A South Florida nonprofit is getting a significant boost in its efforts to tackle hunger in the community.
CROS Ministries recently received a $90,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, according to a community announcement.
The funding will support various programs aimed at providing food to individuals and families in need.
Grant will assist with multiple programs
The grant comprises contributions from three different sources within the Community Foundation. The Angelwish Foundation contributed $5,000 for food pantries and gleaning, the Stoops Family Foundation Fund provided $20,000 for general support, and The Lois & Reginald Collier Fund - Food Security added $65,000 specifically for the food pantry program.
Demand for services is rising
According to Ruth Mageria, CEO of CROS
Ministries, the need for food assistance is greater than ever.
“Across South Florida, hardworking families and individuals are finding it harder to keep up with rising housing costs, grocery prices, and gas expenses. Additionally, about 166,000 Palm Beach County residents recently lost their SNAP benefits and are now facing increased food insecurity. We are grateful to the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties for helping us fund our programs which are a vital lifeline for an increasing number of people in need,” stated Ruth Mageria, CEO of CROS Ministries, according to the announcement.
Pantries operate across Palm Beach, Martin counties
The CROS Ministries Food Pantry Program operates 10 sites across Palm Beach and Martin counties, ensuring accessibility for those facing rising living costs, fixed or insufficient incomes and unexpected financial crises. The pantries are open six days a week, with a mobile pantry offering additional hours to accommodate those with work or transportation challenges.
Other programs target food access, waste
In addition to the food pantries, CROS Ministries operates a gleaning program that recovers surplus fresh produce from local farms and redistributes it to food banks and partner agencies. This program increases access to nutritious food and reduces food waste.
The Caring Kitchen program provides free hot meals five days a week to individuals experiencing homelessness and food insecurity in Delray Beach. It also delivers meals to homebound seniors and individuals with disabilities in several zip codes.
“Our programs respond to both immediate hunger and long-term food access gaps, ensuring that food reaches people where they live and in the ways they need it most. As the demand for our services has outpaced our resources, funding from partners like Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties allows us to continue to provide essential support to people struggling to make ends meet. We are most grateful,” added Mageria, according to the announcement.
CROS Ministries serves Palm Beach, Martin counties
CROS Ministries has been serving Palm Beach and Martin counties for 48 years, providing food to those in need through community partnerships. The organization operates six days a week, offering community food pantries, hot meal services and gleaning initiatives.
For more information on CROS Ministries’ programs and services, visit crosministries.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: South Florida nonprofit receives $90K boost to combat food insecurity
