United Way of Palm Beach County's (UWPBC) Hunger Relief Initiative provides you with important news about hunger relief in Palm Beach County. Information is current as of January 24, 2024. Check out what's new and learn about ongoing work below.

The Palm Beach County Food Finder Map is updated weekly and has been viewed over 325,000 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.

SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps): SNAP provides food benefits to eligible families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford nutritious food essential to their health and well-being.

Women, Infants and Children (WIC): WIC provides supplemental foods, healthcare referrals, nutrition education/counseling, breastfeeding support, and community services for women, infants, and children (up to age five).

Access more hunger assistance information and resources to download and share at our website.

NEW Senior Congregate Meal Sites: The Division of Senior and Veteran Services of the Palm Beach County Community Services Department opened two new sites: Greenacres Community Center and Chabad of West Palm Beach. Seniors aged 60 and older are encouraged to dine together in a social atmosphere Monday through Friday. Check with the site prior to attending the program to confirm their service schedule.

Free Meals Available to Students in Palm Beach County: Free breakfast and lunch are provided to all students attending a Palm Beach County public school or a participating charter school.

Become a Summer BreakSpot (SBS) Site: Children who depend on school meals during the year often miss out on these free, nutritious meals during the summer months. Your support as a SBS site can help close that gap this summer.

Are you interested in becoming a Summer BreakSpot site? If your organization already provides services to the community and has capable staff and experience in managing a food service program, you may be a good fit. Meals are reimbursable through the Summer BreakSpot Program. All new community partners should be prepared to complete training in February.

VITA: United Way of Palm Beach County has partnered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide free, confidential, and secure preparation and e-filing of tax returns to qualified taxpayers. To qualify, the taxpayer’s household income must have been $75,000 or less in 2023. You may be eligible for up to $7,430 in Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC). Learn more about VITA and access outreach materials below.

In November 2023, Hunger Relief staff met with congressional representatives to discuss protecting and strengthening the Farm Bill Reauthorization and emergency funding for the Special Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

Hunger Relief participated in United Way of Palm Beach County's Holiday Toy and Food Drives through multiple news interviews expressing the need for support. Together, we raised over $30,000, 10,000 pounds of food, and assisted hundreds of local families.

We ended 2023 by touring several of our partner agencies. Many thanks to The Soup Kitchen, Caridad Center, Guatemalan-Maya Center, and The Salvation Army.

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 five work groups and two subcommittees. Please send us an email to learn more.

Check out our new website for more information on Hunger Relief efforts and how to get involved. Please feel free to reach out to us anytime by calling 561-375-6600 or emailing us.

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