Though Palm Beach County is known for its wealth, it is also misleading. Our county is also a community with a hunger situation where many struggle daily to meet the most basic needs. A study conducted in 2004 by United Way of Palm Beach County and community partners found that 1 in 3 households with incomes less than or equal to $35,000 ran out of food before they had money to buy more. That result and others from the study serves as a basis for the Palm Beach County Community Food Alliance.
The Palm Beach County Community Food Alliance
The Palm Beach County Community Food Alliance (CFA) efforts focus on collaboration, coordination and cooperation among and between a myriad of organizations, companies, and agencies that are committed to ending hunger in our community. The goal of the CFA is to assure that all Palm Beach County residents have access to and obtain safe, sufficient, culturally acceptable, and nutritious food through a sustainable system that maximizes self-reliance, social justice, and health. The alliance is an initiative of United Way of Palm Beach County.
Below is a list of some of the programs promoted and utilized by the Alliance to improve food access in Palm Beach County.
Gleaning
Gleaning is a process in which volunteers pick fresh fruits and vegetables that have been donated from local farmers. Gleaned food is then distributed through the Palm Beach County CFA free to many local community food providers with food pantries and major feeding sites that feed the hungry in Palm Beach County. In 2004, through a partnership among Christians Reaching Out to Society (C.R.O.S.) Ministries, Feed the Hungry Program at Village Baptist Church, United Way of Palm Beach County, and R.C. Hatton Farm, the Gleaning Program was revived in Palm Beach County.
During last year’s gleaning season, 187,530 pounds of fresh produce was gleaned and distributed to more than 100 Palm Beach County nonprofits. This was made possible through the hard work and support of 988 volunteers and 19 gleaning events. Gleaning season runs October through May.
If you would like to volunteer for a Gleaning project, please call C.R.O.S. Ministries at (561) 233-9009. You may also volunteer online through United Way's Volunteer Center search for opportunities page. In keywords, type "gleaning."
Any agency or organization interested in receiving donated produce should contact the CFA hotline at (561) 375-6653.
Community Food Delivery Program
In order to increase food security in our community, and to maximize the participation in federal food programs, the CFA operates the Community Food Truck with concert with Village Baptist Church. The refrigerated trucks regularly deliver donated produce, recovered food from local businesses, gleaned produce, food from Farm Share, Stop Hunger, Publix Super Markets and SHARE. The truck is available for use by any nonprofit. Drivers are supplied but agencies must provide their own volunteers to load and unload the items. There is a small nominal fuel charge.
To schedule use of the truck or to learn more about this program, please contact Feed the Hungry at (561) 398-0566.
Community Food Recovery Program
Due to the fact that 28% of the food supply goes to waste annually, the CFA has an initiative to recover unused, prepared food that would otherwise be thrown out, from local businesses, hotels, festivals and venues. This recovered food is transporated by refrigerated truck to local food providers.
Any business or venue that wants to become part of this program, please contact Alex Stevens, CFA director, at (561) 375-6600.
The Happy Kitchen/La Cocina Alegre™
This program trains social, health care and education workers on how to teach cooking and nutrition classes to diverse communites. Trainers are taught culturally appropriate and nutritious meal preparation. They then go out to community organizations and churches to teach individuals.
Using the proven-successful The Happy Kitchen/La Cocina Alegre™, the trainers teach participants nont only cooking, but also food budgeting, nutrition, and food safety. The curriculum is designed to be taught to the primary food purchaser and cook in the household, and can be customized for each community, depending on the audience.
Classroom support and some supplies are provided by the CFA. To learn more about the program, contact Terry Jurewicz, CFA Project Coordinator, at (561) 375-6600.
SHARE Florida Food Network
The SHARE (Self Help and Resource Exchange) Florida Food Network is a food cooperative that helps households save 50% or more on their groceries, allowing households to stretch their food budgets and increase their access to nutritious foods. By buying in bulk, SHARE offers substantial savings on delicious meats, fruits and vegetables. For example, for just $18 a month, households can purchase a Basic Package that contains five meats and seven fruits and vegetables, that would cost them $40 or more in stores. The food is the same quality found in grocery stores. In fact, SHARE purchases their food in volume from the same sellers that grocery store chains do.
The SHARE Florida Food Network is sponsored by Cornerstone Family Ministries and TECO Energy. The program is promoted in Palm Beach County by the CFA. Currently, there are 30 SHARE sites in Palm Beach County, including at many Beacon Centers. To find a location, call 2-1-1, the county’s information and referral line. More information on SHARE can also be found at www.shareflorida.org or by calling (800) 536-3379.
Project Hunger Partnership
In 2005, United Way of Palm Beach County and WPEC CBS12 partnered to form Project Hunger, a multi-year public service campaign to stop hunger in Palm Beach County. CBS12 has committed its station’s resources and community service airtime to raise public awareness about hunger. Project Thanksgiving, the National Association of Letter Carrier’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive, and the free or reduced breakfast and lunch school programs are some of the projects CBS12 promotes through this campaign.
Project Thanksgiving
Through its partnerships with CBS 12 and United Way of Palm Beach County, the CFA manages CBS 12's Project Thanksgiving™. CBS 12 and United Way partner to raise money for the program. Last year, working together, United Way and CBS 12 raised enough money to provide Thanksgiving meals to thousands of families in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties.
Agencies are required to register with the CFA, and provide proper paperwork, in order to be eligible for this program. Agency registration begins in August. United Way and CBS 12 begin promoting and soliciting donations for CBS 12's Project Thanksgiving™ in September. Any agency wishing to be added to the CFA's mailing list should contact Terry Jurewicz, CFA Project Coordinator, at (561) 375-6600.
Be a Member of the PBC Community Food Alliance
Any nonprofit, agency, local food providers are welcome to joing the CFA. The group meets quarterly. Members also receive e-messages regularly containing updates on the CFA, its programs, information on programs and assistance available to CFA members. To join the CFA's e-message distribution list, contact Terry Jurewicz at (561) 375-6600.
If you, or someone you know, is in need of food assistance, please contact 211, an information and referral line funded by United Way of Palm Beach County. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 211 provides quick and easy access to the public to the more than 5,000 programs in Palm Beach County that provide services locally. The programs, projects, and services United Way supports are registered with 211.
Just dial 2-1-1, or (561) 383-1111, to get access to the many services offered in our community. You may also check out 211's Web site at www.211palmbeach.org