You dont have to look hard to see whats changed inside Gospel, Inc. in the past couple of weeks.

Fridges once stocked with food now hum nearly empty, and shelves that used to fill in the gaps for residents are doing most of the feeding.

Gospel, Inc. provides housing to nearly 40 people who would otherwise be homeless, including several families with children. Residents must work to live at the nonprofits property near downtown Lakeland, but when SNAP benefits stopped during the federal shutdown, many suddenly found themselves without enough to eat.

They typically will come in the pantry to supplement, said Executive Director Ray Steadman. But now they will come in the pantry because its a need, its a priority.

Steadman says the difference was almost immediate.

We saw demand on our pan

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