Over 1.2 million individuals throughout South Florida are experiencing food insecurity this holiday season. Feeding South Florida® – the leading hunger-relief organization serving Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties – is bringing hope to the table and tackling food insecurity this Thanksgiving. There are various ways that the community can get involved to help those in need, including Feeding South Florida’s “Share Food. Share Joy.” initiative, volunteer shifts, Food + Fund Drive and more. For those seeking assistance, Feeding South Florida is hosting two Thanksgiving food distributions.
“For families struggling to make ends meet, the holiday season can be one of the most difficult times of the year, intensifying already challenging economic conditions,” said Paco Vélez, president and CEO of Feeding South Florida. “We’re experiencing an unprecedented increase in the need for nutritious food for more than 1.2 million individuals as the government shutdown, inflation, supply chain strains, rising fuel and housing costs, and other factors continue to take a toll on families. Even with the government reopened, we do not expect demand to decrease immediately, as it often takes time for federal employees and families to receive back pay or benefits, and many rely on credit cards or short-term options during a shutdown, making it harder to catch up. This Thanksgiving, we are offering the community meaningful ways to come together to fill plates and hearts while fighting food insecurity. By volunteering or donating, our South Florida families can enjoy a memorable holiday with a nourishing meal shared with their loved ones.”
Thanksgiving Food Distributions:
Feeding South Florida is hosting two Thanksgiving food distributions that are open to the public, where families will receive turkeys, sides, all the fixings, and an abundance of fresh produce.
- Blessings Food Pantry & Food Kitchen:
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: 100 NE 44th Street, Pompano Beach, FL 33430
- Burton Memorial:
Date: Sunday, Nov. 23, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Location: 93001 Overseas Highway, Tavernier, FL 33070
“Share Food. Share Joy.” Initiative:
This Thanksgiving, Feeding South Florida aims to provide 13,000 South Florida families with turkeys, sides, all the fixings, and an abundance of fresh produce. The community is invited to share a bit of joy and hope during the upcoming season by choosing one of the following options, now through Nov. 25:
- Donate one turkey to a family: $30
- Donate one turkey and sides to a family: $50
- Donate four turkeys to four families: $100
To ensure Thanksgiving meal boxes are ready in time, all donations must be placed by Nov. 25. For more details or to donate, please visit https://feedingsouthflorida.org/sharefood.
Feeding South Florida thanks its generous sponsors, including Aetna, Greater Health Works, Winn-Dixie, Thoma Bravo, Cotality, Amadeus, Premier Impact Partners, Publix & Publix Charities, and the Florida Panthers.
Food + Fund Drive:
This holiday season, the community is invited to also host Food + Fund Drives to collect food and raise funds with their extended family, social groups or colleagues at the office.
Food drives will accept non-perishable items only. Items in glass jars or expired items will not be accepted. It is requested that items that are already in packed cases, cartons or boxes remain unopened. Special items to make a family’s Thanksgiving brighter are gravy mix, canned vegetables, cranberry sauce, stuffing mix, mashed potato mix, pie filling, pie crust and cornbread mix.
The most-needed general food drive items are peanut butter, cereal, mac and cheese, pasta, rice and beans, canned soups, canned protein, canned fruits and vegetables, canned meals, pop-top food items, fruit cups, applesauce, diapers, baby formula and feminine products.
Donations can be delivered to Feeding South Florida’s headquarters in Pembroke Park and Feeding Palm Beach County headquarters in Boynton Beach, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to the front desk area. For 1,000 pounds or more, please reach out to Feeding South Florida to make special accommodations at allocation@feedingsouthflorida.org.
Creating a virtual food drive grants the power to impact more families with the funds raised. Feeding South Florida provides participants with a unique page and link to engage others, inspire greater participation and monitor their progress.
To learn more, please visit https://feedingsouthflorida.org/food-fund-drives/.
Volunteer Shifts:
The community is invited to volunteer to be part of the hands-on efforts to feed South Florida families.
- Sorting & Packing Experience: Volunteer to inspect, sort and repack donated food in preparation for community distribution at Feeding South Florida’s headquarters in Pembroke Park and Feeding Palm Beach County headquarters in Boynton Beach. Each location is holding sorting/packing volunteer opportunities Tuesday through Saturday starting at 8:30 a.m.
- Community Kitchen Experience: Volunteer to help prep, cook and pack meals in Feeding South Florida’s Community Kitchen at Feeding Palm Beach County. Volunteer opportunities are open to all individuals regardless of kitchen experience.
For more information and to sign up for a volunteer shift, please visit https://feedingsouthflorida.org/volunteer/.
Feed it Forward:
With $1, Feeding South Florida can provide four meals to a family experiencing hunger.
To make a monetary donation in any amount, please visit https://feedingsouthflorida.org/donate/.
About Feeding South Florida®
Feeding South Florida is a member of the Feeding America network and is the leading hunger-relief organization serving Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties. Providing support for 25 percent of the state’s food-insecure population, its mission is to end hunger in South Florida by providing immediate access to nutritious food, leading hunger, and poverty advocacy efforts, and transforming lives through innovative programming and education. Feeding South Florida served more than *1.17 million individuals through direct-service programs and a local network of more than 350 nonprofit and community partners. Visit www.feedingsouthflorida.org or call 954-518-1818.
*FY July 2022–June 2023
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