Hunger Action Month

During Hunger Action Month and Throughout the Year, South Florida Residents Can Take Action to Help Almost 880,000 Food Insecure Individuals in South Florida

Every day, 871,920 people in South Florida, including 287,650 children, don’t know from where it is they will get their next meal. To continue its efforts to end hunger in South Florida, Feeding South Florida™, the Feeding America™ food bank with the largest service area in the state, is preparing for Hunger Action Month (HAM) (September 2014), a nationwide campaign to mobilize the public to take action on the issue of hunger. Feeding South Florida serves Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties.

During the month of September, Feeding South Florida is presenting a variety of events and activities to encourageSouth Floridians to help end hunger and spread the word about the pervasiveness of hunger in South Florida. Through the efforts of key strategic corporate partners and elected officials, South Florida residents will have the opportunity to participate in community events, corporate volunteer efforts, food drives, orange dress down days and more to support hunger relief. In addition to Feeding South Florida’s regular Sorting Saturdays, the public is invited to participate in the Sept. 12–13 Sort-A-Thon, where donated food will be sorted, packaged, labeled and weighed, to be distributed to families who are struggling to put food on the table.

Feeding South Florida’s local calendar at www.feedingsouthflorida.org will provide individuals with exciting ways (30 Ways in 30 Days) to participate in community efforts to end hunger throughout September. These include Moustache Monday (Sept. 15), when participants can wear an orange moustache and upload a picture to social media; turning regular corporate logos orange, and Happy Hour fundraisers at various restaurants throughout South Florida. For more information about how to get involved, visit www.feedingsouthflorida.org or call 954.518.1818.

Initiatives include:
Feeding America’s National Light Up Hunger, during which landmark buildings “Light Up Orange” (the color of hunger awareness). In honor of Go Orange! Day, Sept. 4, the fountain at The Breakers Palm Beach (One South County Road, Palm Beach, FL 33480) will “Light Up Orange” on Sept. 4; the Bank of America Building (401 E Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301) will “Light Up Orange” Sept. 4–11; and the Intercontinental Hotel (100 Chopin Plaza, Miami, FL 33131) will “Light Up Orange” on Sept. 4.

National Go Orange! Day on Sept. 4, when residents and media are encouraged to wear orange, go orange digitally or “do anything” orange.

Feeding South Florida’s new website provides volunteer opportunities and interactive registration, making it easier for anyone to support Feeding South Florida.

Feeding South Florida Events
Catholic Health Services Mobile Food Pantry at Voice of Love: Friday, Sept. 5, 8–11 a.m.Volunteers will be distributing approximately 20,000 pounds of fresh vegetables, fruits, and bread products to approximately 500+ individuals in need of food assistance from Voice of Love and other surrounding agencies. 8861 NW 117th St., Hialeah Gardens, Florida 33018

24 Hour Sort-A-Thon: Friday, Sept. 12, beginning at 6 p.m. through Saturday, Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. Volunteers will sort donated food during eight shifts of three hours each. 100 volunteers maximum per shift; 800 volunteers total. To register, visitwww.feedingsouthflorida.org and click on the Hunger Action Month graphic on the main page. Please register prior to Sept. 10, 2014. Sponsorships available; please call 954.518.1825. Feeding South Florida main warehouse, 2501 SW 32 Terrace. Pembroke Park, FL 33023.

PepsiCo National Service Day: Tuesday, Sept. 16, 8:30–11:30 a.m., Volunteers from PepsiCo will be sorting food. Feeding South Florida main warehouse, 2501 SW 32 Terrace. Pembroke Park, FL 33023.
Ernst & Young Service Day: Friday, Sept. 19, 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m. Volunteers from Ernst & Young will be sorting food and painting. Feeding South Florida main warehouse, 2501 SW 32 Terrace. Pembroke Park, FL 33023.

Volunteers Can Donate $5 to Backpack Program/Receive HAM Bracelet: After Hunger Action Month volunteers are finished sorting, they can donate $5 for a backpack for Feeding South Florida’s Backpack Program, which seeks to fill the void of school meal programs, and receive an orange HAM bracelet. Feeding South Florida distributes backpacks full of food (six meals including breakfast, lunch, and dinner) to children at one of 12 sites every Friday. Each week, this food nourishes over 1,400 children on the weekend when other food might not be available.

Community Events
Tijuana Flats in Hollywood, Fla. donates 20 percent of proceeds toFeeding South Florida: Thursday, Sept. 4, 5–8 p.m. 20 percent of all sales go directly to Feeding South Florida’s hunger relief efforts. Flyer (available at www.feedingsouthflorida.org) must be presented. 3357 Sheridan St., Hollywood, FL 33021.

