Feeding the Gulf Coast Adding 1-Thousand Meals to Thanksgiving Food Distribution

Escambia County, FL (Newsradio 92.3) -- Food pantries across Northwest Florida are seeing unprecedented demand heading into Thanksgiving. The federal government shutdown and disruptions to SNAP benefits have forced organizations like Feeding the Gulf Coast to dramatically ramp up their distributions. CEO Michael Ledger says they're preparing 1,000 additional meals compared to last year—a fifty percent increase overall. At one recent distribution, more than a thousand people showed up, with some families waiting in their cars for hours. Ledger says it shows just how desperate folks are right now. Feeding the Gulf Coast typically hands out 6,000 meals for Thanksgiving. This year, they're aiming for 7,000. Several other food giveaways are happening this week across the area if you need assistance.