Florida
Central Florida sees surge in food aid requests as WIC delays hit vulnerable households
ORLANDO, Fla. – More than 420,000 Floridians use WIC, according to a 2024 USDA report — the fourth highest number in the country.
However, those benefits are delayed for many in Central Florida due to the government shutdown, leaving families without a way to pay for baby formula and nutritional food for their children.
Destiny Perez-Prado is trying to figure out how she’s going to feed her seven children this month since her WIC and SNAP benefits are delayed.
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“It’s still just heartbreaking, you know, to think that for Thanksgiving, we might not be able to celebrate Thanksgiving — you know, have the food that we need, food that would be typically accessible to us,” Perez-Prado said.
Her benefits pay for around $800 in groceries each month, and WIC specifically covers her more expensive items like baby formula, Pediasure, and other nutritional foods.
“It’s so expensive. Just a can of formula — the cheapest is $28, I believe. And it’s crazy. Some kids need specialized formulas,” she said.
Between being a single mother, college student, and self-employed, Perez-Prado says getting a second job to afford groceries is nearly impossible.
“I have two children with autism — a little girl and a little boy — and then my third with ADHD. So for that, you know, it’s hard for me to keep a consistent job, even with my degree,” she explained.
One Heart for Women and Children is stepping in to help Perez-Prado. Founder Stephanie Bowman says about 30,000 people in Orange County use WIC — and many of them now need extra help.
“We’ve had 500 calls just this week from individuals we’ve never seen or heard from before,” Bowman said.
One Heart typically helps around 20,000 people per month, but that demand is rising due to the shutdown.
“What we’ve had to do is give families less food — and we never want to do that. But we want to make sure that every individual who comes to us can get food,” Bowman added.
Perez-Prado says she’s working to become financially stable one day, but right now her priority is feeding her kids.
“You know, they still deserve to eat. They’re babies — they didn’t ask to be here. And even if we as parents didn’t go about it the way certain people think we should to avoid problems like this, it’s still a problem. We’re still here, and we still need help,” she said.
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Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – SNAP benefits for thousands of families here in Central Florida are cut off, leaving many scrambling to afford the food they need, including local seniors. Many have medical needs that require special diets, and they say food banks just can’t always meet them.
“Being a citizen and being on the income that I’m on—it is hard. To tell you the truth, it’s unfair,” said senior Shirley Williford, who is among those impacted by the delay.
On Saturday, Williford and another local senior, Kim Augenstein, received notifications that their SNAP benefits for November would be pushed back. For Williford, who lives on a fixed income and doesn’t have transportation, it’s a nightmare.
“I only have high blood pressure. I kind of went on a diet myself. The food that I need for my diet—I’m not going to be able to get it,” Williford said.
Augenstein, who was recently diagnosed with diabetes, said losing those benefits could put her health at risk. “When you’re almost a diabetic or you are a diabetic, you have to have that food for your insulin. If you go without food, that’s a big problem,” she said.
[VIDEO: Central Florida food programs face challenges as federal SNAP support stops]
Now, the seniors are relying on local organizations in Osceola County, such as Clarita’s House Outreach Ministries and the Black Empowerment and Community Council, which are already seeing a rising demand.
“Families are already so tight with money and resources. For us to be at this critical time, it’s important that we rally together,” said Tiffany Jeffers with the Black Empowerment and Community Council.
But those groups say the ongoing government shutdown is also limiting the resources they can offer. “The grant writers keep saying we can’t do this one or that one. So many programs are being cut. Some of the grants we would normally get—recurring grants—we’re no longer getting, and that’s definitely because of government funding,” said Doreen Barker, founder of Clarita’s House Outreach Ministries.
In the meantime, seniors are helping each other by sharing rides and picking up groceries—but they’re still hoping the shutdown ends soon.
“I don’t think it needs to be cut down. It doesn’t need to be cut off—because I depend on those food stamps,” Williford said.
The Black Empowerment and Community Council is partnering with Solid Rock Community Church in Kissimmee and AARP next week to distribute food and resources to those impacted by the SNAP delays.
Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.
Condon averaged 10.6 points and a team-leading 7.5 rebounds for the Gators’ 2024-25 national championship team and posted seven double-doubles and earned third-team honors on the coaches All-SEC team. The Perth, Australia, native has totaled 668 career points and 508 rebounds through his first two seasons at UF. Condon has already picked up preseason AP All-America, first-team All-SEC and NABC Player of the Year Watch List recognition heading into the 2025-26 season.
