ST. CLOUD, Fla. — These days, all 12-year-old Jack Kukec wants is some lettuce.

“I really want fresh foods — the healthy stuff, like apples, lettuce, and all that,” he said.

But that kind of fresh, healthy food is often too expensive for single mom Amy Kukec to afford with the small, fixed amount of monthly income she receives for disability benefits.

Over the last year, the price of food rose more than 11% in the U.S. — the largest 12-month increase since 1979, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

To feed her two kids, Kukec picks up whatever she can each month from a local food pantry, run by the Osceola Council on Aging. But usually, it’s mostly non-perishables: things like canned tomatoes, boxed cereal and ramen noodles, rather than fresh produce or meat. 

Experts say those fresh food items are the toughest for families — and food pantries — to get, and Belinda Olivera of the Osceola Council on Aging says “there is never enough.”

“The healthier items, as we all know, are more costly,” she said. “And right now with the food prices going up, a lot of families are having to forgo the more nutritious, protein-high meats, fruits and veggies.”

Although families will ask for fresh food items at the pantry, there usually aren’t any available to distribute, Olivera said. Whenever they are, she said it’s usually thanks to outside donations.

Last time she went to the St. Cloud pantry, Kukec said she was fortunate enough to leave with a quart of milk — not the lactose-free milk her daughter Livia really needs, but still a precious find for the family. Before the end of the day, it was already finished.

In Osceola County, where the Kukec family lives, more than 22% of children are food insecure — meaning they lack consistent access to enough food to live healthy, active lives, according to the Feeding America Network.

A hamster on a wheel

For Kukec and many others in similar situations, living in poverty feels like an impossible cycle. Whatever small amount of money she’s able to put toward food translates to another late car insurance, credit card, or medical bill payment.

“You’re a hamster on a wheel, trying to catch up to make sure your kids have something (to eat), and that they also have lights, and they also have a place to live,” Kukec said.

Originally from Illinois, Kukec said her family came to Florida in 2019, fleeing severe domestic violence that Kukec says left her permanently disabled. All three family members have received ongoing therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Although Kukec was approved for food assistance back in Illinois, she said her application for the same federal benefit in Florida has repeatedly been denied — even though on paper, she appears to meet the eligibility criteria.

In Florida, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the agency responsible for administering SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), formerly known as the food stamp program.

To be eligible for SNAP, a person's income must fall within limits set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). To arrive at that final calculation, program administrators deduct specific expenses from individuals' income, including a “shelter deduction” to account for housing costs.

Generally, there’s a maximum dollar amount that can be deducted for shelter costs, and as of Oct. 1, the max is $624. But for households with an elderly or a disabled family member — like Kukec — that amount is “uncapped,” according to DCF’s guidelines.

To Kukec, “uncapped” signifies her shelter deduction should equal the full amount of rent she pays each month. But program administrators are deducting a much smaller amount of money from her income, according to paperwork and email correspondence Kukec shared with Spectrum News. Kukec’s income is too high to qualify her for SNAP.

“I just want people to know that this is happening,” she said. “It’s not fair to the kids, or to the disabled people to deny them food.”

Several separate parties told Spectrum News that qualifying for SNAP benefits in Florida is often a bewildering process. Applicants’ expenses for things like shelter and medical bills aren’t always considered in calculations, one independent case worker said. By doing that, some families who really need the food assistance, and appear to be eligible for it, are disqualified.

“It happens to a lot of families,” the case worker told Spectrum News.

Kukec says without SNAP, her family has struggled — her children, now old enough to be aware of their poverty, suffer from additional anxiety.

“All of the years of not having the food card has completely destroyed me financially,” Kukec said.

Getting help

For Kukec, the St. Cloud food pantry has become a lifeline: not only for sustenance, but for her mental health.

“I go here for hope,” she said. “They’re amazing people. I cry every time I go because I appreciate them so much.”

The Osceola Council on Aging runs two food pantries, one in St. Cloud and one in Kissimmee. Each location opens once a week, serving approximately 150 families each time.

But the region’s actual demand for food is far higher, and has risen since summer, according to the nonprofit.

“Our demand right now is so great that if we had the capacity, our demand is enough to do food pantry five days a week, in both locations,” Olivera said.

One recent weekday morning at the pantry, Kukec got her usual, 30-day supply of “shelf-safe” food, plus a rare find: some fresh bread and tomatoes. 

“I love you guys,” Kukec told the volunteer checking her in.

“Oh, I love you, too,” the volunteer replied.