CEO’s Message
Dear Friends,
Hunger often goes unseen. It may be hidden in the child who can’t focus in your classroom or the one who only has one slice of day-old bread in his or her lunchbox. It may be hidden in your neighbor who just lost her job and is struggling to pay next month’s rent. It may be hidden in your family member who is battling cancer and the medical expenses that go
with it.
High food prices, rising housing costs, low wages, and increased unemployment rates are contributing factors to food insecurity. It is estimated that more than 192,000 residents in Palm Beach County struggle with hunger with more than 50,000 of these individuals are children. Without food, we are starving our children of potential and stripping their caregivers of hope for a better life.
Over the past five years, the number of people seeking food assistance
from CROS has surged by 71%. The gap between the food secure and
those who go hungry is widening.
This increased demand comes at a time when federal funding cuts
threaten to significantly limit financial support CROS receives by $140,000, directly impacting how much food CROS can provide to the increased number of families and individuals facing hunger and food insecurity.
September is Hunger Action Month, a nationwide effort to raise awareness about hunger in America and inspire action. Every action–big or small–is one step closer where no one is hungry. At CROS, we take action six days a week to ensure access to healthy food for all in need, but we cannot meet the rising need alone. Please consider joining us in taking action against hunger.
Volunteer at one of our programs. Help sort or bag food at our warehouse in Lake Worth Beach. Host a food drive at your school, workplace, or place of worship. Give financially to help us stand in the gap for the increased food needed at higher costs and for the loss of federal funding.
Whatever your action may be, take action! Take action so we can restore
hope for a better future for hundreds of thousands of our local neighbors
whose hunger we may not be seeing.
With Gratitude and Hope,
Ruth Mageria
CEO
