Hunger can — and does — exist amid plenty. Nationally, more than 49 million Americans have trouble regularly putting nutritious food on the table. In addition, despite its wealth, more than 181,340 residents in Palm Beach County struggle with hunger, a 9.24% reduction since last year. 52,580 of these residents are children who do not have enough to eat on a daily basis.*
In our communities, individuals or families that do not want to share with their neighbors the fact that they are struggling economically often hide hunger. Sometimes hunger hides behind doors of nice houses with mortgages in default, or the heat turned off, or all the income going to housing costs, leaving little or no money for food. Sometimes it hides behind the stoic faces of parents or grandparents who skip meals to protect their children or grandchildren from hunger. It goes unseen by those not looking for it.
*Gundersen, C., M. Hake, A. Dewey, E. Engelhard (2021). The Impact of the Coronavirus on Food Insecurity in 2020 & 2021, Update March 2021 [Data file and FAQ]. Available from Feeding America: research@feedingamerica.org.
What are we doing as a community to change this?
To identify solutions, United Way of Palm Beach County and the administrative leadership at Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners collaborated to develop and implement the Palm Beach County Hunger Relief Plan.
United Way and the County led the creation of the plan, and it is a major collaborative partnership with more than 60 agencies in our community.
Together, we are fighting hunger! All of us, working together towards the greater good of this community – for children whose main source of food is school meal programs, for seniors who are forced to choose between groceries and medication, for parents who work two jobs and still cannot afford to feed their families and others.
Join the fight to help end hunger today by contacting United Way of Palm Beach County’s Hunger Relief Team at HungerRelief@UnitedWayPBC.org
Click to learn more about our work in: Childhood Hunger | Senior Hunger | The Glades | Infrastructure
Palm Beach County Food Finder Map
The Palm Beach County Food Finder was created in response to COVID-19 in order to connect individuals seeking food resources to sites near them in a quick and accessible way. Through collaboration with several community partners including Palm Beach County, the School District of Palm Beach County, Palm Beach County Food Bank, Feeding South Florida, FLIPANY, Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, Area Agency on Aging Palm Beach/Treasure Coast, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, Living Hungry, and Hospitality Helpings Hands, information on sites offering food services was collected and uploaded to the Palm Beach County Food Finder map. United Way of Palm Beach County will update this resource weekly. If you would like to include your organization’s resources on the map, please fill out this Food Finder Interest Form.
Meals for Children 18 and Under – These sites offer meals for children ages 18 and under.
Food Pantries – These sites offer groceries such as canned goods, produce, and protein products.
Soup Kitchens – These sites offer hot meals for individuals to take with them.
Family Take Out Meals – These sites offer drive through hot meals for everyone in the car.
Affordable Produce – These sites offer affordable produce boxes.
Palm Beach County Food Assistance Pre-Paid Debit Card
The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, through its Community Services Department (CSD), will provide direct assistance for food to eligible residents of Palm Beach County under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
APPLY- WWW.FOODASSISTANCEPBC.ORG
Palm Beach County will issue pre-paid debit cards to approved residents to purchase food. Eligible residents who experienced a loss of income as a direct result of COVID-19 and who are at or below 140% Area Median Income (AMI) may apply. The one-time benefit allowance is based on household size and maximum amounts is listed. Only one card will be given out per household, and all expenditures must be made by December 30, 2020.
• 1-2 Household members: $400
• 3-4 Household members: $800
• 5 or more Household members: $1,000
Applicants must present evidence their household was adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in order to qualify to receive the prepaid card. Supporting documentation must be provided to prove income eligibility, such as last a pay stub or last filed tax return, valid government issued ID and Social Security card.
Community Survey – Childhood Hunger Relief
A Palm Beach County Hunger Relief Plan Childhood Work Group subcommittee is focusing on child meals and how we might better provide access to them in Palm Beach County.
The group developed a short survey for parents to help us identify the best ways to improve food resources delivery in PBC based upon parent input. We want to ensure that children and families have access to food as the pandemic continues and schools are not open.
We invite you to take the survey here!
Please note:
- The information will not be used for any other purpose and is strictly confidential.
- As you move through the survey, there are optional questions for you to share additional information.
Hunger Relief Weekly Updates:
View the most recent Hunger Relief Update: September 13, 2021
For all previous updates, please visit this page.
Information and Resources:
- SNAP Information:
- “What is SNAP?” Video
- Florida Department of Children and Families: Apply for federal Food Assistance Programs.
- 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast: Get connected with community resources and referrals.
- Palm Beach County Food Bank: Find food pantry locations near you.
- WIC Information: Pregnant? Have a baby? WIC may be right for you.
- WIC Overview video: Learn about WIC and find a local WIC office near you.
- WIC Q&A
- Healthy Food Healthy Children Webinar
- This webinar held in May 2019 showcased resources in our community for those that serve children ages 0-4. Panelists included Palm Beach County Youth Services, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, FLIPANY, Family Central, and WIC.
- Palm Beach County Hunger Relief Plan
- Hunger Relief Annual Reports
- Nonprofits First Rising Leaders 2017 – Hunger Relief Video
- United Way of Palm Beach County, in partnership with Palm Beach County, Florida Department of Health, and 2-1-1, developed a Public Service Announcement (PSA) tool to educate the community about key information regarding COVID-19 and connect them with resources offered in the County. The PSA is available in English, Spanish, and Creole and can be used widely by organizations such as businesses, food distribution sites, and social service agencies.
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