Take Action During Hunger Action Month: September 2023 Hunger Relief Update
September is Hunger Action Month
This month was started by Feeding America in 2008 when they decided it was time for a nationwide push to get involved with the hunger crisis across the country. Hunger Action Month raises awareness about food insecurity and hunger in our communities and culminates in Hunger Action Day on Saturday, September 23, 2023.
Follow United Way of Palm Beach County on social media throughout September for Hunger Action Month fun.
Facebook: @UnitedWayPBC
Instagram: @unitedwaypbc
LinkedIn: @United Way of Palm Beach County
TikTok: @unitedwaypbc
Twitter/X: @unitedwaypbc
Events
- Hunger Action Day Takeover: Join United Way of Palm Beach County to fight hunger as we take over The Square in Downtown West Palm Beach on Friday, September 22, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Connect with local resources, learn more about food insecurity, and learn how to get involved!
- Tackle Hunger: See your hometown team play and help fight hunger in your community. Watch the FAU vs. Ohio football game at the FAU Stadium on Saturday, September 9 at 6:00 p.m. Donate one or more cereal boxes at the stadium (Gate 1) and get into the game for free! For more information, please click here.
- SNAP Challenge: Join United Way of Palm Beach County in participating in the 2023 SNAP Challenge on the week of September 11-15. The attached planning guide will help you navigate the week-long challenge of living on a $6 a day food budget.
- Meal Preparation – Mediterranean Style: Join Florida Blue on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. for a presentation on how to plan and prep meals using foods from the Mediterranean diet. Learn how the Mediterranean diet can help you stay healthy and lose weight as you age, with an emphasis on plant foods that play a role in your well-being. Discover how to simplify mealtime, save money and spend quality time with family as you practice your meal preparation skills. Lunch will be provided to all attendees! For more information and to RSVP, please click here.
- CROS Ministries Open House: CROS Ministries has been serving the hungry in Palm Beach County for over 45 years, and they invite you to come see and learn about their many programs. The open house will be held at CROS Ministries’ Administrative Offices/Warehouse in Lake Worth Beach on Saturday, September 16, 2023, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Outrun Hunger 5K Race: Feeding South Florida is hosting a 5K on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at Okeeheelee Park in West Palm Beach. Create a team with your family, friends, and coworkers to raise awareness and funds to provide meals for families facing hunger. Please click here for more information and to register.
- Empty Bowls in the Gardens: Empty Bowls is a national event hosted on a local scale in the city of Palm Beach Gardens where attendees enjoy a simple meal of soup and bread. The theme is to “eat simply so others can simply eat”. The event is hosted by the Palm Beach County Food Bank and other community partners and will be held at Downtown Palm Beach Gardens on Saturday, September 30 from 11:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please click here for more information and to register. Click here for more Hunger Action Month information and events from the Palm Beach County Food Bank.
- 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. Finisher medals, race tech shirts, accuchip timing, and age group awards will be provided for the event. 100% of race proceeds and funds raised will go toward CROS Ministries’ hunger programs. Please click here to find out more information. Click here to register.
- Learn About Food as Medicine: Join E-RoadMap on the 2nd & 4th Saturdays of every month throughout 2023! Enjoy a wellness workshop from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. exploring healthy cooking, nutrition education, gardening, fitness, and more. All events are free. To learn more and sign up for workshops, please click here.
2023 SNAP Challenge
The 2023 SNAP Challenge brings personal understanding and public awareness to the struggle faced by millions of low-income Americans to obtain adequate nutritious food on a limited budget. The attached planning guide will help you navigate the week-long challenge of living on a $6 a day food budget.
We encourage you, your organization, friends, family, and colleagues to join United Way of Palm Beach County Hunger Relief September 11-15, 2023, and share your experiences throughout the week on social media. If you decide to accept the SNAP Challenge, either as an individual or as a group, please contact us at HungerRelief@UnitedWayPBC.org to register. Include your name, or the name of the participating organization, and social media handles.
Please share planning guide with anyone who may be interested, or should be interested, in participating! Guidelines are also available on our website.
