The Town of Palm Beach United Way’s Empty Your Pantry Food Drive kicks off March 30 for its 12th year.
Through April 20, the drive will collect non-perishable food items, monetary donations and pet food to help low-income individuals and families struggling to make ends meet.
“Food shortages are an ongoing issue in our community; especially during the summer months,” United Way Board Chair Richard Rothschild said in a statement. “Now is the time to help our partners fill their pantries.”
The Town of Palm Beach United Way’s Empty Your Pantry food drive begins Sunday, and runs through April 20.
Each year the Town of Palm Beach United Way chooses nonprofit partner agencies to benefit from the drive. This year, the donations will go to CROS Ministries, The Glades Initiative and the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League.
CROS Ministries runs five brick-and-mortar food pantries located throughout the county, and one mobile food pantry. The organization has helped residents from all walks of life, including children, seniors, veterans, people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities and working families.
“Food insecurity is not only persisting but intensifying,” CROS Ministries Executive Director Ruth Mageria said in a release. “Inflation, grocery prices and housing costs have strained residents. At our food pantries, we have seen this reality firsthand, with a 71% increase in people served over the last five years.”
The Glades Initiative provides food to more than 3,000 people a month in Palm Beach County’s Glades agricultural region. It helps those with very low incomes and limited access to transportation and technology.
“We are just a straight 45 miles west on Southern Boulevard from Palm Beach, and it is likely hard to imagine just how different life is here,” Karis Engle, the organization’s president and CEO, said in a release. “Many residents work really hard and due to low wages and high cost of living, they still do not earn enough to feed their families. We consider food of major importance to good health. If you don’t have access to healthy food, you are much more likely to have chronic illness.”
The drive’s pet food donations will help stock up Peggy Adams’ pet food pantries, which benefit families struggling to afford food for their furry companions. Peggy’s Pantry accepts wet and dry food for cats and dogs. Pet treats also are welcomed.
“Peggy’s Pantry is about more than just feeding pets — it’s about keeping families together,” Peggy Adams CEO Sue Berry said in a prepared statement. “By supporting Peggy’s Pantry, you’re helping ensure that families don’t have to make the heartbreaking decision of giving up their beloved pets due to financial hardship.”
In 2024, the pantry distributed more than 400,000 meals.
Food donations can be dropped off at: Fire Station 1, 355 S. County Road; Fire Station 3, 2185 S. Ocean Blvd.; the United Way office, 44 Cocoanut Row; or Field of Greens locations including at 261 Royal Poinciana Way, Palm Beach; 412 Clematis St., West Palm Beach; 4802 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach; and 777 S. Flagler Drive, Suite 108, West Palm Beach.
The Town of United Way also will accept monetary donations. Residents can donate online at www.palmbeachunitedway.org/food-drive or send a check. Checks should be payable to Town of Palm Beach United Way with “Food Drive” in the memo and mailed to the United Way office at 44 Cocoanut Row, Suite M201, Palm Beach, FL 33480.
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@pbdailynews.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach Food Drive to aid county’s hungry residents begins March 30
