Opinion
Florida nonprofit faces growing demand as SNAP changes loom
A Delray Beach nonprofit, Eat Better, Live Better, is continuing to help families as Florida prepares for changes to the program funding starting Oct. 1.
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. —
Millions of Americans have lost access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food assistance since a new federal budget law took effect, and Florida is preparing for another significant change that will shift 75% of the program’s administrative costs to the state starting Oct. 1.
Eat Better, Live Better, a nonprofit in Delray Beach, is working to support families struggling financially with proper nutrition. The organization provides grocery assistance and operates an in-house affordable farmers market for the community.
“Right now, people are making tough decisions every single day even if they didn’t have to a year ago,” said Debra Tendrich, founder of Eat Better, Live Better.
Tendrich explained that the loss of SNAP benefits directly impacts her organization.
“Someone losing SNAP benefits to us is another person walking through our doors and another bag that we have to fill to make sure that someone, a senior, a family with a child, or someone in our community is taken care of and has food on their plates,” she said.
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, about 5 million people have lost access to SNAP since the new budget law was passed. Tendrich said rising food costs and the loss of SNAP benefits have stretched her nonprofit thin as it works to ensure people are not only eating but eating healthy.
“Eat Better, Live Better is getting about 50 to 100 new family applications every month just for those currently needing assistance,” Tendrich said. “Throughout a year, we actually reach about 200,000 people annually, and with our grocery assistance program, we feed about 8,000 people every month. That is quite high right now.”
Despite the challenges, Tendrich said the organization continues to feed people throughout the county with the support of volunteers, local businesses, and community members. However, she emphasized the need for ongoing support, especially as the holiday season approaches.
“We’re always in need of food right now, especially as we enter the holiday season,” Tendrich said. “We would love the community to adopt our organization to host food drives, to donate to us, to host a fundraiser for us, to really even just be a volunteer.”
Food donations can be dropped off directly at Eat Better, Live Better’s store. Items currently in high demand include peanut butter, canned tuna or chicken, and canned vegetables. Monetary donations can also be made to the Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast food banks.
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