Statement from Judith Cruz, President & CEO
As the government shutdown drags into November, Treasure Coast Food Bank is gravely concerned about its escalating impact on the thousands of families we proudly serve across our community.
Federal employees are missing paychecks. Small businesses and farmers who depend on government contracts are losing critical income. For the first time in history, SNAP benefits—an essential lifeline for millions—have been suspended.
Here at home, more than 80,000 Treasure Coast families have lost the support they rely on to keep food on the table. This disruption is driving already high levels of food insecurity even higher and deepening hardship for our neighbors.
Treasure Coast Food Bank is now serving more people every week than ever before. With the loss of SNAP assistance adding to an already strained system it is pushing our resources to the breaking point. Without immediate and sustained support, our ability to meet the growing need is also at risk.
Access to food for children, seniors, and families should never be used as a bargaining chip in political debates. Hunger is not a partisan issue; it’s a human one.
Our elected leaders must honor the oath they took to serve by protecting the health, stability, and dignity of every constituent. Ensuring that our most vulnerable neighbors have food on their tables is not a matter of policy—it’s a matter of principle and compassion.
Meeting this moment will take all of us—lawmakers, businesses, faith leaders, and community members—standing together in urgency and compassion. The time to act is now. Together, we can ensure that every family on the Treasure Coast has access to the food and hope they need.
