OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – In Osceola County, some local food pantries are seeing a marked increase in demand as the ongoing government shutdown places many employees in precarious financial positions. With food prices rising, residents who have lost paychecks are turning to community assistance programs to get by.
Laudelino Morales, a service technician currently out of work, said he has been forced to rely on pantry distributions to feed his family.
“I don’t have no milk in my house right now, it’s serious,” Morales said, speaking emotionally during a visit to the Church and Community Assistance Program. He described the situation as “touching ” and said he is willing to take any available work to make ends meet.
The pressure of the shutdown is compounded by the approaching holidays.
“It’s really tough right now, especially with the holidays around the corner,” Morales said, adding that the uncertainty has left him unsure how his family will be able to celebrate Thanksgiving.
Olga Gonzalez, former mayor of Kissimmee and founder of the Church and Community Assistance Program in 1999, said the 501 (c)3 organization has experienced a steady rise in clients since the shutdown began. Gonzalez noted that those seeking help include a broad cross-section of the workforce.
“I’m talking about police officers, I’m talking about government people, teachers,” she said, emphasizing that the crisis is affecting people who once might not have needed such services.
Gonzalez criticized the timing of the shutdown and its human toll.
“This shutdown, I don’t think it was called for, because they know people are hurting because of the shutdown,” she said.
She also urged residents to accept assistance without shame.
“It’s not a handout, it’s a hand up,” Gonzalez said. “Don’t feel bad because you are coming to get a box of food. You need to survive. And we are here to help you survive.”
Those receiving aid expressed gratitude mixed with emotional strain.
“It really hurts, it really hits down here,” Gonzales said, adding that faith and perseverance are helping them cope during the uncertainty.
Osceola County’s community organizations continue to coordinate pantry hours and distributions to meet growing needs as the shutdown stretches on. The increase in demand highlights the broader economic repercussions of stalled federal operations on local households and nonprofit support networks.