October 22, 2025 • 9 mins
Florida and other states face the loss of November SNAP benefits if the federal government shutdown drags on. Food banks may be called on to help, but they depend on USDA for some of their food. We speak with State Senator Nick DeCeglie, who is also CEO of Hope Villages of America. That nonprofit also runs and works with food banks and food pantries.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Gordon Bird here beyond the news. If you've been following
the news, of course, there is the federal government shutdown,
and that means some impact on SNAP benefits, and that
means that people have been told or states have been
told that they if the shutdown continues into the month
of November, Snap benefits are going to be affected and
(00:21):
not available. We have someone who deals with those kinds
of issues on a day to day basis. He is
State Senator nic D. Segeley, but he is also the
CEO and president of Hope Villages of America, and in
that context, he's joining us here on Beyond the News.
Nickta Sugley, welcome, Thank you so much for having me
(00:43):
all right now, where are we at as far as
where the SNAP situation stands at this point and how
does that impact the recipients some nearly three million in
the state of Florida alone who receive SNAP benefits.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Yeah, so, as we all know, the government is shut down. Unfortunately,
I think we're going into the third week of the
government shutdown. Those individuals currently are able to, you know,
take advantage of the SNAP benefit program. However, of the
challenge and the issue moving forward obviously is that as
this gets into if it if it gets into the
(01:21):
month of November, it doesn't seem like there's any end
in sight, unfortunately, but that could change at any moment.
But if if this gets into the government shutdown gets
into November, then obviously, you know, millions of individuals who
you know, participate in the SNAP program, those those benefits
are are in jeopardy. And obviously, when when that gets
(01:43):
down to the to the local level here in Penalace County,
those individuals are not going to be able to utilize
those benefits to go to go to the grocery store
or you know, or or you know, really putting food
on the table, which is for them, it's you know,
the biggest challe allenges that they're facing right now. And
so you know, we're at the food bank in clear
(02:05):
Water for whole villages. We are currently not experiencing any
any hiccups yet. Hopefully we don't get to that point,
but there certainly is a high level of concern and again,
you know, certainly my hope that they can end this
government shutdown much sooner rather than later.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
So your organization and others are going to be likely
a part of any response if the shutdown remains in
effect into November, and if you could kind of give
us a bit of a picture on that, there are
going to be food banks available, and it sounds like
they're going that's going to be a big part of
the response. So if you could kind of walk us
through the resources that are available. If someone is listening
(02:48):
or someone knows someone who is dealing with the situation
where they receive SNAP benefits and they may not have
access to them in November until the shutdown is resolved.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Yeah, great question. So at our food bank, those SNAP
benefit recipients are have the ability to access our USDA
food So that means you know, dairy products, milk, eggs, cheese,
all of those you know, type of type of food.
If if these benefits are suspended, those individuals can still
(03:20):
come to to our food bank. We're able to provide
three four days worth of food. We do get some
of our you know, dairy products from folk from places
like publics, so you know we're gonna have some of
that available. To challenge obviously, is that if in fact
the U s d A food distribution is halted or
(03:44):
suspended or even reduced to a certain extent, that means
food banks like whole villages, food banks like you know,
the various pantries et cetera across Penel's County. They're gonna
have less of that, you know, that dairy product, the milk,
the eggs and the cheese, et cetera. And then, unfortunately,
you know, we're gonna have to make decisions as an organization.
