FORT PIERCE — As the federal government shutdown stretches into November, the Treasure Coast Food Bank warned Monday that the crisis is worsening food insecurity for tens of thousands of local families, with SNAP benefits suspended for the first time in history and resources at the nonprofit pushed to the brink.
The food bank said that over 80,000 families along the Treasure Coast are no longer eligible for government food aid. This has led to an increase in the number of people visiting its food storage areas. Government workers aren’t receiving their paychecks and they’re incurring increasingly significant financial losses.
The organization stated that this disruption is already at high levels of food insecurity and deepening hardship for neighbors in the community. The organization noted that it is now serving more people weekly than at any point in its history, straining an already overburdened system.
The shutdown began last month amid partisan disputes in Congress over budget priorities, which has halted payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP or food stamps. The program supports millions nationwide, including low-income children, seniors and working families.
Treasure Coast Food Bank officials emphasized that access to food should not be politicized. “Hunger is not a partisan issue; it’s a human one,” the statement said. “Our elected leaders must honor the oath they took to serve by protecting the health, stability, and dignity of every constituent. Ensuring that our most vulnerable neighbors have food on their tables is not a matter of policy—it’s a matter of principle and compassion.”
“Meeting this moment will take all of us—standing together in urgency and compassion,” the food bank said. “The time to act is now. Together, we can ensure that every family on the Treasure Coast has access to the food and hope they need.”
For information on how to donate or volunteer, visit www.stophunger.org.
