St. Matthew’s House, in collaboration with local partners, provided grocery assistance to 300 families in Immokalee on Wednesday. The weekly grocery distribution at Limitless Church has seen a rise in families coming for urgent support in the community.
The distribution included essential items such as meat, fruit, vegetables and milk, all of which are packed into bags for the families. Manny Vasquez, a food assistance coordinator, emphasized the strain on families during the summer months, stating, “During summer, while the kids are at home, a lot of families are struggling to feed them.”
With one in seven children in Florida facing food insecurity, the food provided—valued at approximately $120.
“It’s not stopping. Just something that we’re trying to keep up with. But our numbers are just through the roof,” said Vazquez.
This summer, the need for additional help has surged, as Florida is one of 14 states withdrawing from the Summer EBT program, which typically provides $120 per child for grocery assistance for the whole summer.
Vazquez highlighted the challenge, saying, “We do need more help. We need more programs that can help the families. What we can provide for them is just the bare minimum.”
Organizations like St. Matthew’s House, Harry Chapin Food Bank and Midwest Food Bank are striving to meet the increasing demand through weekly distributions. However, St. Matthew’s House has reported over a 30% drop in donations during the summer months since 2022, prompting a call for more community support.