JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville businesses are stepping up to help families affected by the SNAP benefit delay. At Jerome Brown BBQ on the Northside, Katrina Brown, the daughter of the restaurant owner, and staff are feeding hundreds of people and expect to serve thousands throughout the day.
Katrina Brown said she is motivated to help because if the community is struggling, then she is struggling too.
“In the first hour, we were feeding hundreds of people, and we’re going to keep this going through the night,” Katrina said.
Day 32 of the government shutdown brought uncertainty for millions of Americans waiting for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Now, it’s unclear when or if those benefits will arrive.
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Several people in the restaurant shared how the SNAP delay is impacting their families. Alicia Davis, a Northside resident, said the benefits usually arrive on the second of the month for her.
“November is a bad time for these stamps to get cut because it’s Thanksgiving time,” she said.
Davis is concerned about the rising cost of food and insufficient wages.
“It’s about to get hectic because food is expensive...jobs don’t pay enough...and they’re cutting EBT? Yeah, it’s about to get crazy,” Davis said.
Davis said she is grateful for businesses like this that are helping people.
“Stuff like this, man, that could be the point of life or death for somebody on the streets. You never know,” she said.
Meanwhile, judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ruled the administration cannot stop funding SNAP benefits amid the shutdown. They have given the administration until Monday to develop a plan.
As a result, many people are left wondering when they will receive their benefits and whether the payments will be full or partial.
Also at the restaurant was former city councilman Reggie Gaffney, providing funding for the restaurant and families waiting for their food. He told News4Jax he hopes more businesses in Jacksonville, especially on the Northside, will join the effort to support families during this difficult time.
“We got some sad stories in here, I heard them all today, and so I’m asking you to help us,” said Gaffney.
If you need a meal and would like to make an order with Jerome Brown BBQ, text your name and phone number to 904-532-0286 and Katrina says she will personally give you a call to confirm pickup.