Families in Osceola County, Florida, are turning in greater numbers to a Salvation Army mobile pantry as they look for help covering grocery costs.
Here's what to know
Since the Salvation Army of Osceola County began the mobile food pantry in June for the Poinciana area, demand has grown quickly.
The organization served 52 families after 42 had registered in advance, according to WKMG ClickOrlando. The program had served 25 households when it debuted, so the 42 advance registrations marked a 68% increase in participation.
Sasha Teman, the Salvation Army's Orlando Area Command public relations manager, said the pantry is reserved for Osceola County residents.
"The mobile food pantry is a service that has been administered to the Osceola County community. So, it only serves Osceola County residents," Teman explained.
Each bag contains 13 nonperishable items, including pasta, rice, cereal, oatmeal, canned vegetables and fruit, canned meat, dried and canned beans, shelf-stable dairy items, and bread.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
The Salvation Army says the bags are worth $22 to $24 apiece and are meant to help families make their budgets stretch during difficult times.
More background
Teman said the organization expects the number of families seeking help to continue rising.
"It really goes to show you that that number keeps on increasing; demand is increasing," Teman said.
What can be done?
The Salvation Army says it plans to keep the pantry operating, but it needs community support to do that. That support includes both monetary contributions and donations of nonperishable food.
People who want to help can give online through The Salvation Army of Osceola County, call 321-304-5125 and direct a donation to the mobile food pantry, or bring nonperishable items in person.
"As more and more people register, as more people find out about this service in our community, we're just expecting that number to continue to increase. We're going to keep on meeting that demand. But in order for us to do that, in order for us to maintain the service, we also need our community to help us out as well," Teman said.
Where can I learn more?
Similar efforts elsewhere offer a look at how communities keep food assistance flowing. They show the kinds of partnerships and food-recovery systems that can stretch donations further as demand climbs.
• Food banks worldwide delivered 1.7 billion meals in 2024 while rescuing usable food from landfills.
• In Massachusetts, a food pantry uses haddock chowder to stretch food budgets and boost protein options.
• A Texas food bank opened a new distribution hub to speed deliveries as pantry demand stays high.
They also show what it takes behind the scenes to keep pantry programs stocked and responsive. For Osceola County, that offers a clearer sense of how community support can translate into more bags ready on distribution day.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
