Regional food bank received funds to address increased food insecurity, a critical need exacerbated by the government shutdown
Jacksonville, Fla. –– December 3, 2025 –– In a significant move to combat rising food insecurity across Northeast Florida, Feeding Northeast Florida (FNEFL) announced today that it has received a strategic investment of $250,000 from Baptist Health.
This crucial funding will enable FNEFL to distribute more than 215,000 meals to individuals and families across its 12-county service area, made possible through the bulk purchase of essential grocery staples, including fresh produce, dry goods, and proteins. The funds will cover both the cost of purchasing the necessary food and the logistical support required to deliver it to those in need.
The investment addresses the surge in demand for food assistance, which has continued even after the recent lifting of the government shutdown and the temporary hold on SNAP benefits. This support is vital for people who have struggled to meet basic needs while making difficult choices between paying bills, filling prescriptions and securing food. Feeding Northeast Florida reports the recovery post-shutdown will take time, as people had to seek other financial assistance while waiting on government benefits.
“Food insecurity is a complex issue,” said Susan King, President & CEO of Feeding Northeast Florida. “Many of the individuals we served during and since the shutdown have never sought food assistance before. With so many households living paycheck to paycheck, one bump in the road –– like a delayed paycheck due to a shutdown, or the pause of a government program like SNAP –– can make difficult circumstances exponentially worse very quickly. We are grateful for philanthropic supporters, like Baptist Health, who have stepped in to help so we can ensure our neighbors have what they need to feed their families.”
During the shutdown, families who had never needed help before found themselves turning to food assistance for the first time. Among them was Keira M., a Jacksonville mother who waited in line with her young son at a recent FNEFL distribution. Keira said her family quickly burned through their savings after both she and her husband, who are federally employed, stopped receiving pay. “This is our first time at a food drive,” she said. “We have flown through our savings, and we’re stretching everything we can to get us as far as we can.” Her experience reflects the growing number of households pushed into crisis by the shutdown and underscores the urgent need for support as families work to regain stability.
This investment reflects Baptist Health’s mission-driven dedication to enhancing community health and well-being and the importance of being able to respond quickly during a crisis. Supported through operational resources allocated for strategic investments, the funds represent an ongoing effort to address community needs through meaningful relationships and programs that create lasting, positive impact. By leveraging these dedicated resources, Baptist Health collaborates with local organizations, civic leaders and community agencies to strengthen access to care, promote wellness and advance health equity across the region. This approach reflects Baptist Health’s mission to serve with integrity, compassion and excellence while building a healthier future for all.
Katie Ensign, vice president of Community Impact for Baptist Health, said food insecurity remains a top priority as outlined in the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment, which is conducted every three years and is a commitment by Baptist Health and other local nonprofit hospitals to improve health outcomes. The Community Health Needs Assessment shows about 31% of residents in Northeast Florida have low food access, compared to 25% statewide and 22% nationally. These numbers have worsened since the government shutdown and Ensign said the health system knew it needed to act quickly to help the community.
"Consistent with Baptist Health’s mission, we focus on improving the health and well-being of our most vulnerable community members by reaching them where they live, work, pray, and learn,” Ensign said. “We know that lack of access to food leads to poor health outcomes. By collaborating with Feeding Northeast Florida, we can make a significant impact in the lives of people in our community who are struggling to put food on the table, especially during the holiday season.”
Food insecurity is a persistent issue in Northeast Florida, which the food bank works tirelessly to address throughout the year. The need is substantial, with over 310,000 individuals, including 95,000 children, experiencing some level of food insecurity. This means that within the 8,300-square-mile area FNEFL serves, roughly one in seven adults and one in five children are affected. Even though these statistics are alarming and believed to be conservative, the food bank remains committed to its crucial mission: ensuring no one in Northeast Florida goes hungry.
FNEFL encourages everyone that is able to get involved. Feeding Northeast Florida is actively accepting volunteers, food donations and monetary contributions, and is advocating for more food resources. To get involved, visit feedingnefl.org.
Individuals in need of food assistance can find food resources near you through FNEFL’s “find food now” tool at feedingnefl.org/find-food-now.
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About Feeding Northeast Florida
Feeding Northeast Florida (FNEFL) is the region’s largest nonprofit (501c3) food bank and hunger relief network. FNEFL provides nutritious foods and other essential goods to those in need and strives to improve the quality of life for people living in and around Northeast and North Central Florida by addressing food insecurity, poverty and poor health. Alongside our network of food distribution, agency and community partners, the Food Bank provides food resources and hope to help all people living in our 12-county service area (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Levy, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns and Union) who struggle to feed themselves and their families. Feeding Northeast Florida works daily to find solutions to address the issues of food insecurity and poverty through awareness, advocacy, education, and action in ways that promote dignity, respect and empowerment. For more information, visit feedingnefl.org.
About Baptist Health
Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Baptist Health is a community-based health system focused on making health care easier to access while working to improve health and well-being. As the area’s only locally governed, faith-based, not-for-profit health system, Baptist Health delivers a full spectrum of preventive and specialty care through its 200+ ambulatory locations, six acute care hospitals, home health and virtual care offerings. Through its comprehensive approach to whole-person health for children and adults, Baptist Health provides the area’s largest network of primary care, urgent care and behavioral health care, as well as many specialty services and several wellness centers. Destination centers of excellence include Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, Baptist Heart Hospital, Baptist Neurological Institute, and Wolfson Children’s Hospital, the only full-service children’s hospital serving the region. To help people get the care they need when and where they need it, the health system leverages digital technology to enhance the delivery of its high-quality, seamless, patient-centered care. Baptist Health is vital to the community, caring for more patients in Northeast Florida than any other provider. The health system has been consistently ranked as “most preferred” for more than 30 years and has been named one of “America’s Greatest Workplaces in Health Care” by Newsweek magazine. To learn more, visit BaptistJax.com.