Free Meals Available to Children in Palm Beach County
School Food Service will continue to offer FREE breakfast and lunch during the 2023-2024 school year at all schools that participate with us in the National School Lunch Program.
Students are able to receive a nutritious breakfast every morning. There are a variety of breakfast items to choose from such as breakfast sandwiches, assorted cereals, eggs, omelets, French toast, pancakes, and many more.
For lunch, students can choose from chicken patty sandwiches, deep dish pizza, salads, macaroni and cheese, and a variety of other selections with a vegetarian option offered each day. Please click here to see the daily menu for your school.
Please note that meals may contain allergens. Everyone is encouraged to take precautions and contact the School Food Service office at 561-383-2000 if their child has any special dietary needs due to allergies or disabilities.
Food Programs
Getting the Right Amount of SNAP Outreach Flyers: Please share the attached Getting the Right Amount of SNAP flyers widely with your network. Flyers are available to download and print in English (only), English/Spanish, English/Haitian Creole, English/Portuguese. Visit www.UnitedWayPBC.org/Hunger to access the flyers. Key points include:
- Report Important Changes: To ensure that those who can benefit from SNAP are reporting changes in income, changes in the number of people in the household, and/or whether a disability has been acquired to get the maximum number of deductions
- Stolen Benefits: To monitor benefit amounts and watch for “skimming”
- Additional Resources (specific for Palm Beach County)
Update on the 2023 Farm Bill: During August recess U.S. senators and representatives leave Washington D.C. and travel to their home states and districts. This month consider familiarizing or re-familiarizing yourself with the Farm Bill and what it includes. Call, write, or schedule meetings with your representatives to discuss priorities with them.
Share Your Story About SNAP/GusNIP: The American Heart Association is advocating for critical nutrition and feeding programs in the 2023 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill is a comprehensive multi-year federal bill that addresses nutrition and agricultural policy issues. It is typically renewed every five years; the current authorization expires September 30, 2023. If you have experience with SNAP and GusNIP, their most important and critical asks need your voice! Please click here to fill out a short form to share your story.
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. Please click here to access the flyer.
“What is WIC?” Downloadable Videos: The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program caters to pregnant women, women after giving birth/postpartum, new and breastfeeding mothers, infants, and children under five who fulfill the income requirements. “What is WIC?” videos are available for download in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Portuguese to help inform residents of the WIC program and its benefits. We encourage our partners to share these videos widely among their networks, including clients, neighbors, and professional partners. The videos are ideal for showing in waiting rooms, attaching to digital newsletters, or sending directly to interested residents. Please click here to access the videos. To schedule an appointment, contact the Florida WIC Department at 1-800-342-3556. Please click here to look at a list of things to bring for your appointment.
Food Resources
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 and older to participate in complimentary breakfast and lunch options at various sites throughout the county. The program provides nutritious meals to eligible seniors at nutrition sites, senior centers, and other group settings. The congregate meal program allows older adults to socialize with other seniors at the meal sites. For a complete list of meal times and locations, click here.
SNAP Online Purchasing Now Available in All 50 States: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that, in partnership with states, territories, and retailers across the country, online purchasing using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits is now available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia! This expansion represents a major milestone in the history of SNAP and continues to provide greater convenience and access to healthy food options for tens of millions of Americans. Online shopping is a convenient, safe, secure way to shop for food and quickly becoming a vital resource for nutrition security and food access. Major retailers nationwide continue to make online SNAP purchasing available for EBT card holders. For more information about the program and the full list of retailers approved to provide SNAP online purchasing, visit the SNAP Online webpage. The USDA also recommends visiting your local retailer’s website to find out whether grocery delivery is available for your location.
mRelief: Florida Impact to End Hunger shared SNAP enrollment resources from friends at the national nonprofit, mRelief. mRelief built the first ever SNAP eligibility screener accessible by mobile phone and they now partner with community organizations across the state of Florida to create a state-compliant and user-friendly enrollment process to connect our neighbors in need to crucial benefits that they deserve. Last year 8,312 Floridians chose to apply for SNAP with one of mRelief’s community-based enrollment partners or on their own via mRelief’s simplified application. 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 possible eligibility for food assistance. The calculator was previously available in English and Spanish and has been recently updated to include Haitian Creole! Access the SNAP calculator here. Florida Policy Institute (FPI) urges you to apply for SNAP regardless of what the calculator says. To do so please submit an application to the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) at this link.
