The USDA is reporting a rise in food insecurity across the country as food costs are also going up. A local organization is working to help those in northeast Florida.

Donald Trump has confirmed he'll be the sole featured speaker at this year’s Al Smith charity dinner in New York.

A judge has blasted efforts by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to shutter one of the oldest and largest migrant shelters on the U.S.-Mexico border in a scathing ruling.

Ukraine refugees Surkhrab Niyazov, his wife, Inna, and their children visited The Morning Show studios on Saturday to share their story and spread the word about how they were helped by a local organization: Catholic Charities.

A Ponte Vedra Beach man has been arrested and accused of molesting two girls in Volusia County several years ago, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.

Russia retaliated Monday for what it claimed was a Ukrainian terrorist attack on a critical bridge by unleashing its biggest and most widespread attacks against Ukraine in months. The lethal barrage against multiple cities smashed civilian targets, knocking out power and water, shattering buildings and killing at least 11 people.

As the country’s food charities struggle to keep up with rising inflation and demand, the White House will host a conference on Wednesday.

Catholic Charities Jacksonville is hosting a free food giveaway this Saturday, August 20.

Students and families who fled Ukraine are now also going to class right here in Northeast Florida.

Catholic Charities Jacksonville on Monday hosted a World Refugee Day celebration.

The supplies collected will be used to furnish apartments for families coming from Ukraine.

Even though it’s thousands of miles away, the city of Atlantic Beach is sending a big message of love to Ukraine as the war rages on.

If anyone can give good advice about finding and keeping love, it’s senior citizens.

One local Afghan refugee is making the most of his new opportunity in the United States. A man News4JAX is identifying only as Akbary is considered a trailblazer at his job in Jacksonville.

A local law firm made a donation to support the resettlement of Afghan refugees.

The Department of Agriculture is sending $1 billion to the country’s food bank networks, seeking to expand the reach of the system and revamp the way food banks acquire and distribute aid.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – While the traditional holiday giving season is over, local nonprofits still need help meeting the increasing demand for services due to the pandemic. For nine months and counting, local nonprofits like Catholic Charities of Jacksonville have been working non-stop to meet the continuous needs of those most affected by the pandemic. “We are overwhelmed with phone calls, but I know I join other community partners in saying that,” said Nicola Barnack, director of development with Catholic Charities Jacksonville. Several local charities received an extra holiday boost to help them continue to provide essential services, but Barnack said this effort must continue on past the giving season. “January does slow but that’s just because of the timing, but that doesn’t mean that need is not great,” Barnack said.

There were two drive-thru events: one at the Jax Fairground and another at the Jessie Ball DuPont Center. FarmShare plans to hold food giveaways every Tuesday and Thursday. It’s taking one less stress off of helping provide families with food that they need for Thanksgiving,” Johnson said. Look for more food giveaways on FarmShare’s distribution schedule. Another food giveaway --not affiliated with FarmShare-- will be held Saturday, November 21 at Deermeadows Church, located at 9780 Baymeadows Road.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The City of Jacksonville reminded Duval residents on Twitter of a free, drive-through food distribution happening today. The Catholic Charities ‘Food Pantry at the Jessie’ is in partnership with Farm Share and the Jessie Ball DuPont Fund. The drive-thru distribution happens every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am - 3 pm, at the Jessie Ball Dupont Center at 40 East Adams Street. The groups involved say they have already served tens of thousands of families in need.

The local groups are teaming up to provide food to low-income seniors struggling to make ends meet. The groups deliver food directly to 150 seniors living in low-income apartments. Brignoni is now enrolled in a new pilot program that delivers about 20 pounds of food every Wednesday to seniors living in low-income apartments through DoorDash. Individuals in need or who are looking for information for someone else can call United Way 211 from a cell phone or landline by dialing 2-1-1 or 904-632-0600. This pilot program will provide more than one thousand deliveries to seniors over 6 weeks – totaling more than 21,500 pounds of food.

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. The Columbia County Board of County Commissioners approved $2 million to aid Columbia County residents that are experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. The program is managed in partnership with the United Way of Suwannee Valley and Catholic Charities of Lake City. A few tips to apply for CARES assistance:Ensure your residence address is located in Columbia County. Complete the online application in its entirety. A case manager from United Way or Catholic Charities will contact applicants once the submission is processed.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Hundreds of people on Thursday packed East Adams Street in downtown Jacksonville for a food giveaway. The giveaways hosted by Catholic Charities Jacksonville, Farm Share and the Jessie Ball duPont Fund happen every Tuesday and Thursday and have seen increased demand due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Thursday, the line opened at 9 a.m., and by 11 a.m., 182 cars and 87 walkups had already been served. Though the giveaways were happening before the pandemic, an organizer said turnout has since catapulted. With how busy it has been over the summer, Bennett said, they typically run out in a couple of hours.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Catholic Charities of Jacksonville partnered with Farm Share to hold a food pantry on Thursday. It took place at the Jessie Ball duPont Center on East Adams Street from noon to 6 p.m.Im just picking up some groceries. Theyre pretty good about that -- give you stuff you need, not stuff you dont need, Roy Shirley told News4Jax. The pantry was able to serve up to 300 families.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Food insecurity is one of many problems being fueled by the coronavirus outbreak and many groups are finding innovative ways to help. Catholic Charities Jacksonville and some partners are launching a pop-up, drive-thru food pantry to make food more accessible to people in need in Downtown Jacksonville. During this time, if youre hungry and you need food you can come to the Catholic Charities pop-up pantry at the Jessie," said Lauren Weedon Hopkins, regional director of Catholic Charities Jacksonville. Theyve designed a completely touchless food pantry that will be open for the next three weeks at the Jessie Ball duPont Center at 40 East Adams Street. We know people have been extremely impacted by COVID-19," Weedon Hopkins said.