Palm Beach food drive to help county residents in need starts Monday
It's that time of year again.
The arrival of spring also signals the start of the Town of Palm Beach United Way’s yearly event to help feed the hungry in Palm Beach County. The 11th Annual Empty Your Pantry Food Drive runs Monday through April 15.
Non-perishable food items and monetary donations will be collected for low-income people and families struggling to make ends meet, the United Way said in a news release. This year, the organization is encouraging donations of kosher food items.
“The food drive helps our nonprofit partners fill their pantries for clients in need, and during a crucial time as many agencies work to meet food shortages during the summer months,” United Way board Chairman Bill Tiefel said in a prepared statement. “Every item donated makes a difference.”
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The Town of Palm Beach United Way chooses two of its nonprofit partner agencies to benefit from the drive. The beneficiaries change each year.
This year, food donations will be given to the Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service and the Farmworker Coordinating Council.
Alpert Jewish Family Service provides kosher food to vulnerable Jewish individuals, families and seniors in the county who are facing food insecurity. The agency has kosher food pantries in West Palm Beach and Boynton Beach.
“Over the last two years, we have seen a 1,000% increase in the number of requests for assistance with food insecurity, particularly among younger families,” Cara Gottlieb, director of Food Pantry Operations at Alpert Jewish Family Service, said in a prepared statement. “In many cases, our food security initiatives serve as the entry point that seamlessly connects people to all our supportive programs, from counseling to care management.”
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The Farmworker Coordinating Council distributes food and food vouchers to local farmworkers and their families from offices in Lake Worth and Belle Glade.
“Due to the current inflation, many families are struggling to meet their basic needs,” said Denise Negron, executive director of Farmworkers Coordinating Council, in a prepared statement. “The food donated will help these families avoid suffering from hunger and will also alleviate financial strain by reducing their monthly expenses, allowing them to allocate their limited resources to other critical needs such as housing, education and healthcare.”
Food Drive partners include Field of Greens, the Palm Beach Daily News and Palm Beach Fire Rescue.
Food donations can be dropped off at: Fire Station Station 1, 355 S. County Road; Fire Station 3, 2185 S. Ocean Blvd.; the United Way office, 44 Cocoanut Row; or Field of Greens locations in Palm Beach — 261 Royal Poinciana Way — and West Palm Beach — 412 Clematis St., 4802 S. Dixie Highway and 777 S. Flagler Drive, Suite 108.
In addition to food donations, the Town of Palm Beach United Way will accept monetary contributions. Residents can donate online at www.palmbeachunitedway.org/food-drive or send a check. Checks should be payable to Town of Palm Beach United Way with “Food Drive” in the memo and mailed to the United Way office at 44 Cocoanut Row, Suite M201, Palm Beach, FL 33480.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach food drive to help county residents in need starts Monday
