Jacksonville Council Sets Emergency Vote on Competing Food Bank Aid Bills

SNAP disruptions have strained household budgets across Duval County, driving a short-term push to bolster Feeding Northeast Florida.

Overview

An emergency meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday will consider two measures to fund Feeding Northeast Florida, with approval requiring 13 of 19 council votes.
Bill 2025-0858, sponsored by Ju'Coby Pittman, Rahman Johnson and Reggie Gaffney Jr., would send $2 million split between the city's general fund reserves and City Council reserves.
Bill 2025-0857, from Council President Kevin Carrico and Ron Salem, would provide $200,000 from the General Fund Budget Stabilization Reserve and estimates feeding about 25,000 people.
Following a federal funding lapse, SNAP interruptions have reduced access to food for many Duval residents, and Mayor Donna Deegan cautioned benefits could take weeks to normalize even if Washington reopens.
Feeding Northeast Florida serves more than 310,000 people, including 95,000 children, and CEO Susan King says cash donations are the fastest way to scale help as distributions draw large crowds, including a Wednesday event at Eartha's Farm & Market on Moncrief Road.