Matrix COC

10/13/2026

🍽️ FREE MEAL DISTRIBUTION | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13

In coordination with Walton County Emergency Management/Human Services, the following free meal distributions are scheduled for Tuesday, October 13.

🔥 OPERATION BBQ RELIEF

Walmart #8861, Santa Rosa Beach
6861 E US Hwy 98, Santa Rosa Beach
Lunch only: 12:30 PM

Walmart #1134, DeFuniak Springs
1226 Hwy 331 South, DeFuniak Springs
Lunch: 12:30 PM | Dinner: 5:00 PM

🔴 AMERICAN RED CROSS

Red Bay Community Center
10624 Rock Hill Rd, Ponce De Leon
Lunch: 1:00 PM | Dinner: 6:00 PM

🍲 SALVATION ARMY

Paxton Agricultural Complex (Ag Center)
21972 US Highway 331 North, Laurel Hill
Lunch: 12:00 PM

Choctaw Beach Community Center
126 Water Oak St, Freeport
Lunch: 12:00 PM

Walton County Planning Department Parking Lot
842 State Highway 20 E, Freeport
Lunch: 12:00 PM

Habitat for Humanity ReStore
2440 U.S. Highway 98 West, Santa Rosa Beach
Lunch: 12:00 PM

❤️ PLEASE NOTE: All distribution times are approximate, and meals are available while supplies last. Please be patient and flexible as teams work to serve our community.

Thank you to our partners and volunteers for helping keep our neighbors fed during recovery. Please share so those who need a meal know where to go! 💚

10/12/2026

💚 WALTON COUNTY: NEED HELP OR WANT TO HELP?

As our community recovers from Hurricane Isaias, please use the links below to volunteer, request essential assistance, or report property damage.

🙋 VOLUNTEER TO HELP
Sign up as an individual or organization to help meet needs in our community. Let us know your availability and how you can assist.
https://icanhelp.matrixcoc.org

🥫 REQUEST ESSENTIAL ASSISTANCE
Need food, water, meals, or other essential support? Submit your needs here so the Human Services Branch can help coordinate assistance.
https://assistance.matrixcoc.org

🏠 REPORT RESIDENTIAL DAMAGE
Use Walton County’s residential damage assessment form to report storm damage to your home.
https://arcg.is/1yrPn44

🏢 REPORT COMMERCIAL DAMAGE
Use Walton County’s commercial damage assessment form to report storm damage to a business or commercial property.
https://arcg.is/1jCuGP3

📌 The assistance request form is for essential needs, not property damage reports or requests for damage repairs. Please report property damage through the appropriate county assessment form above.

Submitting a request does not guarantee assistance. Resources are limited, but we will do our best to assist as many individuals and families as possible.

Please share these links with your neighbors. The Matrix is grateful to everyone helping our community recover! 💚

10/12/2026

🍽️ FREE MEAL DISTRIBUTION – MONDAY, OCTOBER 12

In coordination with Walton County Emergency Management/Human Services, the following free meal distributions are scheduled for today.

🔴 AMERICAN RED CROSS

9 AM – Red Bay Community Center
10624 Rock Hill Rd, Ponce De Leon
Prepackaged meals & water

12 PM – Choctaw Beach Community Center
126 Water Oak St, Freeport
Prepackaged meals & water, followed by neighborhood canvassing

1 PM – Old Thrift-Way Parking Lot (Vacant Lot)
515 E. Nelson Ave, DeFuniak Springs
Hot meals

🔥 OPERATION BBQ RELIEF

12 PM – Walmart, Santa Rosa Beach
6861 E US Hwy 98 – Lunch only

12 PM & approximately 4 PM – Walmart, DeFuniak Springs
1226 Hwy 331 South – Lunch & dinner

🍲 SALVATION ARMY – HOT MEALS

12 PM – Paxton Agricultural Complex
21972 US Hwy 331 N, Laurel Hill

12 PM – Choctaw Beach Community Center
126 Water Oak St, Freeport

12 PM – Walton County Planning Department Parking Lot
842 State Hwy 20 E, Freeport

❤️ PLEASE NOTE: All distribution times are estimates and meals are available while supplies last. Please be patient

10/11/2026

📢 SNAP FOOD ASSISTANCE UPDATE | October 11, 2026

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is accepting Replacement SNAP requests for eligible households affected by Hurricane Isaias, including Walton County.

If you currently receive SNAP and lost food purchased with those benefits because of the hurricane, you may qualify for replacement benefits, up to your previously approved monthly SNAP amount.

📅 Submit your request by Monday, October 19, 2026.

