Hunger Relief Monthly Update August 2022

Every month United Way of Palm Beach County (UWPBC)'s Hunger Relief Initiative provides you with the important news about Hunger Relief in Palm Beach County. Information is current as of August 15, 2022. Check out what's new and learn about ongoing work below.

NEW FOR AUGUST

FOOD RESOURCES School District of Palm Beach County (SDPBC) FREE Meals: School breakfast and lunch are now free for ALL children in schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program with SDPBC. Your kids can eat delicious, nutritious breakfasts and lunch at school, every day of the school week! Click here to check out the menu for your school. Summer Pandemic EBT (P-EBT): ·   The State of Florida has applied for Summer P-EBT 2022! This means that 2.6 million Florida children will benefit. These federal dollars are crucial to help reduce food insecurity for families who are already struggling to make ends meet. An estimated $1 billion will now come into the state to help feed hungry kids — families do not need to do anything to enroll, the funds will appear on EBT cards. The benefit will be $391 per eligible child. Please check the DCF website for updated information as it becomes available. Instacart Now Accepting SNAP: SNAP benefits can now be used to buy groceries at participating stores using Instacart. Delivery is free on the first three orders over $35 when using SNAP, now through 12/31/22. To learn more, click here. UWPBC Food Finder Map: UWPBC's Food Finder Map is updated weekly and has been viewed over 174,000 times! The best way to access emergency food is through your local food pantry. Anyone looking for food or helping others find food is encouraged to look up locations on the map. You can also get help finding food locations by calling 2-1-1.

The best way to ensure food insecure people have access to emergency food is through a strong food pantry system. Pantries rely largely on food from local food banks and other donations. Inflation and the end of many COVID-era food programs have led to a decrease in donations and food available through the emergency food system. You can learn how to support your local food bank and pantry system through food donations here.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH Birth to 22 Youth Survey: Birth to 22 is an alliance of Palm Beach County community partners convened by the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County and Palm Beach County's Youth Services Department. Their work supports the healthy growth, development and education of Palm Beach County children and youth, prenatally, through young adulthood. The goal is for the youth to graduate from high school and succeed in life. Birth to 22 wants to know how youth (22 and younger) view their community, and what their concerns, and communication preferences are. Please let any youth you know or work with, know about the survey and encourage them to take a few moments to complete the survey by August 30, 2022. Philanthropy Tank CHANGEmakers: Philanthropy Tank is looking for its next group of CHANGEmakers! Students who apply and are selected can participate in a year-long program and receive mentorship and funding for their student-led community impact ideas. To learn more and to apply to become a CHANGEmaker by clicking here.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES Child Tax Credit Tool: Did you know that more than 4 million children nationwide could miss out on $1,500-$3,600 with the Child Tax Credit if their parent or guardian has not yet filed? Code For America has created a tool, GetCTC.org, to reduce barriers for people without filing requirements. This tool enables people to claim the Child Tax Credit and a third stimulus payment (up to $5,000 per eligible child). Signing up takes 15 minutes or less on a mobile device, and is available in English or Spanish.

UPCOMING HUNGER RELIEF MEETINGS

We couldn't 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 change to reduce hunger in Palm Beach County. We do this work through our Hunger Relief Advisory Council and the Council's work groups and subcommittees. Hunger Relief staff regularly convenes the Hunger Relief Advisory Council, five Work Groups, and two Subcommittees. Interested in attending a meeting? Please send us an email to learn more.

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

FLIPANY

This month's spotlight is on FLIPANY, one of our hunger relief partners! FLIPNAY's (Florida Introduces Physical Activity and Nutrition to Youth) mission is to foster healthy lives through nutrition education, physical activities, and wellness initiatives. One of the ways FLIPANY does this is by serving as a sponsor of the Afterschool Meals Program (AMP). Eligible afterschool programs can work with FLIPANY to receive delicious and nutritious snacks and meals while children are in the program, before they go home for the day. Do you have an afterschool program that can benefit from having free meals for your students? Please reach out to FLIPANY's enrollment team via meals@flipany.org to learn about eligibility and the onboarding process.

We couldn't do this work without you! The Hunger Relief Team is so appreciative of everything you do for our community. Please feel free to reach out to us anytime by calling us at 561-375-6600 or emailing us.

Stay Connected!

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