South Floridians are invited to “Go Orange” this September as part of Hunger Action Month, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about food insecurity and encourage community action.
Feeding South Florida, the leading hunger-relief organization serving Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, is hosting a series of events, fundraisers and volunteer opportunities throughout the month to support its mission, according to a recent announcement.
Hunger Action Month, created by Feeding America, is observed every September to highlight the issue of food insecurity and inspire people to get involved. In South Florida, about 1 million families – including nearly 500,000 children and seniors – face hunger and uncertainty about where their
next meal will come from, according to the announcement.
The theme this year is ‘More Than a Meal’
This year, Feeding South Florida’s theme is “More Than A Meal,” emphasizing that hunger relief is about more than just providing food. It’s about dignity, stability and hope.
How to get involved
Residents can participate in a variety of ways:
- Start a fund or food drive: Raise money online with coworkers, friends and family, or host a food drive to collect shelf-stable items.
- Dine out for a cause: Select restaurants will donate a portion of meal proceeds to Feeding South Florida.
- Volunteer: Help sort food at one of Feeding South Florida’s warehouses or assist in meal preparation at the Community Kitchen in Boynton Beach.
- Go Orange!: Wear orange, host an orange-themed bake sale, or encourage local landmarks to light up in orange to show support.
Key events in September
- Pack to Give Back (Sept. 18): Corporate teams are invited to volunteer from 8:30 a.m. to noon to sort food and pack meal boxes.
- Outrun Hunger 5K – Palm Beach County (Sept. 19): The annual 5K will take place from 6:30 to 9 a.m. at Okeeheelee Park, 7715 Forest Hill Blvd. in West Palm Beach. The family-friendly event will feature a Kids Zone, local vendors and more. Participants can join as individuals or teams. This year’s event will be emceed by Noura Salman, a Survivor Season 39 finalist and founder of SuperFreshies.com, and Kirk Gimenez, senior vice president at Brickell Capital Finance and member of Feeding South Florida’s Advisory Council.
- Hunger Action Day (Sept. 29): Also known as “Go Orange Day,” the community is encouraged to wear “Hunger Heroes” t-shirts, available for $25, to show support.
“Hunger Action Month reminds us that every meal is more than food on a plate. It represents dignity, stability and hope for a neighbor facing uncertainty,” Paco Vélez, president and CEO of Feeding South Florida, said in the announcement.
Matching donations and online auction
During September, donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000 by presenting sponsor Delta Airlines, according to the announcement. Every $1 donated helps provide approximately four meals.
An online auction will also be held, offering bidders the chance to win unique items while supporting hunger relief efforts.
How to participate
To get involved, visit feedingsouthflorida.org/hunger-action-month or contact events@feedingsouthflorida.org.
For volunteer opportunities, visit feedingsouthflorida.org/volunteer.
About Feeding South Florida
Feeding South Florida serves Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties through a network of more than 350 nonprofit and community partners. The organization supports over 1.7 million people annually with food distribution, advocacy and education programs.
A new 32,000-square-foot warehouse for one of South Florida's largest food banks is coming to Boynton Beach after the city approved a modified site plan that allows the organization to begin construction.
The warehouse will be the final phase of Feeding South Florida’s campus expansion at Quantum Corporate Park, located at 4925 Park Ridge Blvd., near Interstate 95 just north of Gateway Boulevard.
To learn more, visit feedingsouthflorida.org.
This story was created by web producer Michele Kelley (mkelley@pbpost.com) with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: You can help feed families in South Florida during Hunger Action Month
