Florida’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) supports millions. In fiscal year 2024, an average of about 2.98 million Floridians—roughly 12 percent to 13 percent of the state—received benefits each month. Locally, the most recent county-level counts show that about 36,680 Manatee residents and 26,404 Sarasota residents participated in 2022. Current reporting indicates the Manatee total at risk from this disruption is closer to 40,000 people as of early November 2025.

The USDA funds SNAP, and because of the current federal government shutdown, Florida’s Department of Children and Families says it cannot issue November benefits. Beneficiaries may still see eligibility notices, but deposits to EBT cards won’t occur until appropriations resume. Federal courts have ordered the administration to tap into emergency contingency funds—roughly $4.6 billion—to issue partial benefits, but that reserve covers only about half of a typical month’s payments and many recipients face delay or uncertainty.

We’ve put together a list of organizations and nonprofits working hard to fill in the gaps. Many of these groups are also accepting donations. Please check with each provider, as organized meal-service schedules and drive-through distributions can vary by day and availability.

Downtown and North Sarasota

Meals on Wheels Sarasota 

421 N. Lime Ave.

All Faiths Food Bank Food Finder

Serving Sarasota and DeSoto counties

Friendship Baptist Church

5700 Palmer Blvd.

Roy McBean Boys and Girls Club

1790 21st St.

First Presbyterian Church

2050 Oak St.

Second Chance, Last Opportunity

1933 Dr Martin Luther King Way

Dollar Dynasty

1922 Dr. Martin Luther King Way

Harvest House 

3650 17th St.

Salvation Army Center of Hope

1400 10th St.

Islamic Society of Sarasota and Bradenton  

4350 N. Lockwood Ridge Road

Northminster Presbyterian Church

3131 61st St.

Senior Friendship Centers, Inc.

1888 Brother Geenen Way

St Jude Catholic Church

3930 17th St.

Truvine Missionary Baptist Church

1947 31st St.

Veteran Helpers  

5711 83rd Terrace E.

Bethlehem Baptist Church

1680 18th St.

Bon Samaritain Community Outreach

6370 15th St. E.

Caritas Food Ministry – First Sarasota Baptist Church

1661 Main St., Suite 200

South Sarasota

HCA Florida Venice Doctors Emergency–Community Food Drive

901 US 41 Bypass South, Venice
Now through Nov. 17
Collecting nonperishable food donations for All Faiths Food Bank. Drop items—especially peanut butter, jelly, shelf-stable milk, beans and canned meats—at the hospital’s front-lobby collection boxes any time. The emergency room is open 24-7.

Community Assistance Ministry

4365 S.R. 776, Venice

Center of Hope

2395 Shamrock Drive, Venice

South County Food Pantry 

121 Warfield Ave., Venice

Laurel Civic Association 

509 Collins Road

Englewood Methodist Church 

700 E. Dearborn St.

St. Paul Lutheran Church 

2256 Bahia Vista St.

GraceLife Food Pantry at The Nightlife Center

5656 Swift Road

New Life Worship Center

2105 Worrington St.

St Thomas More’s Twelve Baskets Food Pantry

2506 Gulf Gate Drive

St Wilfred Episcopal Church

3773 Wilkinson Road

Church of the Palms

3224 Bee Ridge Road

Trinity Presbyterian Church Community Assistance

43654 State Road 776, Venice

Laurel Civic Association

509 Collins Road, Laurel

Salvation Army

1051 Albee Farm Road

Church of the Nazarene

Nokomis Park, 234 Nippino Trail E., Nokomis

Manatee County

Fifty Third Avenue Church of Christ

3412 53rd Ave E., Bradenton

Amazing Grace COGIC

905 9th Ave. W., Palmetto

Mt. Carmel Community Center

1314 2nd Ave. E., Bradenton

St. Joseph Food Pantry

2704 33rd Ave. W., Bradenton

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

1010 24th Ave. W., Palmetto

Parrish United Methodist Church

12180 301 N., Parrish

Bayside Community Church

5051 26th St. W. Bradenton

Hungers End Manatee

1802 14th St. W., Bradenton

Our Daily Bread Meal

710 18th Ave. W., Bradenton

First Presbyterian of Bradenton

1402 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton

Manatee Baptist Church

1501 7th Ave. E., Bradenton

Oneco Hope Global Methodist

2112 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton

Helping Hand Outreach

320 6th Ave. W., Bradenton

Christ Episcopal Church

4030 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton

Myakka City United Methodist Church

10525 Lebanon St., Myakka City

First United Methodist Palmetto

330 11th Ave. W., Palmetto

Stillpoint Mission

1608 14th St. W., Bradenton

Woodland Community Church

9607 State Road 70 E., Bradenton

Palmview First Baptist Church

415 49th St. E., Palmetto

Hunger’s End Inc.

1802 14th St. W., Bradenton

Dream Church

1820 53rd Ave. W., Bradenton

Bethel Church

1805 30th Ave. W., Bradenton

Church of Restoration

3505 5th St. E., Bradenton

Roser Memorial Community Church

512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria Island

More Resources: 

• Join this Facebook Group: Free Food Sarasota/Manatee counties
• Click here to download a full list of Manatee County food pantries.
• Manatee County residents can also text FTBFYI to (833) 530-3663 to stay updated on hot meal locations and distribution schedules. (Tip: Bring ID and bags. Some pantries require ID or proof of residency.)

Free Grocery Delivery

SNAP recipients can now access free delivery and waived service fees through DoorDash at select stores, including Sprouts and Dollar General.

Cash Off Grocery Delivery

GoPuff offers a $50 grocery credit split across November for SNAP users. SNAP users must add their EBT card and use promo codes throughout the month to save.

• Here's how: Add a SNAP EBT card to your GoPuff account. Add SNAP-eligible groceries to cart. Through Nov. 15, use code SNAPRELIEF1 at checkout for $25 off SNAP-eligible items and free delivery. From Nov. 16-30: Use code SNAPRELIEF2 at checkout for $25 off SNAP-eligible items and free delivery.

Kids Eat Free at Select Chicken Salad Chick Locations in Bradenton

Children can receive a free Kid’s Meal with no purchase necessary while SNAP remains suspended. The child must be present to qualify.

For more information on SNAP, click here.