Shutdown ends, Sarasota SNAP beneficiaries may have relief on the way

After weeks of uncertainty, relief is finally on the horizon for thousands of Sarasota-Manatee families who depend on SNAP benefits . The federal shutdown that froze food assistance for millions has ended, but the ripple effects remain — pantries stretched thin, parents scrambling, and holidays looming.

While state agencies prepare to restart payments, local nonprofits and food banks brace for a surge in need. Philanthropists, too, are stepping up and matching fund to help families weather the gap as families and those in need wait for food assistance contributions.