FSCJ’s Hope Food Pantry provides students with baby formula during shortage

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The national shortage of baby formula is cause for concern for Northeast Florida families.

Ashlie Empleo, Program Coordinator of the HOPE Food Pantry at Florida State College at Jacksonville, says there is a limit on the amount of baby formula that the pantry can buy, which is a result of the ongoing shortage.

“So if I’m seeing it as an organization, then I know our students are really feeling it in their homes, because baby formula is already an expensive item to buy,” Empleo says.

Empleo says the FSCJ’s Hope Food Pantry provides childcare items like diapers, wipes, food and formula to any student who is currently enrolled at the college.

“Since there is a nation-wide shortage, it’s actually interesting that whenever I go buy these items, I’m also limited to how can of formula I can buy to put into the food pantry.

Empleo says the increase in costs of baby formula impacts how far the Hope Food Pantry’s grant dollars can go, however she says its still important to help those in need.

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