in Safety Harbor
- Orange Cycle Creamery in Safety Harbor
- Jack Willie's Bar, Grill & Tiki in Oldsmar
- Cracker's Bar & Grill in Crystal River
- Our Place in Clearwater
- Orange Blossom Cafe in Dunedin
- Fusion Street Eatery in Dunedin
- Parlor House Bistro in Dunedin
- The Living Room locations in Wiregrass and Dunedin
- Blind Tiger Coffee Roasters' eight locations in Hillsborough County
- Tommy's Hideaway in Gulfport
- Mamma Mia Pizzeria only at its Port Richey location
- Orchids Thai & Sushi in Port Richey
- Honeycomb Bread Bakers in Winter Haven.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this story. This list will be updated as more information becomes available.
