The rising cost of living, hurricane recovery, and now a government shutdown…these are all impacting families in Tampa Bay who are now struggling to buy basic necessities like food. And many of these families are experiencing food insecurity for the first time, according to Metropolitan Ministries.
The non-profit organization that serves the Tampa Bay region says it is now helping double the number of families it typically serves, and it could get worse if SNAP benefits are paused in November and federal workers go without paychecks. Metro says the need for assistance could reach 4,000 more families a month, quadrupling demand.
The timing is also concerning, as Metro gears up to serve 30,000 families this holiday season. They worry they could be facing a critical food shortage…