Treasure Coast Food Bank packing emergency food boxes in response to coronavirus pandemic.

Daily meal delivery to organizations continues 

 

Treasure Coast Food Bank is packaging emergency food boxes for people who can’t access food because of the coronavirus.

The staff and volunteers began last week packaging hundreds of food boxes with pantry staples and other shelf-stable foods for people who will struggle to put food on the table in the weeks ahead. The agency also continues to prepare and deliver thousands of meals to multiple Treasure Coast organizations each day, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County.

As the leading emergency food provider to the four-county area encompassing Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin and Okeechobee counties, Treasure Coast Food Bank is preparing for increased demand for food as businesses shut down, forcing many individuals to go without paychecks.

“Our mission is food,” said Judith Cruz, President and CEO of Treasure Coast Food Bank. “While this situation is different than the emergencies we typically experience, such as hurricanes, we know the results will be the same – more people needing help to feed themselves and their families.”

Treasure Coast Food Bank also will continue its regular program of providing daily meals to all partner organizations. Each day, Treasure Coast Food Bank packages and delivers a variety of food to its partner organizations, including proteins, whole grains and vegetables for balanced nutrition.

As packing continues, Treasure Coast Food Bank is seeking additional volunteers to help as some of its regular volunteers – many of whom are seniors and more susceptible to COVID-19 – are choosing to stay home. Treasure Coast Food Bank has instituted a heightened process to screen volunteers to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

Anyone needing food is encouraged to visit stophunger.org and click on the Need Help/Agency Locator tab to find a food pantry near their home.

ABOUT TREASURE COAST FOOD BANK

Treasure Coast Food Bank is the only food bank and largest hunger relief organization on Florida’s Treasure Coast, providing the community each year with millions of meals valued at more than $50 million through robust programs and in partnership with 400 charitable organizations in Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Okeechobee counties. In addition to emergency food distribution, Treasure Coast Food Bank operates a full roster of direct service programs that not only solve the immediate problem of hunger, but help individuals and families gain long-term food security, better health outcomes, and self-sufficiency. Treasure Coast Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. For more information on Treasure Coast Food Bank, call 772.489.3034, log on to stophunger.org, visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/tcfoodbank, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/tcfoodbank.
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