Good News - April 2020

OUT AND ABOUT 32 APRIL 2020 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Feeding South Florida ® Responds to COVID-19 Crisis Needs, Seeks Volunteers & Donations The leading domestic hunger-relief organization in South Florida, Feeding South Florida ® is working diligently to respond to the COVID-19 crisis and the rapidly evolving and in- creased food needs of those who are food insecure in South Florida. “As with every response to anemergency, Feeding South Florida is ready to serve, but we need the community’s support more now than ever!” said Paco Vélez, president and CEO of Feeding South Florida. “With volunteer cancella- tions, distribution networks shutting down, and the global threat diminishing re- sources, community help is imperative. Please take this opportunity to donate, vol- unteer, and help us in many other ways.” While the organization is in dire need of volunteers, more sanitation and cleaning supplies, monetary dona- tions give Feeding South Florida the most flexibility to respond rapidly to requests for assistance. Their COVID-19 response web page at feedingsouth- florida.org/covid19/ outlines how to help. • Participate in Feeding South Florida’s MealCon- nect “Extra Helpings” program -- The Extra Help- ings Program connects vol- unteers with local hotels, restaurants, caterers, schools and other donors to recover perishable food and deliver to agencies for distribution. • Donate to the Feeding South Florida COVID-19 Response Fund at feeding- southflorida.org/donate-now/. • Volunteer to help pack fam- ily meal boxes at Feeding South Florida’s headquarters in Pembroke Park and Feed- ing Palm Beach County headquarters in Boynton Beach with sorting/packing volunteer opportunities Tues- day - Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. To register, visit feedingsouthflorida.org/v olunteer/ • Donate cleaning and sanitation supplies, volun- teer at a special distribu- tion, provide prepared meals (commercial) and logistics support. Feeding South Florida is bridging the meal gap by providing much-needed food for several food inse- cure populations, including • Coordinating with Feeding America ® , Feeding Florida, government agencies, local school districts, county gov- ernment and community partners to strategically de- ploy food resources • Scheduling drive-thru dis- tributions in strategic areas throughout the community to supplement closed agency sites, schools and meal sites • Working with the Depart- ment of Elder Affairs to bridge the meal gap from closed senior congregate meal sites · Surveying its network of 300 nonprofit partner agen- cies to monitor closures, support increased food needs and understand vol- unteer capacity. Visithttps://feedingsouth- florida.org/covid19/. The men and women of Broward Sheriff's Office Neighborhood Support Team (NST) have partnered with Feeding South Florida for Operation Helping Hands to deliver 600 prepackaged meals to fam- ilies within the community.