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Nourished, Spring 2025
A bi-annual newsletter publication of Palm Beach County Food Bank
2024 in Review
38,400 Hot meals
HOT, NUTRITIOUS MEALS
1 million meals
THE WEEKEND BACKPACK PROGRAM
48,200 meals
GROCERIES FOR SENIORS
12.9 million meals distributed in 2024
A letter from our CEO
Dear Neighbor,
Since we opened our community kitchen doors at our long-awaited, symbolic bread-breaking ceremony in June 2024, our transformational expansion initiatives have been well underway, nourishing our neighbors in need in innovative ways. It’s an exciting time at the Food Bank.
The buzz of activity here at our facility is heard in every corner. The scent of our Michelle Hagerty Community Kitchen, serving up hot meals for delivery and preparing to receive culinary students, fills the air. A thriving, expanded Lois’ Food4Kids Volunteer Center is simultaneously boxing up meals, sorting produce, and packing pantry staples for multiple programs with twice as many compassionate volunteers.
But, the truth is, our efforts to grow our services and resources means more and more of our community needs us. The Food Bank’s growth means there is an increase in hunger in Palm Beach County.
I wish for a day when children, seniors, families, and our Palm Beach County neighbors won’t need us. A day when our programs will help people experiencing hunger provide for themselves. This is when our work ends and our vision of alleviating hunger in Palm Beach County starts.
Your support moves this vision forward. It means fewer children, seniors, families, and neighbors going through life hungry. Together, our mission of nourishing our neighbors and improving their lives one meal at a time will allow our vision to become a reality.
Thank you for seeing our vision and taking action to support hunger relief in Palm Beach County.
With gratitude and appreciation,
Jamie Kendall
Summer BreakSpot
This summer we will officially begin our participation in the Florida Department of Agriculture Summer BreakSpot program!
Summer BreakSpot is a federally funded program helping fill the hunger gap by serving nutritious meals to Florida kids and teens while school is out at no cost to families.
Interested in participating? Contact the Programs team at
programs@pbcfoodbank.org or 561-670-2518 ext. 304 or 310.
Hunger Heroes
Volunteer Spotlight
For Cathy Lozier, volunteering at the Palm Beach County Food Bank is more than a weekly routine, it’s a tribute to her mother’s legacy.
Cathy’s mother, a teacher and longtime volunteer with a local nonprofit, spent over 20 years feeding and caring for those in need. After her passing, Cathy stepped in to continue that mission. “I’m taking her place,” she said, fittingly, on what would have been her mother’s birthday.
Every Thursday, Cathy joins a group of women to pack meals for children in the Lois’ Food4Kids/Weekend Backpack Program. What keeps her coming back is the impact and the gratitude. “Last year, the kids made us thank-you cards with crayon drawings. It meant everything.”
Cathy’s service is a living memory: steady and full of heart.
FOOD DRIVES
FPL- NextEra Energy Food Drive hosted in summer 2024
Two passionate interns organized a food drive between the Palm Beach Gardens and Juno Beach offices of NextEra Energy. Their initiative collected 346 pounds of food, providing 288 meals for families in need. Thank you for your leadership and generosity!
“Hosting a food drive isn’t just about donating goods, it’s about fostering a culture of empathy and teamwork.”
247,839 Meals provided by Food Drives from July - December 2024
Upcoming Food Drives
May: 3rd Annual Meal Build
May 10: Stamp Out Hunger with the National Association of Letter Carriers
August: 5th Annual Back-to-School Food Drive
September: Take Action Food & Fund Drive (Hunger Action Month)
Together, we nourish
Transformational $2 million gift
Michelle Hagerty
Community Kitchen
Thank you
“I support The Palm Beach County Food Bank
and wanted to name the community kitchen because no one should ever have to wonder where their next meal is coming from. Supporting PBCFB isn’t just about food, it’s about dignity, hope, and the belief that we all have a role in lifting one another up. Philanthropy is my way of investing in a stronger and more compassionate future for everyone."
-
Michelle Hagerty
Premier Kitchen
Events
A Kitchen with A Cause
with Chef Doug Barg
561-670-2518
info@pbcfoodbank.org
There's still time to
Fill the Plates
in Palm Beach County!
Your generous donation will be honored with a hand-blown glass plate, proudly displayed on our
“Fill the Plates” wall.