(04:05):
I do think the good news is that we're still
going to be operating as a food bank. Folks get
about three to four days worth of food once a
month at our food bank, so you know, obviously they
would have to navigate things a little bit differently. But again,
you know, typically when something like this happens, we we
reach out to to the community. We create you know,
(04:27):
an outreach campaign if you will. Obviously, we would take donations,
We would take you know, financial donations to ensure that
we can provide the highest quality of food coming out
of our food bank. And obviously, you know, I think
the biggest challenge that that we would have is the
distribution piece. We do distribute over six million pounds of
(04:50):
food throughout Penalas County to other various food banks and
food pantries. And you know that that does become a
little bit problematic if if the USDA us D a
piece of this is in fact shutdown. But you know,
we're we're we're beginning the early stages of planning for
that logistically, and again, you know, I hope that we
don't get to that point and these folks can continue
(05:14):
receiving the very important benefits of the SNAP program. Obviously,
we're talking about food and security in many cases, many
many cases, you know, we're talking about elderly folks, or
we're talking about families with you know, with young children,
and and you know, so there's a heightened level of
concern and hopefully, again, hopefully we don't get to that place.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Yeah, So just again to emphasize, you're being called on
or you're going to be acting as part of your
mission to help people who are dealing with the loss
of SNAP benefits because of the shutdown. At the same
time that the resources that you access to help people
who are challenged in that area are going to be
(05:57):
potentially reduced also because of that shut down. So you're
going to need to be reaching out to the public
precisely at a time. And I know that this is
a big time going into November, December, Thanksgiving, possibly Christmas
in terms of asking people for donations for things like
Thanksgiving dinner and things like that. So you're having to
(06:20):
reach out precisely at that time of the year when
there is so much emphasis on that to ask the
public for additional support to get through this dicey period.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Yeah, that's correct. And for me, you know, my my
position as a member of the of the Florida State Senate,
it's going to be interesting because I do have access
to the potential Florida you know, state resources when it
comes to that. Obviously, you know, we've been we've been
focused from a legislative and an allocation standpoint of the
(06:56):
less legislative session for you know, food banks and and
distribution centers you know throughout the state of Floria, specifically
specifically in those rural areas. So I think if it
gets to that point where where things are looking, you know,
pretty pretty dire, I'm gonna absolutely be having conversations with
you know, folks like our Agricultural Commissioner Wilson Simpson and see,
(07:20):
you know, if there's a kind of a short term,
you know, short term solution where we could you know,
get some some food into the hands of these food
banks and food pantries so that we don't skip the beat,
so these folks can continue, you know, having the ability
to put food on the tail because at the end
of the day, that's really what this comes down to,
making sure that the services that they're receiving, while that
(07:43):
might be slightly different, we'll still be able to provide
those services at the highest level possible. So we're we're
ready to really engage all hands on deck, and certainly
with my unique situation, you know, my hope is that
we're going to be able to tap into some resources
that might not have been readily available otherwise. So we'll
we'll we'll see how it all all plays.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Out, and we'll continue to watch developments as I'm sure
you are going to be monitoring and driving developments in Tallahassee.
On that front. As far as private donations, how are
you asking for them and how may people contribute if
they would like to help out?
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Yeah, great question, Thank you for that. You know, we
tell folks please visit our website, which is Hope Villagesofamerica
dot org. The follow links to to donate. Obviously, we
have a website that's full of information of what we
do and who we are as an organization, and really,
you know that would at this at this stage of
(08:42):
the game, really be one of the best ways for
folks to get involved. Obviously there's there's several volunteer opportunities,
but it's Hope Villages of America dot org.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
State Senator Nick de Segonde also president and CEO of
Hope Villages of America, and we've been talking to him
about the situation with Snap benefits amid the federal government
shutdown and what that could mean for recipients and how
food banks and organizations like his own are stepping in
to help deal with it. Nick de Secondly, thank you
very much for joining us on Beyond the News.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Thanks so much for having me
Gordon Bird here beyond the news. If you've been following
the news, of course, there is the federal government shutdown,
and that means some impact on SNAP benefits, and that
means that people have been told or states have been
told that they if the shutdown continues into the month
of November, Snap benefits are going to be affected and
(00:21):
not available. We have someone who deals with those kinds
of issues on a day to day basis. He is
State Senator nic D. Segeley, but he is also the
CEO and president of Hope Villages of America, and in
that context, he's joining us here on Beyond the News.
Nickta Sugley, welcome, Thank you so much for having me
(00:43):
all right now, where are we at as far as
where the SNAP situation stands at this point and how
does that impact the recipients some nearly three million in
the state of Florida alone who receive SNAP benefits.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Yeah, so, as we all know, the government is shut down. Unfortunately,
I think we're going into the third week of the
government shutdown. Those individuals currently are able to, you know,
take advantage of the SNAP benefit program. However, of the
challenge and the issue moving forward obviously is that as
this gets into if it if it gets into the
(01:21):
month of November, it doesn't seem like there's any end
in sight, unfortunately, but that could change at any moment.
But if if this gets into the government shutdown gets
into November, then obviously, you know, millions of individuals who
you know, participate in the SNAP program, those those benefits
are are in jeopardy. And obviously, when when that gets
(01:43):
down to the to the local level here in Penalace County,
those individuals are not going to be able to utilize
those benefits to go to go to the grocery store
or you know, or or you know, really putting food
on the table, which is for them, it's you know,
the biggest challe allenges that they're facing right now. And
so you know, we're at the food bank in clear
(02:05):
Water for whole villages. We are currently not experiencing any
any hiccups yet. Hopefully we don't get to that point,
but there certainly is a high level of concern and again,
you know, certainly my hope that they can end this
government shutdown much sooner rather than later.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
So your organization and others are going to be likely
a part of any response if the shutdown remains in
effect into November, and if you could kind of give
us a bit of a picture on that, there are
going to be food banks available, and it sounds like
they're going that's going to be a big part of
the response. So if you could kind of walk us
through the resources that are available. If someone is listening
(02:48):
or someone knows someone who is dealing with the situation
where they receive SNAP benefits and they may not have
access to them in November until the shutdown is resolved.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Yeah, great question. So at our food bank, those SNAP
benefit recipients are have the ability to access our USDA
food So that means you know, dairy products, milk, eggs, cheese,
all of those you know, type of type of food.
