AARP, in partnership with Community Market of Pottawatomie County (CMPC), Impact Seminole, and the City of Seminole, is proud to announce significant progress in the effort to address food insecurity across Seminole County. The partners have completed the Seminole County Community Needs & Food Insecurity Survey—a timely and comprehensive study that arrives on the heels of one of the most challenging years for hunger relief in the area.

Survey Findings Reveal a Growing Crisis

The data paints a sobering picture of shifting community needs, particularly in the wake of the 2025 government shutdown. During the initial 13 days of the shutdown alone, CMPC served 2,488 families representing 8,309 individuals—a 38.9% increase over the same period in 2024, with nearly half of those families seeking assistance for the first time. Even after SNAP benefits were restored, demand remained elevated, with a 30% year-over-year increase in service pushing annual totals above 75,000 local citizens—the highest level recorded since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the survey’s key findings:

  • Food insecurity is pervasive. Nearly 80% of Seminole County residents know someone at risk of hunger, and more than half have personally experienced food insecurity within the past two years.
  • Families are making impossible choices. Residents report skipping meals, forgoing prescription medications, and selling personal belongings in order to afford food.
  • Transportation remains a significant barrier. More than one in three residents—34%—cite lack of transportation as an obstacle to accessing food resources.

A Roadmap for the Impact Center

As CMPC anticipates further increases in demand in 2026—driven in part by state-level changes to SNAP facilitation under H.R. 1—these findings will serve as the strategic foundation for the proposed Impact Center. The Impact Center will be a dedicated community resource hub in Seminole County, offering centralized access to nutrition support, health resources, and social services. The facility will directly address the needs of the 20% of CMPC shoppers who reside in Seminole County.

About the Study

The Seminole County Community Needs & Food Insecurity Survey was conducted between June and September 2025, reaching 410 adults across three key zip codes in Seminole County via SMS, postcards, open links, phone calls, and paper surveys. The findings not only underscore the urgent need for expanded support and awareness, but also reflect the community’s strong desire for collaborative solutions. Residents broadly support coordinated efforts among state, tribal, nonprofit, and local organizations to combat hunger and improve access to essential services.

Full study results are available here.

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