Connecting Resources to Those in Need - This resource fair connects local seniors to community partner resources.

Food assistance could dry up Saturday for millions of people who need it, a result of the ongoing federal government shutdown. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has told Americans that no benefits will be issued on Nov. 1 under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which provides monthly food benefits to low-income people to help them buy groceries.   Many generous people are now asking how they can help by donating goods to their local food pantry. Here are some options.

The exchange of food into the hands of those in need is more frequent these days at Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida’s food pantry. But they’re running into a huge problem: Supplies are running low.

Food assistance could dry up Saturday for millions of people who need it, a result of the ongoing federal government shutdown. Now many generous people are asking how they can help by donating goods to their local food pantry.

And on Tuesday, a local pantry said its food services are running “dangerously low” as the impending cancellation of SNAP and WIC funds creates even more uncertainty about how families who rely on the government’s services will be able to keep their fridges stocked.

The demand for food assistance is rising as data from ALICE shows that more than 38% of Northeast Florida families struggle to make ends meet despite growth in wages.

Two Jacksonville doctors are giving back, helping other immigrants.

More than 7,000 miles away, a Jacksonville group is working to find Afghan refugees new homes.

Gateway Mall's Community Vaccination Center is hosting a mobile vaccination site on Philips Highway Tuesday.

Lutheran Social Services was planning was setting up to host its second mobile vaccination event Tuesday morning at its location on Philips Highway when it got the word that distributing Johnson & Johnson vaccinations was put on hold.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two new pop-up vaccine sites opened in two Jacksonville neighborhoods Wednesday. The sites — at University Park Library in Arlington and Kooker Park in the Longbranch neighborhood — are offering one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines. The @FLSERT are hosting two different one-day Johnson & Johnson vaccine events today, Wednesday March 31st:🔸University Park Library 3435 University Blvd. Lutheran Social Services of Jacksonville also announced it is hosting a vaccination pop-up. The site is also offering the Johnson & Johnson shot and no appointment is required.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Lutheran Social Services, in partnership with Helping Florida and Clear Health Alliance, will host a mobile food pantry from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday at its office at 4615 Philips Highway. The food pantry will be open to anyone in need and will include 1,600 pre-packaged food boxes to be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Lutheran Social Services feeds hundreds of local families every week through its regular pantry, which is open five days a week, Monday through Friday. This will be the nonprofit’s first weekend food giveaway. “Our pantry serves more than 2,000 households every month, but we know there are families missing out on much-needed food assistance because they work during the week,” Executive Director Bill Brim said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Food banks across the country, including one in Jacksonville, are experiencing a surge in demand after an extra $600 in federal unemployment benefits expired last week. David Thomas is just one of hundreds of people who waited in long lines Wednesday morning for free food and vegetables provided by Lutheran Social Services. Bob Brim is the executive director of Lutheran Social Services. Fresh vegetables, fruits, beef, chicken, dairy products, watermelons, and dairy products -- just a few of the items that will help local families put food on the table. Lutheran Social Services hosts the mobile food banks on the first Wednesday of every month, and every 3rd Friday of the month.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida on Wednesday kicked off a series of socially-distanced mobile pantry events at its headquarters on Philips Highway in Jacksonville. Tammie Bolden and her family were one of the hundreds of families getting essential needs met at Wednesdays mobile pantry event. The mobile pantry events will happen every first Wednesday and third Friday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon for the foreseeable future. As the series of mobile pantry events continue, the organizations plan to feed and service 200 families per event unless theres an increased need and that number needs to be bumped up. For more information about Lutheran Social Services, visit www.lssjax.org.