FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — As the private sector steps up to fill gaps left by the government shutdown — along with the looming loss of food assistance benefits — local nonprofit leaders say a seemingly slowing economy is making it harder to keep donations coming in.
Veteran Kelly Mathis was among the United Way Broward volunteers helping with a food distribution in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday.
“The best thing about being a veteran, I want to lend a hand all the time no matter what,” Mathis said. “I am here for the community and to show support.”
United Way Broward is preparing for weekly food distributions if the shutdown continues.
“We’re packing meals for those families and individuals impacted by the government shutdown,” Maria Hernandez, the organization’s chief impact officer, said.
Hernandez said United Way Broward has been fielding a spike in calls from people seeking food assistance — a trend echoed by Pastor Emily Jazombek of the United Church of Christ in Fort Lauderdale.
“A percentage of the folks that we see do have jobs and are concerned as to whether or not they’re going to continue to be able to hold their job and pay their rent,” Jazombek said. “Some are concerned that their families will have to live in cars.”
Set against the backdrop of a slowing job market, high housing costs and grocery prices, and federal job cuts alongside private sector layoffs following weak retail sales — the government shutdown has compounded the strain.
Furloughed federal workers are working without pay, and starting Saturday, millions of seniors, families, and veterans are expected to lose food assistance.
“What we are finding is our numbers are increasing exponentially,” Jazombek said. “We just got done serving 215 (people). “We are so concerned about the numbers of people who are going hungry and can’t have enough food to sustain themselves.”
“Everybody is struggling to find sponsors. We’re all trying to help one another out, but when you start to see your supplies dwindle, it’s kind of difficult to figure out who we can connect with next,” she added.
In North Miami Beach, volunteers with Joshua’s Heart Foundation are also bracing for increased demand. Among them is Konrad Schultz, who says he once relied on the same kind of help he’s now providing.
“Sometimes I didn’t have money for food, and I was on commission at the time, so it was difficult between paychecks,” Schultz said. “It really made a difference between having food and not having food. I know they’re in the same position I was, so I’m trying to do my part to give back.”
Joshua’s Heart Foundation is one of several nonprofits tapped by Miami-Dade County to help ramp up emergency food drives during the shutdown.
Lawmakers, Schultz said, “need to help pantries more now because we’re going to be picking up the slack of the people (who) need help now.”
Jazombek shared a similar message.
“I just want them to know that this is not the way to go,” Jazombek said. “This is not how we treat one another. If you know every night you get to go home and you get to have a meal, wouldn’t it be nice to know everybody in our community gets to have a meal?”
For more information on how to help those in need, visit MiamiDade.gov/CARES, FarmShare.org, www.mowsoflo.org, unitedwaybroward.org,uccftl.org/ruthministry or joshuasheart.org.
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