Feeding Florida | Florida's Food Bank Network

Feeding Florida News

Back to All News

Where do we go from here? Identifying the leading causes of food insecurity and helping where we can.

Where do we go from here? Identifying the leading causes of food insecurity and helping where we can.

Take a moment to stop and think of all the reasons a family might not have consistent access to food. It’s a wide range of factors, such as insufficient household income, needing to spend money of bills, healthcare expenses, an unstable economy, urban versus rural communities, and lack of transportation. And as we saw through the realities of the pandemic, a family can be “fine” until schools are locked down and one or more family members lose their jobs.

Hunger is the result of an under-resourced household. The same factors that limit food access also make it harder for food insecure households to find the right resources to stabilize their families and succeed. This is where our 12 network member food banks, their 2,400 partner agencies, and our healthcare partners come into play.

Individuals experiencing hunger often must make difficult decisions due to lack of sufficient funds or a sudden decrease in household income. These tough spending choices are the reality of being able to afford both food and other expenses. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, our network saw an increase in weekly meals missed in 66 of our 67 Florida counties. This was largely due to the fact that so many Floridians were experiencing recent unemployment. A sudden change in a family’s financial situation can lead to a challenging cycle of food insecurity and limit access to healthy and consistent food options.

What you can do: If you are involved with a non-profit, church or school, consider becoming a registered Feeding Florida food pantry. Thanks to over 2,400 partner agencies, like these food pantries, we are able to provide millions of meals to Floridians each year.

Spending tradeoffs leave food insecure individuals with impossible choices. When a mother must choose between aftercare for her children or fresh food, she will have to make a difficult sacrifice for the sake of her family. We believe everyone should have affordable access to fresh produce and foods in order to provide for their family’s needs. Each of our 12 network member food banks offer year-round food distributions to provide support to families experiencing a difficult season of life, no matter when that is. Our Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) program also increases the purchasing power of SNAP recipients to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers markets, produce stands, CSAs, mobile markets, and community grocery outlets.

What you can do: If you work with any local markets or produce stands in your area, you can contact our FAB team to see if your market qualifies as a Fresh Access Bucks outlet. By doing this you help our network increase food access and affordability to fresh produce so food insecure individuals don’t have to make impossible spending tradeoffs in order to afford food.

Chronic illnesses and health concerns are often remedied with costly medications and treatments. Floridians who are experiencing hunger at the same time as a health concern often can’t be expected to shoulder the heavy cost of both, even though they are necessary for overall health and wellbeing. Therefore, our FoodRx and Mobile Farmacies were developed with the help of our healthcare partners so more Floridians don’t have to choose between treating their illness or treating their hunger.

Sometimes the reason an individual can’t access fresh food and produce is simply because they can’t get to a grocery store or farmer’s market. Lack of transportation leaves people reliant on food delivery services or whatever food is closest to them, which isn’t always the most nutritious option. Whether the person is disabled, cannot drive, homebound, or lacks the resources for transportation, Feeding Florida’s network is dedicated to bringing the necessary food and produce to them. Our home delivery programs and mobile markets allow for individuals to access fresh foods without having to travel.

What you can do: Volunteer with your local food bank or food pantry to deliver meals to individuals who lack transportation access to grocery stores, farmer’s markets, etc. By delivering food to individuals experiencing hunger, you are helping to increase food access and provide for a neighbor in need.

While we can’t guarantee that an individual will not experience hunger or lack of food access at some point in their life, we can guarantee that no matter the circumstances, our Feeding Florida network will be dedicated to help. With over 3 million hungry Floridians, it’s a lofty goal- but it’s ours. We will help put food on every table that needs us.

 

Most Recent News:

Hurricane season is here — let’s take charge!

As Floridians, we’ve faced storms before, and we know the power of being ready. Now’s the time to take action, not just prepare. As Florida enters the 2025 Hurricane Season, which runs from June 1 through November 30, it's crucial for everyone to take proactive steps to safeguard their homes and loved ones. Here are smart, simple tips from our partners at the Division of Emergency Management to help you get your family storm-ready with confidence.

Read Full News Post

Florida Politics: Budget addresses food insecurity and helps rural Florida to support Ben Albritton’s agenda

The Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget tackles food insecurity in rural Florida and helps farmers, which are key priorities for Senate President Ben Albritton. “No matter how prosperous our state is, unexpected and unplanned things happen that can cause food insecurity for families. I don’t want any Floridian, especially children, to go to bed hungry every night, not knowing where their next meal will come from,” Albritton said in a statement.

Read Full News Post

Miami Herald: A federal program sent local farmers’ fresh produce to food banks. It’s being cut

Robin Safley, the CEO of Feeding South Florida’s umbrella organization, Feeding Florida, emphasized the economic importance of guaranteeing access to healthy, fresh food. Those served by her organization’s affiliate food banks disproportionately deal with chronic health issues, including diabetes, said Safley. “Many of them are also on Medicaid,” she noted, “so those chronic conditions can really drive up the cost of health care.” Healthy eating plays a critical role in mitigating those costs, she added. 

Read Full News Post