Food Assistance to Central Florida Residents Impacted by Hurricane Irma

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have partnered to provide food assistance to Florida residents impacted by Hurricane Irma.

The Food for Florida Disaster food Assistance Program is available to residents in 48 different Florida counties included in the FEMA’s disaster declaration.

There are restrictions to the program.  First, applicants can not be receiving SNAP food assistance.  They must also demonstrate a financial loss as a direct result of Hurricane Irma.

If approved, recipients will receive an Electronic Benefits Transfer card to purchase food.

DCF is now in the process of opening temporary offices throughout the state to give residents a place to register.

More than 12,000 central Florida residents have already visited the Lake/Sumter County office.

DCF is opening another office this weekend in Kissimmee.  The office will be open from October 7-11 at Osceola Heritage Park, Exhibition Hall B.  DCF representatives will be available daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Officials are urging residents to APPLY ONLINE before visiting a temporary DCF office to save time.

Additional offices will open in Brevard, Orange and Seminole counties in the coming weeks.