South Florida families turn to food pantries amid rising costs

Working families in South Florida are increasingly relying on food pantries to manage rising living costs. High expenses for gasoline and groceries are forcing employed individuals to seek assistance from organizations such as Feeding South Florida and Catholic Charities to cover basic needs.

In the Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach areas, the financial pressure is significant. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that gasoline prices rose 28.9% in August 2026 compared to the previous year, while meat, poultry, fish, and eggs increased by 6.1% during the same period.

Paco Vélez, executive director of Feeding South Florida, estimates that approximately 1.7 million people across Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe counties struggle to afford food. This trend coincides with a decline in food assistance; in June 2026, roughly 2.3 million Florida residents received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, a nearly 20% decrease from June 2025.