Latest news with #PalmBeachCountyFoodBank
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's government cuts will stifle Florida food banks, expand hunger crisis
You'd almost think that a county known for its "Wall Street South" ambitions, its sky-high rents, eight-figure housing sales, and its high concentration of luxury automobile dealerships and potential Michelin Guide restaurants, wouldn't have a problem with feeding its less fortunate. Yet, it's a problem for Palm Beach County — unfortunately a growing one. Dubbed "wasteful spending," the Trump administration last month cut key federal programs that provide funding to allow food banks and schools to buy food from local farmers. That's right, "local" farmers. The abrupt cancellation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement, along with the department's Emergency Food Assistance Program sent tremors nationwide. The move was dubiously billed as way to cut federal spending, but it amounts to a $1 billion hit nationwide that food banks and pantries here in one of Florida's most affluent counties can't afford. Demand for food pantry services in Palm beach County has steadily climbed in recent years. Currently, more than 173,000 residents risk going without enough food every day, about a third are children, according to Palm Beach County Food Bank estimates. Someone — most likely individual and private donors — will have to step in and step up. Without additional support, the absence of any federal involvement will leave a devastating hunger crisis that will plague our county. "They're our neighbors, our children, our seniors," U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., told Palm Beach Post reporter Jasmine Fernandez when asked about the impact of the cuts. "Gutting food assistance now will only increase suffering and strain the very programs that are keeping people fed and hopeful." The timing could not be worse for any government cuts to food pantries and schools. High food prices, an ongoing problem according to food bank leaders, are only going up, thanks to Trump administration policies. Tariffs will impact prices at the grocery stores as imported fruits, vegetables and other popular items face mandated markups. This, on top of bird-flu impacted shortages on chicken and eggs, hasn't helped keep food prices down. Opinion: It's Donald Trump's economy now. Can you afford it? Let us know in our poll. The threat to other safety net programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides nutritional support to seniors, people with disabilities and other low-income individuals and families, also threatens to send displaced participants to food pantries. The crackdown on immigration hasn't helped either. American agriculture already faces a labor shortage in farming, animal production and processing. Threats of deportation has made that worse, threatening higher prices and likely spot shortages on grocery store shelves. Neither trend helps local food pantries. Pantries are already seeing rising demand for their services. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, administrators like Ruth Mageria of CROS Ministries in Lake Worth Beach have seen a 71% increase in people seeking food aid. Citing the area's high cost of living, Mageria told the Post: "People would rather make sure they have a rood over their heads. Then, they will come look for food assistance." Whatever the reasons driving people to food pantries, it's clear that they now lack a key tool in fighting hunger. The USDA grant programs were the bridge food pantries used to stock their shelves and help hungry families. The federal funds went to local farmers in a program that benefitted both agriculture and communities like the Glades. Opinion: I am not an economist. But even I know that Trump's tariffs are bad. At the moment, that resource is gone. Congress, of course could actually do its job and pass a farm bill that would have money to restore, if not strengthen the USDA feeding programs. Fat chance of that. The Republican-controlled House and Senate seem satisfied with either allowing the current administration to make inexcusable cuts and changes to federal programs, or simply passing continuing budget resolutions that stave off government shutdowns but not address ongoing problems. In light of that reality, the onus is on us, as individuals and local organizations, to pony up and address what is becoming a growing food insecurity issue. As the phrase goes: "No one will save us but us." This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Federal funding cuts hurt food banks, worsen hunger crisis | Editorial
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
12th Empty Bowls Palm Beach raises over $120,000 for Palm Beach County Food Bank
With breezy weather perfect for warm soup, hundreds gathered Friday at the Episcopal Church Bethesda-by-the-Sea for the Palm Beach County Food Bank's 12th Annual Empty Bowls Palm Beach. The church's courtyard brimmed with guests enjoying the selection of 24 gourmet soups from local chefs alongside freshly baked bread from Delray Beach's Old School Bakery. The event also featured a bake sale. According to the food bank, nearly 600 people attended the event, which raised about $123,000 for its efforts to feed the 173,000 county residents who have trouble getting enough food. The turnout left Palm Beach Food Bank CEO Jamie Kendall elated. 'We have an incredible amount of people here,' Kendall told the Daily News. Students from North Palm Beach's Benjamin School joined volunteers with setup and cleanup. Town leaders, including Mayor Danielle Moore, Town Council President Bobbie Lindsay and Council Member Ted Cooney, helped serve attendees. 'This is one of my favorite events of the year because it goes to a great cause that keeps money here in Palm Beach County, and it's fun to volunteer and see everyone show up,' Cooney said. People from across the county joined the day's event, including Wellington residents Kimberly Rovner and Yvonne Saint Louis. Their favorite soup was a tie between PB Catch's homemade gazpacho and The Bath and Tennis Club's smoked brisket chili with black beans and corn. The gazpacho also was a favorite for Palm Beach seasonal residents Lorraine and Jay Fleischman. They had wanted to attend the event for years, but the timing was never right, Lorraine Fleischman said. 'I asked a bunch of friends that I play card with if they'd come,' she said. 'My husband got lucky, because one of my friends got sick, so he took the extra ticket.' In addition to PB Catch and The Bath and Tennis Club, other participating restaurants were BrickTop's, Buccan, Club Colette, The Colony Hotel, E.R. Bradley's, Field of Greens, Palm Beach County Food Bank Chef Doug Barg, Gourmet Galaxy, Grato, Le Bilboquet Palm Beach, La Maison De Paris, Paradiso Ristorante, Pistache, Renato's, Sailfish Club of Florida, The Beach Club, The Breakers, Toojay's, Trevini Ristorante and Joshua Catering from The Lord's Place. Bethesda's rector, the Rev. Tim Schenk, welcomed the event. 'It's a privilege to be able to host the community, we have so many people coming to make a difference in the world, and this is one way we are able to do that ... it's an intergenerational and it's an interfaith event,' he said. 'And what I love about that is that every single faith tradition, one of the tenants is feeding the hungry.' For more information about Palm Beach County Food Bank services and volunteering opportunities, visit Diego Diaz Lasa is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at dlasa@ This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: 12th annual Empty Bowls Palm Beach brings hundreds to the island
