A Fort Myers church has opened its doors every night this month to provide free hot meals for families struggling without SNAP benefits during the ongoing government shutdown.
Friendship Baptist Church launched its “Shutdown Kitchen” on November 2, serving hot meals to anyone in need at 2030 Palm Avenue. The initiative was created after Pastor Jarrod Parker felt called to take immediate action as families lost access to food assistance programs and people who were furloughed and working without pay.
Watch Fort Myers Community Correspondent Miyoshi Price’s report:
Local church feeds community during government shutdown crisis
“He said God put it on his heart to do something immediate with the shutdown because of the loss of SNAP benefits for this community, as well as people being furloughed from their jobs,” said Kandrick Barnes, a deacon in training who leads the church’s culinary team…