Take Action to Help Your Food Insecure Neighbors
Imagine coming home from work and facing an empty refrigerator, or not having any food to make your child a healthy breakfast before school. This is the unfortunate reality for many families in Miami-Dade County. In fact, according to Feeding America, more than 400,000 people in Miami-Dade County alone face food insecurity, including more than 90,000 children.
What exactly does it mean to be food insecure? Food insecurity is when a household doesn’t have access to enough food because they either do not have enough money to buy food or lack other essential resources. There can be multiple reasons why a family is food insecure, making it a difficult cycle to break. Some people disproportionately impacted by food insecurity include children, households with low incomes, people with disabilities, some communities of color, and immigrant communities, to name a few.
There are many ways your family can help that will lead to real change and make a huge difference in the lives of those facing hunger. Choose from one of the options below, or find your own way to help. Either way, you’ll be doing a world of good for someone in need.
Ways to Help the Food Insecure in Miami
Cook a Meal at a Shelter
Volunteering to prepare and serve a meal for people in need is one of the most immediately effective ways to help the food insecure. It can also be a meaningful personal experience for everyone who helps. There are many shelters in Miami - find one near you by simply searching online for a shelter in your area, or calling 2-1-1, the human services hotline.
Adopt a Food Shelf
Place a container in your kitchen and regularly add non-perishable food items. Make it fun by decorating your box or bin! Then, drop it off at your local food shelf. You can decide if you want to make this a weekly, monthly or seasonal event. Get your neighbors involved and organize a food drive! Find a local food shelf near you by calling 2-1-1. Find out more about organizing food drives through Feeding South Florida’s website.
Make Sandwiches
Everyone in your family can help the hungry by making sandwiches for homeless shelters. Shelters and some food banks appreciate having ready-made sandwiches on hand to give to residents. Take it further by adding a cheery note to the sandwich bag! Or, roll up your sleeves and make an entire casserole for Camillus House, an emergency housing and treatment program in Miami’s hospital district.
Help Make Lasting Change at a Local, State or National Level
Food insecurity is a problem without an easy solution. Contact your local, state, and national representatives and tell them that this is an issue that is important to you. Also, if you are able, donate money to organizations that are working to solve the problem, or who directly help people who need assistance. This will make a huge difference in the lives of your neighbors who are food insecure.
No matter how you choose to help, you will be part of the solution to ending food insecurity in South Florida.
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