Mayor Kenneth T. Welch Announces 20,000 Dollar Donation to St. Pete Free Clinic to Support Residents Impacted by Government Shutdown

Mayor Kenneth T. Welch Announces $20,000 Donation to St. Pete Free Clinic to Support Residents Impacted by Government Shutdown

~ City of St. Petersburg Also Offering Utility Payment Plans to Impacted Residents ~

Oct. 30, 2025 - In anticipation of the suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on November 1, St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth T. Welch announced a $20,000 donation to the St. Pete Free Clinic (SPFC) to bolster the organization's food efforts supporting residents and federal employees impacted by the federal government shutdown.

"With the ongoing federal government shutdown my administration is deeply concerned for residents that may lose access to food and federal employees working without pay during this time of economic uncertainty, especially with the suspension of SNAP benefits on November 1," said Mayor Kenneth T. Welch. "The donation made today will expand St. Pete Free Clinic's existing services and can help feed an additional 3,200 clients throughout the month of November. I encourage any impacted resident to take advantage of these services; there is no shame in asking for help. Ultimately, the City of St. Petersburg stands with those impacted by the federal government shutdown and will continue to identify resources that may be able to assist."

"St. Pete Free Clinic is grateful for Mayor Welch and the city's support at this critical time," said Jennifer Yeagley, CEO of St. Pete Free Clinic. "We have already seen an uptick in need over the past several weeks with the likely suspension of SNAP benefits on November 1. We expect need to continue to increase significantly. We are expanding operations to better meet that need and sincerely appreciate this additional support in helping us ensure our neighbors are cared for at this uncertain time."

The $20,000 donation came from the city's Social Services Contingency funds and the city's Office of Community Impact funds. SPFC's We Help FRESH Pantry program provides nutritious food for an average of 30,000 individuals per month. Residents are encouraged to explore the Food Resources map on SPFC's website: https://www.thespfc.org/map. More information on the St. Pete Free Clinic's resources and how to access them can be found at https://www.thespfc.org.

In addition to the donation, the City of St. Petersburg is also offering utility payment plans to federal government employees and other impacted residents living in St. Pete. Residents experiencing financial challenges due to the shutdown can reach out to Utility Accounts Customer Service to set-up either a short-term payment extension or a long-term payment plan.

To set-up a utility payment plan, residents can call 727-893-7341 Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Once residents provide information on how they've been impacted by the shutdown, the City will review the account and offer any extended payment options that may assist.