You don’t have to wait until December to spread cheer. Throughout the month of July, help CROS Ministries provide hunger relief by “gifting” non-perishable food items. Your donations will help fill pantry shelves and ensure all residents in Palm Beach and Martin Counties have access to nutritious meals all summer long. 

Nearly 300,000 Floridians lost Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on May 1, due to federal cuts and stricter eligibility requirements. SNAP participants in Florida have dropped by 10% statewide. This benefit loss will undoubtedly push these individuals to experience increased food insecurity, adding them to the more than 192,000 residents in Palm Beach County who already struggle with hunger. 

For individuals and families who lost SNAP benefits, food pantries are once again becoming a vital lifeline, much like they did during the government shutdown this past November.

CROS Ministries, a leading South Florida nonprofit providing hunger relief, is taking action every day to ensure access to healthy food for all in need. Its network of ten food pantry sites serve Palm Beach and Martin Counties. Locations include: Delray Beach, Lake Worth Beach, West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Belle Glade, Indiantown, Haverhill, Riviera Beach, Wellington, and Greenacres. 

Ilene, a mother of three children under the age 11 who recently showed up at the CROS Lake Worth food pantry, shared that she works a full-time job but recently lost her SNAP benefits because she makes “too much money.” Unfortunately, that “too much” money isn’t enough for Ilene to cover her rent, bills, gas, and food for her family. Every two weeks, she overdrafts her account by almost $500 just to make sure her kids have enough food to eat. This summer has added pressure on Ilene. Since her children are home, there is a lot more food consumed. With the help of CROS’ food pantry, Ilene is grateful for the food assistance twice a month.  

“Hardworking families and individuals, like Ilene, are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with rising housing costs, grocery prices, and gas expenses.” commented Ruth Mageria, CEO of CROS Ministries.  

Summer months bring additional challenges when children lose access to school meals. Some families must now find ways to provide an additional 10 meals per week per child during the summer when children are not in school. 

Mageria added, “Since the gap between the food secure and those who go hungry is widening, this Christmas in July Food Drive is essential. At CROS, we stand in the gap for the hungry. If you are fortunate enough to not have to worry about how you will get your next meal, we ask you to consider joining us in taking action and bringing cheer to our struggling neighbors.”

Community members can help by hosting food drives at summer camps, workplaces, places of worship, or by simply dropping off a few cans of food. CROS accepts food donations at its pantry locations during program hours. For large donations, please bring them to the CROS administrative office/warehouse at 3677 23rd Avenue South, #B-101, Lake Worth Beach. Call 561-233-9009 x103 to schedule a delivery to ensure a staff person is there to accept your donation. Exact food pantry locations and hours of operation can be found at crosministries.org/food-pantries. 

The non-perishable food items being requested include: canned beans, canned tuna, canned chicken, and canned stew.

For more information on CROS Ministries’ programs and services, visit crosministries.org.

About CROS Ministries
CROS Ministries has a 48-year legacy of trusted service and leadership in the fight against hunger in Palm Beach and Martin Counties. Its mission is to provide food to people who are hungry and food insecure through community partnerships. With boots on the ground six days a week, CROS works to ensure access to healthy food for all in need. Its programs include community food pantries, hot meal services, and gleaning initiatives that recover fresh produce from local farms. Learn more at crosministries.org.