🍞 Food pantries across Okaloosa and Walton counties report record demand
💸 SNAP and WIC benefits cut as federal shutdown drags on
🤝 Local nonprofits and volunteers step up — but say they can’t fill the gap
NICEVILLE — As the federal government shutdown stretches into its second month, food insecurity across Northwest Florida appears to be rising.
Local food pantries, such as Sharing and Caring in Niceville, and regional organizations, like Emerald Coast Food Rescue, report that they are struggling to meet an unprecedented surge in demand as area residents lose or see reductions in federal food assistance.
Earlier this month, the Trump Administration announced that it would resume Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, but only at half of the usual rate, using $4.65 billion from an Agriculture Department contingency fund.
That fund only covers half of the $8 billion normally distributed nationwide each month.
Officials acknowledged the stopgap would leave “no funds remaining for new SNAP applicants, disaster assistance, or as a cushion against the catastrophic consequences of shutting down SNAP entirely.”
Two federal judges, in Rhode Island and Boston, ruled that freezing the nation’s most extensive anti-hunger program was unlawful and ordered the government to restore payments. However, even as emergency funding was approved, Treasury officials warned that it could take weeks for reduced benefits to reach recipients, as states were forced to rewrite their eligibility systems during the shutdown.
However, in a Truth Social post on Nov. 5, President Donald Trump seemed to defy the court order, writing, “SNAP BENEFITS……will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before!”
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) faces similar uncertainty. The Trump Administration has tapped about $450 million from customs revenue to keep WIC operating, but the USDA says those dollars may last only a few weeks without a budget deal.
Both programs are lifelines for low-income households. SNAP helps eligible individuals and families buy groceries through monthly electronic benefits. WIC provides specific food items, baby formula, and nutrition counseling to pregnant and postpartum women, as well as children under five.
Nationwide, approximately 42 million people receive SNAP benefits, with nearly 39% of them being children under the age of 18. In Florida, more than 2.8 million residents rely on SNAP, and roughly 430,000 residents participate in WIC, according to the USDA.
For Sharing & Caring of Niceville, a volunteer-run food pantry that has been operating for decades, the shutdown has exacerbated an already steady rise in the number of people in need.
“We’re seeing a lot of returning clients, people who haven’t needed help in years,” said Tara Venitez from Sharing & Caring. “A lot of our clients qualify for SNAP and WIC, so they usually come in monthly anyway. But now we’re seeing furloughed workers and families who have lost benefits altogether.”
The pantry reported serving 400 households in October 2025, up from 306 households in the same month the previous year, representing a 30 percent increase and equating to nearly 1,000 individuals.
“It’s been steady….a constant stream of people needing food,” she said. “Some of our clients used to come once a month. Now they’re coming twice.”
Sharing & Caring distributes nonperishable food, hygiene items, diapers, and household goods to families across the Niceville area. The nonprofit also provides emergency rent and utility assistance, as well as some limited support for individuals with special needs.
“We are accepting all of that and above,” said. “We can use it all — food, diapers, hygiene products, laundry and dish soap, toilet paper, and of course, monetary donations go a long way. All of the money donated goes 100 percent to our clients. No one here gets paid. We are 100 percent volunteer.”
The group works closely with local churches and other service organizations to identify households in crisis.
“If the community can support us and the local churches with their food pantries, that would be great,” Venitez added. “The more people know we’re here, the more people we can help.”
The same trends are evident across the Emerald Coast, where food insecurity has been increasing since mid-2024, as inflation and housing costs have outpaced wages.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Florida ranks among the most expensive states in the nation for groceries, with average weekly costs exceeding $287 per household, and nearly $340 per week for families with children. That’s more than 25 percent above the national average.
Locally, the Emerald Coast Food Rescue — formerly known as Destin Harvest — has become a critical safety net. The nonprofit collects surplus food from grocery stores, restaurants, and retailers, then distributes it directly to food pantries and community programs throughout Okaloosa and Walton Counties.
Through the end of the third quarter of 2025, the organization had distributed more than 2.35 million pounds of food, surpassing its record pace from the previous year. Its three refrigerated trucks move about 200,000 pounds of rescued food each month across the two counties.
“Our mission is to bridge food surplus and food insecurity,” the organization said in a recent update via a blog post. “Every pound of food rescued is distributed the same day to over 45 local food programs, ensuring it reaches families quickly and safely.”
Those partners include Cornerstone Church Pantry in DeFuniak Springs, Open Door Pantry, Seventh-Day Adventist, The Matrix C.O.C., and Caring & Sharing of South Walton, all located in rural Walton County.
In Okaloosa County, Emerald Coast Food Rescue supports Crestview Resource Center, Children in Crisis, and Sharing & Caring of Niceville, among others.
The organization’s impact extends beyond hunger relief. By diverting millions of pounds of edible food from being tossed into local landfills, it would also reduce environmental waste and carbon emissions. “Food rescue is not simply a logistical operation — it’s a lifeline that strengthens the community’s capacity to withstand economic stress,” the group said.
Emerald Coast Food Rescue estimates that it costs 13 cents to connect one pound of food to a local program. For every $1 donated, its refrigerated trucks deliver the equivalent of 7.5 free meals to people in need. The group’s 2025 matching-donation campaign will double contributions under $15,000 up to a total of $100,000.
“As grocery prices rise faster than wages, food rescue has become not just an emergency response but a cornerstone of community resilience,” the group’s statement read. “Every partnership, every rescued pallet, and every delivery strengthens a network that now touches tens of thousands of lives across Okaloosa and Walton Counties.”
While local nonprofits have expanded their efforts dramatically, national food-security experts caution that charitable organizations cannot fully compensate for the loss of federal nutrition aid. Across the country, millions of households have seen their food budgets shrink, and food banks are struggling to fill the gap.
That reality is being felt along the Gulf Coast, where many residents of Northwest Florida live paycheck to paycheck and depend on service-industry jobs. As the shutdown continues, its ripple effects are already visible in local pantries and rescue programs, which are working to meet the growing demand.
“People are coming in who’ve never asked for help before,” said Venitez. “Some are embarrassed, but there’s no shame in needing help right now.”
The pantry’s volunteers are preparing for another surge as the holiday season approaches.
“We try to make sure every family has a meal,” Venitez added. “Even if it’s just a little help, it means they don’t have to choose between groceries and gas.”
Meanwhile, food-rescue operations, such as Emerald Coast, are working to sustain their pace despite rising fuel and logistics costs. The organization states that continued community donations and retail partnerships are essential to keeping trucks on the road.
“Our work reduces food waste, lowers environmental impact, and maximizes every donated resource,” Emerald Coast Food Rescue stated. “At the same time, it relieves financial pressure on local households, allowing families to redirect limited funds toward essentials like rent, transportation, and healthcare.”
With the government shutdown affecting not only those on federal assistance programs, but those tied to the military. Local school districts urge those in need to sign up for programs designed to provide local students with meals.
In Okaloosa and Walton County, local parents and guardians can sign up for free or reduced lunch programs. In Okaloosa County, individuals in need can sign up through myschoolapps.com or visit the school district’s website and click on the “Food Services” tab.
In Walton County, those interested can do the same through ezmealapp.com.
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St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
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