JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Federal cuts to food assistance are being felt right here in Jacksonville.
Millions of Americans have lost access to SNAP benefits following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and local nonprofits said the need in their community continues to grow.
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The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025, included the largest reduction to SNAP in the program’s history, projected to cut at least $186 billion dollars from the program through 2034.
Reports show SNAP participation has already fallen by more than 4.5 million people between July 2025 and April 2026.
The new law also tightens work requirements.
Able-bodied adults without dependents between the ages of 18 and 64 must now work at least 80 hours per month or participate in training programs to remain eligible.
Veterans, unhoused individuals and those who recently aged out of foster care are no longer exempt.
“They’re making the paperwork requirements a little bit tougher. They’re scrutinizing applications and people are kind of slipping through the cracks,” Eileen Seuter, Regional Director of Catholic Charities Jacksonville, said.
“Maybe because they moved, they missed a letter. Everybody goes through a struggle in their life at certain times. And so we’re here to help.”
Catholic Charities Jacksonville has seen a 15% increase in the number of people coming to collect food in recent months and the organization has been expanding its reach to keep up.
“We have a strategic partnership with Baptist Health, and we also work really closely with the main food bank, Feeding Northeast Florida, to really try to increase the amount of food that we’re able to give,” Seuter said.
For the nonprofit Communities In Schools of Jacksonville, food security and academic success are inseparable.
The organization embeds coordinators directly into schools operating on the belief that a hungry child simply cannot learn.
Officials say they too have seen a surge in students and families turning to them for help.
“Some people are really embarrassed about the fact and not really knowing who to ask for support,” Twilla Washington, Director of Case Management at Communities In Schools of Jacksonville, said. “So the students having that relationship with us, a lot of them are comfortable enough to say, hey, we need groceries and then we’re able to provide that support.”
Both organizations say financial donations are the most urgent need right now, giving them the flexibility to purchase food quickly and keep up with rising demand.
Volunteers are also needed to help pack backpacks, sort donations and keep operations running.