Condon joins a trio of teammates as preseason Naismith Starting 5 honorees previously announced this season: Boogie Fland (Bob Cousy Award), Xaivian Lee (Jerry West Award) and Thomas Haugh (Karl Malone Award). The Abdul-Jabbar Award has been presented since 2015, and Condon is the first Gator to make its watch list since Colin Castleton (2022-23).
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Preseason Watch List
| Malique Ewin | Arkansas |
| Moustapha Thiam | Cincinnati |
| Owen Freeman | Creighton |
| Patrick Ngongba | Duke |
| Alex Condon | Florida |
| Chris Cenac | Houston |
| Tomislav Ivišić | Illinois |
| Flory Bidunga | Kansas |
| Jayden Quaintance | Kentucky |
| Ernest Udeh Jr. | Miami |
| Aday Mara | Michigan |
| Rienk Mast | Nebraska |
| Henri Versaar | North Carolina |
| Nate Bittle | Oregon |
| Oscar Cluff | Purdue |
| Robbie Avila | Saint Louis |
| Magoon Gwath | San Diego State |
| Zuby Ejiofor | St. John’s |
| Felix Okpara | Tennessee |
| Tarris Reed, Jr. | UConn |
2025-26 Florida Men’s Basketball Ticket Information
Traditional season tickets are officially SOLD OUT for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Arena Pass
Arena Passes are officially SOLD OUT for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Single Games
Single-game tickets for the 2025-26 Florida men’s basketball season are now on sale.
Fans can purchase tickets at FloridaGators.com, by calling the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683, or in person at Gate 2 on the west side of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
All Gators Weekend Pack
The All Gators Weekend Pack is now available, which includes the Florida men’s basketball game against Merrimack on Friday, November 21, and the Florida football game against Tennessee on Saturday, November 22, for only $149 plus taxes/fees.
All fans attending the Merrimack men’s basketball game will receive a 2025 NCAA National Championship replica ring, presented by Meldon Law.
Haugh averaged 9.8 points and 6.1 rebounds as Florida’s sixth man on the 2025 national championship team. Haugh had four double-doubles and led the Gators in rebounding on eight occasions last season, also the only player to score in all 40 games for Florida. The New Oxford, Pa., native earned 2025 NCAA West Region All-Tournament Team honors after posting 20 points and 11 rebounds in the Gators’ Elite Eight win vs. Texas Tech. He has been the recipient of preseason second-team All-SEC honors by media vote heading into the 2025-26 campaign.
Haugh joins teammates Boogie Fland (Bob Cousy Award) and Xaivian Lee (Jerry West Award) as preseason Naismith Starting 5 honorees. The Malone Award has been presented since 2015, and Haugh is the first Gator to make its watch list since Dorian Finney-Smith (2015-16).
Karl Malone Award Preseason Watch List
| Koa Peat | Arizona |
| Keyshawn Hall | Auburn |
| Michael Rataj | Baylor |
| Alex Karaban | UConn |
| Cameron Boozer | Duke |
| Thomas Haugh | Florida |
| Graham Ike | Gonzaga |
| Joseph Tugler | Houston |
| Alvaro Folgueiras | Iowa |
| Joshua Jefferson | Iowa State |
| Malik Reneau | Miami |
| Yaxel Lendeborg | Michigan |
| Caleb Wilson | North Carolina |
| Nick Martinelli | Northwestern |
| Trey Kaufman-Renn | Purdue |
| Baye Ndongo | Georgia Tech |
| Bryce Hopkins | St. John’s |
| Donnie Freeman | Syracuse |
| JT Toppin | Texas Tech |
| Tyler Bilodeau | UCLA |
2025-26 Florida Men’s Basketball Ticket Information
Traditional season tickets are officially SOLD OUT for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Arena Pass
Arena Passes are officially SOLD OUT for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Single Games
Single-game tickets for the 2025-26 Florida men’s basketball season are now on sale.
Fans can purchase tickets at FloridaGators.com, by calling the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683, or in person at Gate 2 on the west side of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
All Gators Weekend Pack
The All Gators Weekend Pack is now available, which includes the Florida men’s basketball game against Merrimack on Friday, November 21, and the Florida football game against Tennessee on Saturday, November 22, for only $149 plus taxes/fees.
All fans attending the Merrimack men’s basketball game will receive a 2025 NCAA National Championship replica ring, presented by Meldon Law.
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