Local food pantries feel impact amid SNAP benefit delays

AUBURNDALE, Fla. — While two federal judges ruled Friday that the federal government must use emergency funding to partially support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), it’s still unclear when millions of families will receive their benefits for November.

As a result, local food pantries are already feeling the strain of increased demand. Bibleway Resource Center in Auburndale feeds about 500 people across Polk County each week. Food giveaways typically begin with prayer outside the center, but on Friday, Latesa Faison, who oversees the pantry, said it felt like God heard every word.

“God has blessed our two fish and five loaves this morning and stretched their food a lot longer,” she said.

Over the past four years, Faison said she and volunteers have leaned on their faith and the community for donations. She said this time is no different as many families worry about losing their SNAP benefits.

“We’ve been getting calls like 20 to 30 calls a day,” Faison said. “But I can only take in so many to be able to provide for the end of the week for people, but we try to put peanut butter, jelly, bread — whatever it takes to make a meal for the people so it’s going to get worse before it gets better.”

Resident Isidro Perales said he’s grateful the food pantry is able to give his family what they can. He said his mother recently got sick, and he doesn’t know how she’ll manage without assistance.

“It’s a little worrisome because if she doesn’t need it, she won’t take it. She doesn’t like to take anything from anyone who might need the help. But as times are getting harder, she’s been having to need it,” Perales said.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 15% of Polk County families depend on SNAP benefits — the highest percentage in the Bay Area. Of those recipients, studies show that more than 40% are children.

Faison plans to do her best to help fill the gap, but said she can’t do it alone.

“Our community can help by coming together, doing a food drive,” she said. “They can drop off peanut butter and jelly here, or canned goods, and that can help us make meals for the people that come constantly needing food.”

In the meantime, she’s holding on to her belief that God will provide — something she says has carried the center through time and time again.

To learn more about how you can help support Bibleway Resource Center, visit the pantry’s Facebook page.