Citrus County providing food assistance for senior residents enrolled on SNAP

LECANTO, Fla. — Citrus County is providing emergency food assistance for seniors who were impacted by the federal government shutdown.

The shutdown put a pause on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) but today, the Department of Agriculture Secretary said recipients should receive their benefits no later than Monday.

In the meantime, the Florida Department of Elder Affairs has authorized Citrus County Support Services to implement an aid program, providing prepared meals during the suspension.

Those with the resource center say they have helped about 15 people who were on SNAP benefits since the program was put on pause at the start of the month. Now, they’re ready to help more if need be.

In the cafeteria of the Citrus County Family Resource Center, Lynsie Roddenberry makes conversation over lunch.

“My dear friend Norma has been floating around in here,” says Roddenberry, the Support Services Director for Citrus County. “I see her almost every day, unless she’s visiting with family.”

“We received word from our granting agency, elder options, that the Department of Elder Affairs was allowing flexibility while SNAP benefits are suspended and we can provide emergency meals to folks age 60 and older that are not our clients and enrolled on Department of Elder Affairs programs,” said Roddenberry.

The resource center has boxes of pre-packaged food. Ready to be handed to those seniors whose SNAP benefits were put on pause during the recent government shutdown.

“In each one of these boxes is seven meals, or one week’s worth, of shelf-stable items,” Roddenberry said. “Those are your pantry type items, non-perishables. Each client that we have received phone calls from that are interested in participating in this program, we’re giving two boxes to.”

That’s two meals a day for seven days.

“This program is allowing folks who are not eligible, traditionally under any of our Department of Elder Affairs programs, to receive these meals and not have to use their income for food,” said Roddenberry. “They can keep using it on medical bills or prescriptions, that sort of thing. They won’t have to give up one thing in order to purchase their meals.”

And for seniors who are not on SNAP, they can always grab a hot meal thanks to the center’s daily lunch program.

“The program is under the Older Americans Act and it’s to help people keep their health up, stay active and engaged in the community, and eat healthy where they can stay independent in their own homes for longer,” said Janice Hale, senior program supervisor for Meals On Wheels.

Showing there’s plenty of food to go around for those who need it.

“Our program will be in effect until those benefits are reinstated and hopefully within the week, I would say,” said Roddenberry.

And Roddenberry says for those looking to pick up a box or two of those pre-packaged meals, they will need proof they are a SNAP recipient and that they’re over the age of 60. The Citrus County Family Resource Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.