CLAY COUNTY – Suzanna packed four sacks of groceries in her car and slowly shut the door. She paused before getting behind the wheel to take a deep breath. 

For the first time in weeks, she and her mother won’t be eating off-brand boxed macaroni and cheese for dinner. They will have meat and vegetables, and maybe fruit. 

Like millions of others across the nation, there has been an inadequate supply of nutritious food. The recent 43-day government shutdown that came when Congress failed to pass a short-term funding bill only exacerbated the hardships, because it meant 1.4 million government employees went without paychecks, and 42 million people didn’t receive their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. 

So, they relied on food banks and local charities. 

Although eight Democrat Senators crossed the aisle and voted to end the shutdown on Friday, Nov. 11, bank accounts and kitchen cabinets remained empty for many. On Monday, the line at the Clothes Closet and Food Pantry in Orange Park stretched into the parking lot, with many waiting to get a free turkey for the Thanksgiving holiday. 

“At the beginning of the year, we were averaging 39 clients a day,” said Dan Stevens, who tracks donations. “In the middle of October, we averaged 50 clients a day. In the first two weeks of November, we averaged 63 individuals visiting for food each day. So that's how the numbers have progressed. It spiked during the shutdown.” 

Volunteers and food pantries said their services were intended to supplement families receiving food stamps or facing financial difficulties. 

They realized over the last month that many were relying on food banks as their primary source of nutrition. While the shutdown has ended, the government has been slow to restore paychecks and SNAP benefits. 

“I haven’t been paid (since the shutdown started),” said one woman. “I’m three weeks behind in my bills.” 

Another woman said she relies solely on food banks for her meals. 

“You had to kind of search and go around. I go to two churches a week,” she said. “This is real people, humanity. So here, a lot of people are hungry. A lot of people think they need this food. Some people haven't even received their food stamps yet. They need this food to pass the whole month.” 

The Clothes Closet received a donation of 300 turkeys and some frozen chickens. The organization accepted reservations for all 300, and all were given away last week. If any weren’t picked up or if any more are donated, they will be available for pickup on Monday, Nov. 24. 

The Food Pantry of Green Cove Springs also reported a record number of recipients in the last six weeks. 

“We've had about a 27.28% increase in families since the shutdown, and we monitor everything,” said board member Mike Collins. “We used to allow people to come in six times a year, and now we’ve extended it to seven due to the shutdown. People seem to be a little more desperate, but they’re very humble when they come in. They’re very appreciative, which is very gratifying.” 

He also said there has been about a 15% increase in the number of people enrolling for services at the food pantry since the shutdown started. 

Collins said there’s also been an uptick in donations, especially from local and national companies. In fact, several tons of donations arrived at the Green Cove Springs location warehouse on State Road 16 and at the pick-up location at the back of the Augusta Savage Arts and Community Center in the first two days of the week. 

And like the Clothes Closet, the Food Pantry also received more than 120 turkeys, which were given to families identified as low-income. 

Collins said each donation is about three weeks of food. They are high in protein, and the pantry selects what is provided to make sure the meals are balanced and nutritious. 

“As long as there’s a need, we’ll be here,” Collins said.