Providers App: Propel, a mission-driven financial technology company, has launched Providers, an application that helps low-income families navigate government benefits and monitor skimming. If you’ve been a victim of benefits theft, report it immediately to your case worker and law enforcement. Currently, more than five million SNAP (food stamp) participants use Fresh EBT monthly to manage their benefits. The app is available on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. For more information, click here.
MEANS (Matching Excess And Needs for Stability) Database: MEANS (Matching Excess And Needs for Stability) Database is an online platform connecting those with excess food, like grocery stores, co-ops, and restaurants, with nearby emergency food providers who serve those in need. Their organization focuses on reducing food waste and rerouting that food to feed people facing food insecurity. To learn more, please visit their website.
Shop Simple with MyPlate: Shopping for healthy foods doesn’t have to break the bank. This nifty tool allows you to find savings in your area and discover new ways to prepare budget-friendly foods. It works by entering your zip code to find rewards and stores that accept SNAP EBT near you. To find out more, please click here.
United Way of Palm Beach County (UWPBC) Food Finder Map: The best way to access emergency food is through your local food pantry. UWPBC’s Food Finder Map is updated weekly and has been viewed over 250,000 times! Anyone looking for food or helping others find food is encouraged to look up 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. You can learn how to support your local food bank and pantry system through food donations here.
Partner Spotlight
ALL OF YOU
This Hunger Action Month we want to thank our amazing partners and highlight the work we all do together! Since 2015 and the implementation of the Hunger Relief Plan, the Palm Beach County community has joined together to alleviate hunger for our most at risk residents. What a better time to acknowledge our collective efforts than this month when we focus community awareness into action!
Palm Beach County Hunger Relief Plan
Grant Opportunities
Impact 100 Palm Beaches Grant: The 2023-2024 grant process for Impact the Palm Beaches is now open. Eligible Central and Northern Palm Beach County nonprofits may apply for the chance to receive a $100,000 grant to support their mission, programs or services. Impact the Palm Beaches seeks to fund programs and projects that reach underserved populations and address or satisfy unmet needs, solve a problem or create an opportunity for strategic change, can demonstrate specific, measurable outcomes and are sustainable well into the future. Nonprofits can submit applications that align with any of the five Impact focus areas: Arts and Culture, Education, Environment and Animal Welfare, Family and Health and Wellness. The nonprofit’s program can be new or an expansion of an existing program. Click here to begin the process. The deadline to submit a proposal is Thursday, September 14 at 12:00 p.m. Click here to access the 2023-2023 Grant Manual.
Other News
- Hurricane or Other Disaster Information and Resources: Be prepared! We encourage all individuals, families, organizations, and businesses to take stock, plan, and get prepared. 211 gathers information for our 211 Resource Specialists to share with callers, and for the community in general to be centrally located on our website pages that can be accessed at 211Hurricane.org. If you have information on preparation or recovery services or resources pre or post-hurricane or other disasters please email 211: 211Disaster@211pbtc.org.
- How to Reduce Poverty – Using New Data to Show the Way: The Census Bureau will release its annual poverty, income, and health insurance data this month. The new data will be especially important because it will show the impact of Congress allowing the expanded Child Tax Credit to lapse in 2022. Additionally, it will show the anti-poverty effectiveness of many other programs, such as SNAP and housing assistance. Click here to register for the Coalition on Human Needs’ pre-release webinar on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. ET.
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. Please click here to see our current job openings.
CROS Ministries Job Openings: CROS Ministries is hiring for three positions: Food Pantry Coordinator-Mobile Pantry, Mobile Pantry Program Assistant and Driver, and Mobile Pantry Box Truck Driver and Site Assistant. For more details on the job openings and how to apply, please click here.
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.