To request assistance:

1. Log in to your MyACCESS account:
https://myaccess.myflfamilies.com/Public/login

2. Find the green banner on your dashboard.

3. Select “Individual Replacement Request” and complete the request.

Walton County households do not need to submit documentation verifying their food loss. However, you must still submit a replacement request.

❓ Is this D-SNAP?

This announcement is for Replacement SNAP for people already receiving SNAP. It does not announce the opening of D-SNAP, which is a separate disaster food assistance program.

The Matrix will continue monitoring DCF announcements and share updates if D-SNAP becomes available.

🔗 DCF’s official hurricane assistance information:
https://www.myflfamilies.com/isaias -resource-tabs

Please share so our neighbors know about this assistance and the deadline to request it. 💚

The Florida Department of Children and Families provides services supporting strong families and communities including public assistance, child welfare, and mental health services.

10/11/2026

🚗 Volunteers Needed: Help Deliver Food & Supplies

We are looking for volunteers to transport food, supplies, and other essentials to community members who are unable to pick them up themselves.

If you can help make deliveries, please sign up at:
👉 https://icanhelp.matrixcoc.org

Your time can help ensure our neighbors receive the essentials they need during recovery.

Please share this post to help us reach others who may be able to lend a hand. Thank you for supporting our community! 💙

10/11/2026

📢 D-SNAP Update | October 11, 2026

We know many community members have questions about D-SNAP, the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. At this time, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) has not announced D-SNAP availability for Walton County.

Although state, county, and federal emergency declarations have been issued, those declarations do not automatically activate D-SNAP. Additional federal approvals are required, including Individual Assistance for our area and separate approval for Florida to offer D-SNAP. We have not yet seen confirmation that those approvals are in place for Walton County.

The Matrix Community Outreach Center is continuing to monitor updates from DCF. If D-SNAP becomes available, we will share information here, including who is eligible and how to apply.

Please follow our page for updates.

10/11/2026

Walton County P.O.D. Locations

7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Supplies available will include water, ice, and shelf-stable meals at these locations:

📍 Freeport Sports Complex
563 Hammock Trail E, Freeport, FL 32439

📍 DFS Community Center
361 N 10th St, DeFuniak Springs, FL

📍 Emerald Coast Boys and Girls Club
80 Boys and Girls Way, Santa Rosa Beach, FL

📍 Paxton Ag Center
53 County Highway 147 West, Laurel Hill, FL
(Community distribution center supported by the City of Paxton — essentials will be dropped off)

Follow all on-site directions,

Stay safe, Walton County.

10/08/2026

💚 Help Strengthen Our Community Response

Want to help Walton County before, during, or after a disaster? There are two ways to get involved!

🤝 COAD Partners
COAD stands for Community Organizations Active in Disaster. This network brings together businesses, agencies, nonprofits, faith communities, and civic groups to coordinate resources, share information, and support our neighbors when they need it most.

Does your organization have supplies, equipment, transportation, facilities, specialized skills, or services to offer? Our quick survey helps us identify available resources and partners willing to help.

👉 COAD Partner Survey:
https://www.matrixcoc.org/coad-survey

We hope you’re already an active COAD member! If you’re not, what better time to get involved than during Hurricane Isaias? We promise, the orientation isn’t usually this windy! 😉

🙋 General Volunteers
You don’t have to represent an organization to make a difference! Individuals can register to help with tasks such as sorting donations, distributing supplies, and supporting disaster recovery. We’ll contact you as needs and volunteer opportunities arise.

👉 Volunteer Registration:
https://www.matrixcoc.org/volunteer-tracking

Whether you bring your organization’s resources or your own helping hands, you have a place in our community response.

Please share! Every connection helps us build a stronger, more prepared Walton County. 💚

10/08/2026

🚐 NEED A RIDE TO AN EVACUATION SHELTER?

Matrix C.O.C. will try to assist those WITHOUT transportation. TEXT 850-409-5818 ASAP with:

• Head of household’s first and last name
• Full pickup address or exact location
• County and contact number

We will follow up to confirm transportation. Please use your own transportation if available. Do not post personal information in the comments.

Shelter locations, opening times, and pet information are in the graphic. Bring medications, bedding, toiletries, and essential supplies.

Special-needs registration:
📍 Walton: https://mywaltonfl.gov/1194/Special-Needs-Shelter-Registration
📍 Okaloosa guests must preregister: https://okaloosa.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/emergency-preparedness-and-response/special-needs-shelter-spns/

Please share to help us reach neighbors who need assistance. 💚