Fill the plates for hunger relief!
Food Truck Gift
The transformational growth and extraordinary expansion at Palm Beach County Food Bank continues with the exceedingly generous gift of a food truck!
Stacey Hallberg of Northern Trust and David “Dave” Reilly gifted the Food Bank in the fall with a fully-equipped food truck to use for a new hunger relief initiative. We could not be more thankful to them for this exciting opportunity to nourish more neighbors in need in innovative ways. Follow us for more updates about where this food truck will go!
PROGRAMS
Empty Bowls Palm Beach Raises $123,000 to Fight Hunger
On a beautiful February Day, almost 600 guests gathered for the 12th Annual Empty Bowls Palm Beach, hosted by The Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea. Together, we provided nearly 615,000 meals to nourish over 173,000 neighbors facing food insecurity in our community.
With soups donated by 24 local restaurants, a bake sale, and over 650 hand-painted bowls, the event was a powerful reminder that small acts, like eating simply, can have a big impact.
Thank you to our volunteers, sponsors, and supporters for making this event a success!
Thank you
Presenting Sponsors: Anne and Chris Flowers, Platinum Ladle Sponsors: Axis Redistribution, Leo Rosner Foundation, Perdue, Smithfield Gold Ladle Sponsors: Ed Carter, Debbie and Michael Pucillo, Silver Ladle Sponsors: DSS, Inc., Dole Packaged Foods, Ecolab/Swisher, ItalCrust, J.P. Morgan Wealth Management, Madeline Andrews, Florida Power & Light, PDS Wealth Management, Cindy and Ron McMackin, Amy and Gary Sullivan, Velocity Community Credit Union, Bread Sponsor: Old School Bakery.
Groceries for Seniors Program Addresses
Food Insecurity at Home
Healthy Food, Happier Kids: “Childhood Hunger Initiatives” Hot Meals Program Grows
Launched in 2024, Groceries for Seniors delivers nutritious, personalized groceries to low-income seniors (60+, or 50+ with a disability).
With over
48,000 meals already provided, Groceries for Seniors supports
health, independence, and dignity.
Since July 2024, the Palm Beach County Food Bank and FLIPANY have served over 38,000 hot, nutritious meals to children through the Afterschool Meals program.
Launched as a summer pilot, the program quickly expanded to after-school sites. Parents, through feedback shared with FLIPANY, praise the food as “phenomenal, healthy, and made with real ingredients.”
COMMUNITY
Palm Beach County is home to nearly 1.5 million people from all walks of life. Tourists from all over the country visit year-round to enjoy the culture we have to offer. We live where it’s hard to believe hunger exists. At the supermarket, pharmacy, and gas station, our neighbors at the checkout line might have skipped their meals today to let their children eat rather than pay medical bills or to fuel up their car to make it to work.
Neighbors like Claudia struggle to put food on the table because of unexpected circumstances. Claudia worked for nearly four decades before retiring and continuing her life with her husband. With their modest savings and both their retirement incomes, life was comfortable with enough funds to buy groceries and pay utility bills. “I thought the rest of my life was going to be fine and happy,” said Claudia as she remembered her life before.
Life took a turn for the worse for Claudia after she became the victim of domestic violence at the hands of her husband two years ago. She said, “That day, I didn’t think I would make it, but I knew I had to fight.” After her husband depleted their shared bank accounts and sold her car, Claudia was left alone, traumatized, and penniless. Her children offered the little help they could, but they were feeling the challenges of inflation and increased cost of living, too.
Things started to look up when she found the Palm Beach County Food Bank. She made an appointment with one of our Benefits Outreach Specialists for assistance and found the Partner Marketplace agency nearest her to visit their weekly food pantry. Claudia shared, “I’m so grateful to Sacha [Benefits Outreach Specialist] and all of you. It’s a great help.”
“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.” -Brad Meltzer
Childhood Hunger Initiatives
Lois’ Food4Kids/Weekend Food for Kids parents said:
“It's given our family meal planning of healthy ways to eat. It has put food on our table.”
“Sometimes I don't have anything to give to my children in the afternoon. I give them what is in the bags I get every Friday.”
“The simple things like rice and dry beans helps feed us at least for two days.”
“This program has served as a relief for the food needs of my children.”
“Thanks to your program my children have healthy food available.”
