Deeper Purpose Food Ministries had to close its gates on Tuesday. With 450 cars already idling in its 14 acres of parking space, the food pantry ran out of room as more cars tried to turn off US 441 and attend a Thanksgiving grocery distribution. 

Pastor Adam Joy said the food ministry never encountered a parking problem in the past, but even with the federal government shutdown ended and benefits returning to residents, he said the community need for food remains high. 

“This is just affecting everybody, even the people that don’t get SNAP,” Joy said. “The rising cost of everything, it’s hurting a lot of people, even working families.” 

Joy said the ministry used to get 10 phone calls each day and now receives around 40 calls from across Florida. Joy said people will see the Deeper Purpose Facebook page with information about food and reach out. Earlier this week, the Deeper Purpose clarified online that the ministry is located in High Springs.  

Joy said they’ll serve anyone who arrives, but the ministry can’t deliver to everyone reaching out from other areas. He said the pantry already needs more volunteers during open hours. 

Federal SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) payments arrived in the last week, but local leaders said the ripples will continue through at least the next month.  

Bread of the Mighty Food Bank received $100,000 from both the city of Gainesville and Alachua County for its emergency food program, along with a planned contribution by Children’s Trust of Alachua County and community member donations.   

The emergency food program buys boxes to provide for distribution pantries. Bread of the Mighty is scheduled to provide a set quantity of food to each of its 150 partners. As demand rises, the food bank is trying to increase distribution. 

Bread of the Mighty CEO Patrick Dodds said the uncertainty and demand from the shutdown will continue.  

“We’re still seeing long lines. We’re seeing double the number of people accessing our website and our Find Food platform,” Dodds said. “So, we know there’s a lot of people out there that are still trying to figure out how do they put food on the table and manage everything.”  

Mayor Harvey Ward said the city isn’t a social services agency like other government entities, but he said Gainesville gets involved when needed during emergencies. 

But Ward said food insecurity still impacts the city through struggling residents and the strong potential of increasing crime. 

“There are pragmatic reasons for local government to make sure that everybody is fed,” Ward said. “There are moral and ethical reasons, and those are the ones that hopefully everybody would act by in the first place.”  

In addition to the funds for Bread of the Mighty, Alachua County also dedicated $100,000 to provide fresh foods in addition to more shelf-stable items provided by the food pantry’s emergency boxes. This fresh produce support is for SNAP recipients and grown on local farms.  

Alachua County said Frog Song Organics is sourcing the produce from their Hawthorne farm and other farms in the area. The produce will be distributed through six community resource centers in the area. 

The centers were able to order set quantities of around 80 different produce items that are in season, and the first distribution will occur early next week.

Spokesperson Mark Sexton said the county immediately released a $50,000 split between the six centers. The centers placed their purchase orders through Frog Song Organics, and he said the county is waiting to see how the first wave of supplies is used and how it may adjust the program. 

Six Alachua County Community Resource Centers 

• Library Partnership Resource Center (912 NE 16th Ave., Gainesville) – Distribution on Tues., Nov. 25 at 10 a.m. For more information, call 352-334-0160. 

• Willie Mae Stokes Community Center (355 NW Eestalustee (6th) Ave., Micanopy) – Distribution on Wed., Nov. 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call 352-466-1136 or follow on Facebook. 

• Hawthorne Area Resource Center (21923 SE 67th Pl., Hawthorne) – Distributions Mon. – Fri. from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 352-450-5421 or follow on Facebook. 

• Resource Center of Deeper Purpose (19975 NW 244th St., Unit 30, High Springs) – Distributions on Fri. from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 352-454-8493 or follow on Facebook. 

• One Community Family Resource Center (1725 SE 1st Ave., Gainesville) – Distributions on Mon. – Wed. from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information, call 352-283-2185. 

• SWAG Family Resource Center (807 SW 64th Terr., Gainesville) – Distribution is on Sat., Nov. 22 at 10:30 a.m. For more information, call 352-505-6823 or visit their website. 

Alachua County also dedicated a smaller portion of the funds to allow SNAP recipients to access $25 worth of goods at two local farmers markets. SNAP recipients must be able to show an EBT card and proof of residency. 

The farmers markets are Grove Street Farmers Market, located at 1001 NW 4th St., Gainesville and open Mondays from 4 to 7 p.m., and High Springs Farmers Market, located at 23517 NW 185th Road, High Springs and open Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m.