Palm Beach County is one of the wealthiest counties in the nation. However, on any given day more than 210,000 residents don’t know where their next meal will come from. Almost 64,000 of these individuals are children.
In response to such startling statistics, the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) and the United Way of Palm Beach County have partnered to develop the Hunger Relief Plan to alleviate hunger in the county. The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), a national organization dedicated to eradicating hunger and undernutrition in the United States, in collaboration with the University of South Carolina’s Center for Research in Nutrition and Health Disparities (USC Center) have been contracted to conduct the research needed to develop the plan.
The research will identify challenges facing those in need, strengths and weaknesses in the current process for reducing hunger, how to respond to urgent needs, what the community at-large should be aware of, and long-term efforts required to expand the food supply and alleviate hunger.
The Hunger Relief Plan will focus on the following areas:
- childhood and young adult hunger (prenatal to 22 years old)
- older adult hunger (60 years or older)
- household crisis hunger
- rural communities (i.e., Belle Glade, Pahokee, South Bay, Canal Point)
- systems, infrastructure and technology (i.e. food banks, pantries, soup kitchens, distribution, preservation and facilities)
- public awareness
- advocacy
- public policy
- consumer education (i.e., shopping basics, preparation, etc.)
FRAC and the USC Center will engage community stakeholders throughout the process to ensure a well-supported comprehensive plan. The Hunger Relief Plan will be presented in September. For more information regarding the Hunger Relief Plan and the community stakeholders, please contact Palm Beach County Human Services Director Claudia Tuck at 561-355-4775
