News
By Natalia Jaramillo | [email protected] | Orlando Sentinel
10/29/25
Osceola County nonprofits asked the state to intervene Monday as they anticipate struggling with an increase in demand when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits come to a stop this weekend.
About 24,000 households in Osceola County currently benefit from SNAP. If families “trying to put food on their table” lose that benefit, they will likely turn to food pantries, said Rev. Mary Downey, CEO of the group Hope Partnership.
“We anticipate that our local food pantries, including us, will be in crisis,” she said.
Amid the ongoing government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which runs the SNAP program, said its nearly 42 million beneficiaries won’t receive help buying food beginning Saturday, Nov. 1, forcing many to turn to food banks.
At the county’s legislative delegation meeting Monday, Hope Partnership, which helps the homeless, and Second Harvest Food Bank asked local legislators for any state help to continue to feed county residents.
Food insecurity in Osceola County is considerable, said Stephanie Palacios, the director of advocacy and governmental relations. Second Harvest Food Bank distributed 7.3 million meals to county residents in 2024.
