LAKE WORTH, Fla.-- At the Guatemalan Maya Center in Lake Worth, people and families who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program to stay afloat are worried.
“Well imagine, I would have to hold back hunger because I don’t work and I’m sick,” said Maria Estela Aguilar Ortiz speaking in Spanish.
Maria is a senior citizen. A year and a half ago she had to stop working because she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and is still receiving chemotherapy.
“We’ve received a lot of calls. A lot of people want information and they want to know how to best prepare,” said Guatemalan Maya Center Outreach Case Manager Daniel Morgan.
He works with families who rely heavily on food stamps, like Luciano Matias Cruz who works in landscaping and only gets paid if he’s on the job.
“On days with heavy rain we can’t work, some days our bosses will just send us back home,” said Matias Cruz in Spanish.
Matias Cruz says SNAP benefits help him buy what he needs for his 1-year-old son.
Morgan said families will be buying in bulk to have enough to last them until the next deposit is made. Morgan said the Guatemalan Maya Center is in need of volunteers. They are also preparing to ask for and collect any food donations to help families that may be impacted.