Delray Beach, Fla. — As Florida readies to assume 75% of the administrative costs for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on Oct. 1, local nonprofit Eat Better, Live Better is seeing a sharp rise in demand for its grocery‑assistance services. Founder Debra Tendrich says the organization is fielding between 50 and 100 new family applications each month, bringing its annual reach to roughly 200,000 people and feeding about 8,000 individuals each month.
State funding shift fuels local need
The new federal budget law that took effect earlier this year has already cut SNAP access for an estimated five million Americans, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. In Florida, the upcoming cost‑share change means the state will cover most of the program’s overhead, a move that could tighten eligibility and push more families toward community resources.
“Right now, people are making tough decisions every single day even if they didn’t have to a year ago,” Tendrich told WPBF. “Someone losing SNAP benefits to us is another person walking through our doors and another bag that we have to fill to make sure that someone—a senior, a family with a child, or someone in our community—is taken care of and has food on their plates.”
How Eat Better, Live Better helps
The nonprofit operates an in‑house affordable farmers market and provides direct grocery assistance. High‑demand items include peanut butter, canned tuna or chicken, and canned vegetables. Volunteers, local businesses, and community members contribute food and labor, allowing the organization to keep its shelves stocked despite rising food prices.
“We’re always in need of food right now, especially as we enter the holiday season,” Tendrich added. “We would love the community to adopt our organization to host food drives, to donate to us, to host a fundraiser for us, to really even just be a volunteer.” Donations—both food and monetary—can be dropped off at the nonprofit’s store or directed to the Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast food banks.
Looking ahead
With the state‑level cost shift looming, Eat Better, Live Better is calling on residents of Palm Beach County to step up. The organization hopes that increased volunteerism and donations will offset the anticipated surge in families seeking assistance.
“Our mission is to ensure families not only have food, but have healthy food,” Tendrich said. “We’re prepared to meet the challenge, but we need the community’s help to keep our shelves full and our families fed.”
Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.
