Government shutdown may affect SNAP benefits
The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will not extend benefits in November, which could impact local food banks and nonprofits.
Bruce Reed, Interfaith system manager left, and Leslie Richardson, a volunteer, remove food items for people in need from a nearly empty cooler in the Reuben Brawner Center Warehouse Food Pantry at Interfaith Emergency Services on Northwest 2nd Street in Ocala on April 23, 2025. The agency is always in need of donations. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]
As the federal government shutdown stretches on, thousands of Marion County families who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could face a gap in food benefits next month.
SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, is the nation’s largest anti-hunger program, serving more than 3 million Floridians each month. Benefits are typically issued at the start of each month to help low-income individuals and families buy groceries.
In a notice issued Thursday, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) warned that the federally funded program “will not issue November 2025 benefits until federal funding is restored.”
“Floridians will not receive SNAP benefits,” the notice stated, adding that the program is administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, whose funding has been disrupted by the shutdown.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR FAMILIES
DCF emphasized that October benefits will still be issued as scheduled and any funds already on Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards remain available for use. But if the shutdown continues, no new deposits will occur in November.
Applicants who have already submitted renewals or paperwork are asked not to reapply, as doing so could delay processing once funding resumes. DCF said it is “monitoring the federal government shutdown closely” and will post updates on its website as soon as benefits can resume.
The agency also noted that recipients may still see notices showing their eligible benefit amounts, even though no money will be loaded to their EBT cards until Congress passes a funding bill.
IMPACT IN MARION COUNTY
The potential pause in benefits comes at a time when Marion County’s food insecurity rate remains higher than the state average, according to data from the Florida Department of Health.
In 2023, 14.9% of Marion County residents were considered food insecure, compared to 14.4% statewide, according to figures compiled by the department.
The Feeding America’s “Map the Meal Gap” project estimated that 57,910 residents in Marion County experienced food insecurity in 2023.
[Image from Florida Health CHARTS]
“A good portion of our clients are already on SNAP benefits and use us just to finish out the month. We try to make people wait 30 days before coming back for groceries to ensure that we have resources to help every household that needs our assistance. I have no doubt we will have clients asking for an additional visit next month in addition to those who use SNAP and do not normally need our help,” Greenway said.
“We are going to let clients know other pantries or food distributions that they can visit. We are already providing food to approximately 2,500 households each month and anticipate having to turn families away, which we don’t normally have to do. We have a capacity of 80-90 families we can serve each day at our downtown site and once we have that number of clients show up each day, we have to cut off services until the next day. I can see people coming extra early to line up to ensure that they get served,” Greenway continued.
“It’s maddening that the politicians continue to get paid while the citizens that are powerless suffer. I bet if they cut off the paychecks in Washington, DC, they would resolve the issues at hand much quicker,” she added.
To learn more about Interfaith, call (352) 209-7045 or go to iesmarion.org
HOW TO STAY INFORMED
SNAP recipients can check their EBT balance or card status anytime at ebtEDGE.com and DCF will post official updates at myflfamilies.com
Until federal funding resumes, food assistance advocates are urging residents to conserve existing benefits and connect with local pantries for interim help.
AREA RESOURCES
In addition to Interfaith Emergency Services, here are some of the other local agencies that may be able to offer help. Many of them will need additional donations, however, to help meet coverage gaps. There also are many food pantry programs at churches throughout the region.
MARION SENIOR SERVICES
The nonprofit, charitable social agency provides supportive care services to elderly, disabled and disadvantaged residents of Marion County.
“We help our clients remain in their own homes, living independently as long as possible by providing them with meals, transit and in-home support. A variety of public, private and donor funding enables us to provide services to most people in need, regardless of their ability to pay. Services are provided on a sliding fee basis from no cost to full pay,” the website notes. To learn more, call (352) 620-3501 or go to marionseniorservices.org
BROTHER’S KEEPER
The nonprofit is a ministry of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church. It offers emergency services, a soup kitchen and more. Food is available once every two months for those who are disabled, seniors 65+, legal parent or guardian with at least one child under 17 living with them full time, adults employed full time. To learn more, visit the emergency services center/thrift store at 320 NW 10th St., Ocala, call (352) 622-3846 or go to bkocala.org
SALVATION ARMY OCALA
The organization has a social services center at 320 NW 1st Ave., Ocala. It offers food assistance, emergency shelter, transitional housing, halfway housing, homeless resources and family emergency services. To learn more, call (3520 732-8326 or go to ocala.salvationarmyflorida.org
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
The nonprofit organization works to end hunger across Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties. Each day, more than 300,000 meals are provided for families, kids and seniors facing hunger through a network of feeding partners. To learn more, go to feedhopenow.org
HIS COMPASSION FOOD BANK
According to its website, the organization provided more than 21 million pounds of food and other items in 2022 to seven counties including Marion, Lake, Sumter, Levy, Alachua, Citrus and Putnam. To learn more, call (352) 351-0732 or visit hiscompassionflorida.org
HELP AGENCY OF THE FOREST
Inspired by his own childhood experiences of rural poverty in the Ocala National Forest, David Houck founded the Help Agency of the Forest, Inc. in 1993. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those in need. Sozo Kids is a sponsorship program that provides free food, supplies and access to other programs for children. To learn more, call (352) 299-5830 or go to sozokids.org
THE RIGHT SERVICE AT THE RIGHT TIME
As of July 1, the former 2-1-1 service offered through United Way of Marion County transitioned to The Right Service at the Right Time.
“The Right Service at the Right Time is an online tool used by librarians and library users throughout Florida to find necessary social services and government assistance. The service is user-friendly for residents seeking general information and not in a crisis,” according to Bob Haight, president/CEO of UWMC. To learn more, call (352) 671-8551 or go to uwmc.org and rightservicefl.org
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