Three Mandarin food pantries are among the local organizations providing assistance as food banks across Northeast Florida report growing demand and declining enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

Catholic Charities Jacksonville doubled its food distribution between October 2025 and October 2026, from about 500,000 pounds to more than 1 million pounds, regional director Eileen Seuter told the Florida Times-Union.

The nonprofit's client numbers increased 10% to 15% between April and early October as changes to federal food assistance programs took effect, according to the Times-Union.

Mandarin pantries provide local assistance

In Mandarin, the Mandarin Food Bank at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 11730 Old St. Augustine Road, provides emergency food and clothing to people living in the Mandarin community.

The volunteer-run ministry is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and serves eligible Mandarin residents regardless of religious affiliation.

The food bank requires identification and proof of residence, and clients generally must wait at least four weeks between visits.

Hopewell Church at 3990 Loretto Road and Philip R. Cousin AME Church of Mandarin at 2625 Orange Picker Road are also listed as food assistance providers through the city's Duval Care Coalition.

The coalition brings together faith-based organizations, nonprofits and food banks to provide food assistance across Jacksonville.

Food banks report increasing demand

Feeding Northeast Florida President and CEO Susan King told the Times-Union that SNAP enrollment across the food bank's 12-county service area declined by approximately 67,000 people, representing about $12.7 million per month in food assistance no longer flowing into the region.

At the same time, the average number of people served each month by Feeding Northeast Florida increased 22% in 2026, according to the Times-Union.

"When hundreds of thousands leave the rolls, it can look like need went down, when really it just moved to the food bank and food pantry lines," King told the newspaper.

About 57% of Feeding Northeast Florida's pantry partners reported increasing need, compared with 26% in 2024, King said.

Feeding Northeast Florida distributed more than 38 million pounds of food in 2025 through a network serving 12 counties across Northeast and North Central Florida.

Other Jacksonville nonprofits have also reported increased demand.

LJD Jewish Family & Community Services served 46,134 people during fiscal year 2025-26, which ended June 20, compared with 31,652 the previous year, CEO Colleen Rodriguez told the Times-Union.

Communities In Schools of Jacksonville reported a 14% increase in student enrollment in its programs during the 2025-26 school year. CEO Leon Baxton told the Times-Union that about 97% of participating students qualified for free or reduced-price meals.

Jacksonville tracks SNAP's local impact

The City of Jacksonville estimates that approximately 160,000 residents in 57,000 households rely on SNAP benefits each month.

The average benefit is approximately $190 per person per month, according to the Duval Care Coalition. The city says eight in 10 local SNAP recipients are children or older adults.

SNAP also generates an estimated $50 million in economic activity each month in Jacksonville, according to the coalition.

Feeding Northeast Florida is working to expand its food supply through targeted purchases, retail food rescue partnerships and Farmers Feeding Florida, a statewide program connecting food banks with Florida farmers, ranchers and food producers.

Florida lawmakers formally established the Farmers Feeding Florida Program in state law in 2026. The program coordinates the purchase, transportation and distribution of Florida-grown food through Feeding Florida's statewide food bank network.

Mandarin-area food resources

Mandarin Food Bank at St. Joseph's Catholic Church
11730 Old St. Augustine Road
Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9-11:30 a.m.
904-292-1675

Hopewell Church
3990 Loretto Road
904-309-0276

Philip R. Cousin AME Church of Mandarin
2625 Orange Picker Road
904-262-3083

Residents should contact a pantry before visiting to confirm current hours, eligibility requirements and food availability.

People seeking additional food assistance can call United Way's 211 information and referral service.