If if these benefits are suspended, those individuals can still
(03:20):
come to to our food bank. We're able to provide
three four days worth of food. We do get some
of our you know, dairy products from folk from places
like publics, so you know we're gonna have some of
that available. To challenge obviously, is that if in fact
the U s d A food distribution is halted or
(03:44):
suspended or even reduced to a certain extent, that means
food banks like whole villages, food banks like you know,
the various pantries et cetera across Penel's County. They're gonna
have less of that, you know, that dairy product, the milk,
the eggs and the cheese, et cetera. And then, unfortunately,
you know, we're gonna have to make decisions as an organization.
(04:05):
I do think the good news is that we're still
going to be operating as a food bank. Folks get
about three to four days worth of food once a
month at our food bank, so you know, obviously they
would have to navigate things a little bit differently. But again,
you know, typically when something like this happens, we we
reach out to to the community. We create you know,
(04:27):
an outreach campaign if you will. Obviously, we would take donations,
We would take you know, financial donations to ensure that
we can provide the highest quality of food coming out
of our food bank. And obviously, you know, I think
the biggest challenge that that we would have is the
distribution piece. We do distribute over six million pounds of
(04:50):
food throughout Penalas County to other various food banks and
food pantries. And you know that that does become a
little bit problematic if if the USDA us D a
piece of this is in fact shutdown. But you know,
we're we're we're beginning the early stages of planning for
that logistically, and again, you know, I hope that we
don't get to that point and these folks can continue
(05:14):
receiving the very important benefits of the SNAP program. Obviously,
we're talking about food and security in many cases, many
many cases, you know, we're talking about elderly folks, or
we're talking about families with you know, with young children,
and and you know, so there's a heightened level of
concern and hopefully, again, hopefully we don't get to that place.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Yeah, So just again to emphasize, you're being called on
or you're going to be acting as part of your
mission to help people who are dealing with the loss
of SNAP benefits because of the shutdown. At the same
time that the resources that you access to help people
who are challenged in that area are going to be
(05:57):
potentially reduced also because of that shut down. So you're
going to need to be reaching out to the public
precisely at a time. And I know that this is
a big time going into November, December, Thanksgiving, possibly Christmas
in terms of asking people for donations for things like
Thanksgiving dinner and things like that. So you're having to
(06:20):
reach out precisely at that time of the year when
there is so much emphasis on that to ask the
public for additional support to get through this dicey period.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Yeah, that's correct. And for me, you know, my my
position as a member of the of the Florida State Senate,
it's going to be interesting because I do have access
to the potential Florida you know, state resources when it
comes to that. Obviously, you know, we've been we've been
focused from a legislative and an allocation standpoint of the
(06:56):
less legislative session for you know, food banks and and
distribution centers you know throughout the state of Floria, specifically
specifically in those rural areas. So I think if it
gets to that point where where things are looking, you know,
pretty pretty dire, I'm gonna absolutely be having conversations with
you know, folks like our Agricultural Commissioner Wilson Simpson and see,
(07:20):
you know, if there's a kind of a short term,
you know, short term solution where we could you know,
get some some food into the hands of these food
banks and food pantries so that we don't skip the beat,
so these folks can continue, you know, having the ability
to put food on the tail because at the end
of the day, that's really what this comes down to,
making sure that the services that they're receiving, while that
(07:43):
might be slightly different, we'll still be able to provide
those services at the highest level possible. So we're we're
ready to really engage all hands on deck, and certainly
with my unique situation, you know, my hope is that
we're going to be able to tap into some resources
that might not have been readily available otherwise. So we'll
we'll we'll see how it all all plays.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Out, and we'll continue to watch developments as I'm sure
you are going to be monitoring and driving developments in Tallahassee.
On that front. As far as private donations, how are
you asking for them and how may people contribute if
they would like to help out?
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Yeah, great question, Thank you for that. You know, we
tell folks please visit our website, which is Hope Villagesofamerica
dot org. The follow links to to donate. Obviously, we
have a website that's full of information of what we
do and who we are as an organization, and really,
you know that would at this at this stage of
(08:42):
the game, really be one of the best ways for
folks to get involved. Obviously there's there's several volunteer opportunities,
but it's Hope Villages of America dot org.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
State Senator Nick de Segonde also president and CEO of
Hope Villages of America, and we've been talking to him
about the situation with Snap benefits amid the federal government
shutdown and what that could mean for recipients and how
food banks and organizations like his own are stepping in
to help deal with it. Nick de Secondly, thank you
very much for joining us on Beyond the News.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Thanks so much for having me
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