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 October 9, 2024. Check out what's new and learn about ongoing work below.

National Breastfeeding Month Resource Fair

On September 6, we joined forces with nine of our amazing community partners in honor of National Breastfeeding Month to host a resource fair for the community at Lantana Road Branch Library. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us and received valuable information on all things breastfeeding!

We appreciate the support and essential resources provided by our community partners. Together, we are empowering moms and families on their breastfeeding journey. Special thanks to: Palm Beach County Library System, Palm Beach County Food Bank, Breastfeeding Coalition of Palm Beach County, Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies of Palm Beach County, Florida Department of Health (DOH), American Heart Association, and HomeSafe.

#HungerActionDay

United Way of Palm Beach County staff proudly wore orange on September 10 to bring awareness to food insecurity and inspire community action.

Day of 200,000 Meals

The goal for the inaugural Day of 200,000 Meals event was surpassed thanks to the incredible efforts from all the Hunger Heroes. Volunteers dedicated their time to pack an astounding 240,000 meals in just ONE day!

SNAP Challenge

United Way of Palm Beach County staff participated in the SNAP Challenge from September 16-20. The SNAP Challenge gives participants a glimpse into some of the struggles faced by millions of low-income Americans who are trying to put food on their tables. For one week, participants budgeted their meals using the average SNAP benefit of $6.20 per day.

Challenge participants were overwhelmed by the extra time required to research alternative brands, compare prices across grocery stores, and prepare meticulously for each shopping trip. Many participants turned to garlic, lemon, and onion, to avoid bland flavors, making the most of these versatile ingredients.

Prioritizing staples like beans and planning meals around items that could be bought in larger quantities helped participants stay within budget. Creative use of leftovers emerged as a key strategy, with participants repurposing extra ingredients as pizza toppings or incorporating them into soups.

SNAP skimming refers to the illegal practice of copying card and personal identification number (PIN) information from Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards using hidden devices placed on card-swiping machines. The stolen data is then used to access EBT accounts and spend SNAP benefits.

The federal government is offering replacement benefits to skimming victims on a limited basis pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. The September 2024 Continuing Resolution (CR) extended these replacements through December 20, 2024. Please use the FRAC Action Network to urge your Members of Congress to support the continuing resolution, improve EBT card security, and extend replacement benefits permanently.

United Way of Palm Beach County Hunger Relief and other staff toured a local elementary school participating in the Family Weekend Backpack Program on September 9. Weekend Backpacks are filled with nutritious foods and snacks children can take home on Fridays, ensuring they have enough to eat over the weekend. During our visit, we connected with students and the dedicated school staff who make it all possible. We left feeling inspired and were reminded of the incredible impact that community support has in providing these Weekend Backpacks to nourish students and families.

Mamas Making Community Connections

Join Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies (HMHB) of Palm Beach County and community partners at the City of Greenacres Community Center on Saturday, November 16 at 9:00 a.m. to learn more about support available for new and expectant mothers including prenatal guidance, education, and more.

The Palm Beach County Food Finder Map is updated weekly and has been viewed over 448,000 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 mainly rely on food from local food banks and other donations. Inflation and the end of many COVID-era programs have decreased contributions and food available through the emergency food system. Support your local food bank and pantry system through food donations.

Farm Bill

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.

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 more for women, infants, and children (up to age five).

To access more food assistance information and resources, visit our website.

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 food insecurity in Palm Beach County. This work happens 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 website for more information on UWPBC's Hunger Relief efforts and how to get involved. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us anytime by calling 561-375-6600 or emailing us.

Stay Connected!