JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Since the government shutdown began Oct. 1, many families have faced the sudden loss of SNAP benefits. For Ross Torrence, a father of six in Jacksonville, the November benefits never arrived, forcing him to find new ways to feed his children.
“I’ve just been running around food pantry to food pantry. Who’s available? What do they have available?” Torrence said.
He said pantries are doing everything they can to help, and while it isn’t always a full meal, his family will make it work.
“My kids are all six and under, so some of those things could be part of a meal,” he said.
Torrence works full-time as a manager at Wendy’s, putting in eight to 10-hour shifts. But with SNAP benefits frozen, he has taken on extra work delivering packages, sometimes working up to 18 hours a day to make ends meet.
Ross Torrence drives to his next delivery during the government shutdown. (News4JAX)
“I’m just getting out here day-to-day to try and figure out how best I can have this next meal ready for our kids, whether it’s breakfast lunch and dinner.”
Without SNAP benefits, Torrence must use his delivery earnings to buy food that would have been covered. He said it’s taking away from other essential supplies like diapers.
“As a parent, I should always be able to have that security to provide for my family, not worrying about where the next meal is gonna come from. It should already be there,” he said.
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The uncertainty about when benefits will resume adds to the stress.
“The only answer they have for us is, ‘Hey, we don’t have the funds. We don’t have the benefits. We don’t know when they will come,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Torrence remained determined.
“It’s not easy, but as long as you keep on trying, and you don’t give up. You can get it,” he said.
The U.S. Senate has reportedly come to an agreement to end the government shutdown. However, that is just the first step. With the clock rolling toward 41 days, when the shutdown will end remains uncertain.
“I’m an active parent,” Torrence said. “There’s many more active parents out there working day today. I still have children to provide for.”
He encourages others facing hardship to keep pushing forward.
“We just gotta keep on going,” he said. “We can’t just let it stop us. Every little small delivery at $6 to $10 that matters to me that’s a meal and that’s how I see it.”
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