A Month of Impact: October 2023 Hunger Relief Update

Posted October 10, 2023

Food Programs

SNAP Outreach Flyers: Getting the Right Amount of SNAP flyers highlight the importance of reporting household changes to maximize the number of deductions, stolen benefits, and additional resources. Flyers are available to download and print in English (only), English/Spanish, English/Haitian Creole, English/Portuguese.

What Is WIC? Videos: Videos are available for download in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Portuguese to help inform residents of the WIC program and its benefits. Videos are ideal for showing in waiting rooms, attaching to digital newsletters, or sending directly to interested residents.

Click here to learn more. 

Medicaid Postpartum Coverage Extension Outreach Flyer: Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies (HMHB) Coalition of Palm Beach County has created an outreach flyer encouraging postpartum women who had Medicaid during their pregnancy to contact HMHB with questions and to make an appointment.

What Is the Farm Bill and How Can I Help?: The Farm Bill is a comprehensive package of legislation passed once every five years that has a direct impact on agriculture, food systems, and consumers. It covers programs ranging from crop insurance for farmers to healthy food access for low-income families. The 2018 Farm Bill had twelve sections, or titles and out of those twelve titles, Title Four, is the most relevant for anti-hunger advocates. The Nutrition title covers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as well as a variety of smaller nutrition programs to help individuals and families with low-incomes afford food.

Free Meals Available to Students in Palm Beach County: School Food Service (SFS) will continue to offer FREE breakfast and lunch during the 2023-2024 school year at all schools that participate with them in the National School Lunch Program.

Get a Discount on Amazon Prime – EBT & Medicaid Cardholders: Amazon is offering 50% off Prime for qualifying students and government assistance recipients (SNAP, WIC, TANF). Visit Amazon to get started!

Palm Beach County Senior Centers: The Palm Beach County Community Services Department’s Division of Senior and Veteran Services invites local seniors and veterans aged 60+ to participate in complimentary breakfast and lunch options at various sites throughout the county.

mRelief: mRelief built the first ever SNAP eligibility screener accessible by mobile phone. They now partner with community organizations across Florida to create a state-compliant and user-friendly enrollment process to connect our neighbors in need of crucial benefits that they deserve. If you’d like to partner with them to connect your community to a more accessible route to SNAP benefits, you can fill out their Community Partner Intake form.

SNAP Calculator: Find out if you may be eligible for SNAP and an estimated amount of benefits you could receive. Use the SNAP Calculator as a quick screening tool to determine eligibility for food assistance. The calculator is available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.


UWPBC Food Finder Map: The Food Finder Map is updated weekly and has been viewed over 282,000 times! Anyone looking for food or helping others find food is encouraged to search locations on the map. You can also get help finding food locations by calling 2-1-1.

A robust food pantry system is the best way to ensure people can access emergency food. Pantries rely mainly on food from local food banks and other donations. Inflation and the end of many COVID-era food programs have decreased contributions and food available through the emergency food system. Support your local food bank and pantry system through food donations.


Hunger Action Month Recap

United Way of Palm Beach County and community partners had an action-packed September, raising awareness about local hunger, the solutions at hand, and how to get involved.

Featured here:

  • Hunger Action Day with Palm Beach County Food Bank and Trindy Gourmet.
  • 2023 SNAP Challenge – UWPBC Staff participate in the SNAP Challenge, Chef Jim Collins with The Lord’s Place prepares a $6/day week of meals.

Events

Florida Food Is Medicine Webinar: The Florida Health and Nutrition Coalition and UF/IFAS is hosting a webinar discussing “Health Outcomes in Food Is Medicine (FIM) from Design to Evaluation” on Thursday, October 5, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. Register now!

Hustle to End Hunger 5K Race: CROS Ministries is hosting a 5K on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at 7:30 a.m. at John Prince Park in Lake Worth, FL. 100% of race proceeds and funds raised will go toward CROS Ministries’ hunger programs. Learn more.

Fall Family Festival: CROS Ministries is hosting a Fall Festival on Saturday, October 7, 2023, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Sunlight Ridge Park in Lake Worth, FL. The event is free to attend! CROS Ministries Event Page.

Children in Crisis – Interfaith Convocation on Homelessness and Hunger: Faith in Action is hosting a convocation addressing the state of children and ALICE (Asset-Limited Income Constrained, Employed) families in Palm Beach County. The convocation is Wednesday, October 11, 2023, from 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, FL. Register here!

PBC Food Bank Volunteer Project: Volunteer with us at the Palm Beach County Food Bank on Thursday, October 19, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. to sort and pack food items! You will be a hunger hero as the food you pack will be distributed to thousands of people in our community struggling to put food on the table. Register now.

Ribbon Cutting – The Lord’s Place New Headquarters: The new headquarters for The Lord’s Place has been serving clients since early June, but an official ribbon cutting to celebrate this new space will occur on Thursday, October 19, 2023, from 9:00-10:00 a.m. The event is open to the public. Learn more information. 

Florida Food Is Medicine Jumpstart Session: The Florida Health and Nutrition Coalition, South Florida Hunger Coalition, and Holy Cross Hospital are hosting the first inaugural Food Is Medicine Jumpstart Session on Monday, October 23, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The event is both in-person at Holy Cross Hospital and virtual. Get tickets!

The Mentor Mile!: UWPBC’s 1st Annual 1-Mile Walk/5K Run is taking place on Sunday, December 10, 2023, from 8:00-11:00 a.m. at John Prince Park in Lake Worth, FL. The event is organized by the Mentor Center and promises fun for the whole family! Register today!


Job Opportunities

United Way of Palm Beach County (UWPBC) Job Openings: United Way of Palm Beach County is hiring! Come join an organization whose mission is to ensure that everyone in Palm Beach County has access to the basics: a quality education, a place to live, financial stability, good medical care, and enough to eat. Click here to apply. 


Hunger Relief Meetings

We could not do our work without you! The Hunger Relief Initiative uses the Collective Impact Model to implement the Palm Beach County Hunger Relief Plan and make sustainable, long-term changes to reduce hunger in Palm Beach County. We do this work through our Hunger Relief Advisory Council and the Council’s work groups and subcommittees.

The staff regularly convenes the Hunger Relief Advisory Council, six Work Groups, and three Subcommittees. Please send us an email to learn more.


 

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