GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - A North Central Florida nonprofit is reporting one of its highest levels of need in years as families continue to struggle with delays in SNAP benefits and rising grocery prices ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Food4Kids Backpack Program of North Florida, which serves four counties and provides weekend meal bags to children experiencing food insecurity, says demand has surged more than 12% in the past week alone. The organization expects that number to grow as schools prepare to close for Thanksgiving break.

“We know that it is an emergency, but we are prepared,” Executive Director Margot DeConna said.

DeConna said many parents are being forced to make difficult financial decisions, describing situations where families are choosing between paying rent, keepi

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