Bishop William A. Wack Directs $50,000 of Diocesan Funding to Food Pantries in Northwest Florida

In Brief:

👤 Who: Bishop William A. Wack, CSC, Catholic Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee; Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida; Matt Knee; David Kimbell
💰 What: $50,000 in diocesan funds allocated to support food pantries
📅 When: Announced following the recent end of the federal government shutdown
📍 Where: Northwest Florida — including food pantries in Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, and Tallahassee
❓ Why: To address rising food insecurity caused by federal funding shortfalls and increased community need

Pensacola, Fla. — As many Northwest Florida families continue to feel the ripple effects of recent federal funding shortfalls and a prolonged government shutdown, Bishop William A. Wack, CSC, of the Catholic Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee, has announced that $50,000 in diocesan funds will be directed to Catholic Charities food pantries across the region. The funding aims to provide immediate support for families struggling with food insecurity and to restock depleted food pantry shelves.

“Although the prolonged government shutdown has just ended, we are keenly aware of the ripple effects it has caused across the Panhandle,” said Bishop Wack. “So many families and individuals have their financial well-being related directly or indirectly to federal institutions operating with full funding. We have to help our brothers and sisters make ends meet in this difficult moment.”

The diocese’s support comes at a time when many food assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), face reduced funding or delayed benefits. Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida — one of the region’s largest social service providers — reports that its food pantries have seen a marked increase in requests for assistance in recent weeks.

Matt Knee, CEO of Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, said the organization is already serving thousands of individuals across its service area, but the growing demand is stretching resources thin.

“Last year we served 39,498 individuals with food assistance,” Knee said. “Unfortunately, all of our sites are reporting more requests for the most fundamental things — shelf-stable food, canned goods, baby formula, and hygiene products. Some of our pantries have had their inventory severely depleted in recent weeks. This donation will go a long way to help re-stock quickly so we can continue being a beacon of hope in our communities.”

The funds will be distributed among Catholic Charities’ regional service centers, which operate food assistance programs in several Northwest Florida communities:

Fort Walton Beach — 11 First Street Southeast, and through the mobile Caring Coach, which brings supplies directly to neighborhoods in need.
Panama City — 3128 East 11th Street, continuing recovery and support efforts following Hurricane Michael and other economic challenges.
Tallahassee — 1380 Blountstown Highway, serving families in Florida’s capital region.

In addition to these main service centers, several local Catholic parishes operate individual food ministries that serve residents in their immediate communities. Among them are the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Pensacola and St. Rose of Lima Parish in Milton, both of which maintain active food pantry programs supported by parishioners and volunteers.

David Kimbell, Chief Financial Officer for the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee, emphasized that the funding is possible thanks to the faithful giving of parishioners through the annual Catholic Sharing Appeal.

“Every year our Bishop requests financial contributions to support a variety of initiatives through the diocesan Catholic Sharing Appeal,” Kimbell said. “God stirs hearts to give faithfully, and the result is that we have the opportunity to fulfill our mission as Christian disciples to help those in need — whether we know them well as fellow parishioners or whether we only meet them in their moment of trial.”

Bishop Wack noted that the Church’s call to feed the hungry is not limited by geography or denomination.

“This is about living our faith in action,” Bishop Wack said. “When people in our community are hurting, the Church must respond with compassion and concrete support. These funds are a way to ensure that no one in Northwest Florida goes without the most necessities.”

The Diocese encourages all Northwest Floridians to join this effort by making a financial contribution or volunteering with Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida. Donations can be made online at ccnwfl.org.

Residents in need of food assistance can also visit ccnwfl.org/food-assistance for details on service locations, hours of operation, and eligibility requirements.

About the Catholic Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee
The Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee serves more than 60,000 Catholics across 18 counties in Northwest Florida. Through its parishes, schools, and ministries, the Diocese seeks to share the Gospel and provide compassionate service to those in need.

About Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida
Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida provides food assistance, financial counseling, disaster recovery, adoption services, and other social support programs across the Florida Panhandle. In 2024, the organization served nearly 40,000 individuals through its regional offices and community outreach programs.