In Central Florida, the battle to cover basic expenses persists, especially as the festive season approaches. Catholic Charities' food pantries, in partnership with the Second Harvest Food Bank, strive to boost their supplies during this time. Melanie King, a recipient of Catholic Charities' food pantry, shared her experience. "When fuel prices soared, it was a real struggle to get by. We even had to close our business."

Impacts of Rising Prices on Families

King has called Orlando home for eight years and is well-acquainted with the effects of increasing gas, food, and rent prices on a household. In their time of need, she and her husband searched for ways to make ends meet. "We really needed some assistance," King said. "We looked around and found that this food pantry was one of the options available to us."King is one of the nearly 500 families that the Catholic Charities Food Pantry on Semoran Boulevard serves weekly.

Providing for the Holidays

"It definitely makes a huge difference in keeping food on the table," King said. "I can cook dinner for my family every night. Without this pantry, our situation would be quite difficult." As Thanksgiving and Christmas draw near, the need for assistance only grows. Maria Urdaneta, an assistant manager at the food pantry, explained, "The families coming here are asking for turkeys for Thanksgiving and toys for Christmas."Beyond the holidays, the pantry managers emphasize that this need persists throughout the year. "Currently, the cost of food is extremely high," Urdaneta said. "When families come here seeking food or something for their children, it's crucial to have places like this to support them."

Finding Food Assistance

If you are in need of food assistance, you can easily locate a food pantry near you through the Second Harvest's Food Finder Tool. Click here to download our free news, weather, and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.