Kick Hunger Challenge/Taste of the NFL campaign: Friday, Sept. 5 through the end of 2014. This online and in-restaurant fundraising drive is led by the 32 chefs and NFL players participating in the upcoming Super Bowl eve Taste of the NFL event. Participants can click on the Kick Hunger Challenge logo at www.feedingsouthflorida.orgto support their NFL team and Feeding South Florida, give a donation (every dollar donated can provide up to six meals), and score a touchdown for hunger relief in South Florida.

Hungry Bear Feeding South Florida Event featuring Krush Hunger Concert at Shops at Boca Center: Saturday, Sept. 6. Activities: 4–8 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring their favorite teddy bears on an adventure:
-Fill up the Food Bank: For a $2 donation or donation of any canned non-perishable items, color your own teddy bear bank.
-Boca VIPediatrics will do teddy bear clinics/check-ups.
-Dine with teddy bears at BRIO Tuscan Grille or Rocco’s Tacos and a percentage of proceeds will go to go to Feeding America™.
-Beary Orange Juice Bar: Check out the orange juice tasting bar at Joseph’s Classic Market! Shop at Joseph’s from 4–5 p.m. and the store will donate a portion of proceedings to Feeding America.
-Visit with Lynn University’s basketball team for an orange ball clinic.
-Milk is Beary Good: Florida Dairy Council milk mustache bar, where you can try different flavors of milk and get a photo with your milk mustache for you and your bear.
-Can Structure: Test your building skills with stacks of cans.
-Honey Bear: Visit with your favorite Honey Bear for agreat photo op.
-Hibernation Lounge: Visit Rooms for a Prince & Princess between 4 and 6 p.m. for story time with your bear, every 30 minutes, for some R&R time.
-Classic rock music with the local preteen band KRUSH in the Courtyard: 6–8 p.m.
-Beary Good Parade: Visit the Courtyard at 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. for a Beary Good Parade with orange balloons as participants walkthrough Boca Center to stop hunger.
-Donate canned goods or non-perishable items at any of The Shops at Boca Center’s Orange Center locations at the event or at designated Orange locations Sept. 20–27. The goal is to fill the Feeding America 36-foot trailer from the donations.
5050 Town CenterCir, Boca Raton, FL 33486. For more information, visit www.bocacenter.com or The Shops at Boca Center on Facebook.

National Dairy Council’s Great American Milk Drive: Tuesday, Sept. 16. In honor of the National Dairy Council, supporter of Feeding South Florida, donate a gallon of milk at milklife.com/give.

Miami Marlins and Feeding South Florida Charity Night: Friday, Sept. 19, 7:10 p.m. Miami Marlins vs. Washington Nationals. Baseline reserved: $20. A portion of ticket proceeds benefit Feeding South Florida. Feeding South Florida President and CEO Paco Vélez will throw the first pitch at 7:10 p.m. Order tickets at www.marlins.com/specialevents; for groups of 10 or more, contact O’Brien Berry at 305.480.1520 or HBerry@marlins.com.

AARP Foundation and Miami Dolphins Meal Packing Event at Sun Life Stadium: Saturday, Sept. 20, volunteer shifts range from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. For information on volunteer opportunities, check www.feedingsouthflorida.org. 2269 NW 199th St, Miami Gardens, FL 33056

Burger 21 donates proceeds from all sales to Feeding South Florida: Sunday, Sept. 21, 11 a.m.–10 p.m. No restrictions on what items ordered (does not include alcoholic beverages). 2451 S University Dr, Davie, FL 33324

Caffé Abbracci Wine Dinner with Proceeds Benefiting Feeding South Florida: Tuesday, Sept. 23. Exclusive and intimate wine dinner for up to 50 people: $125 per person, including gratuity and applicable taxes. 318 Aragon Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134. To reserve, call (305) 441-0700.

Happy Hour Fundraiser/Monthlong Fundraising at Tsukuro in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: Happy Hour Fundraiser:Monday, Sept. 8, 6–8 p.m.; Month long fundraising from Sept. 1–30
-Happy Hour Fundraiser:$20 donation to Feeding South Florida includes one drink (beer, wine, signature Feeding South Florida Absolut Mandarin Martini) and light hors d’oeuvres/sushi. Raffle drawing for sushi rolling kit and other gifts. on September 8

Monthlong fundraising:
-Add A Plate: Guests who make a $10  donation on their check to benefit Feeding South Florida will receive 10 percent off their check. Tsukuro will also donate $1 per person for the tables which Add A Plate.
-When they present a certificate (available at www.tsukurofl.com and Tsukuro’s Facebook page), guests will receive free parking and 10 percent off their check for lunch, and 10 percent off for dinner. Tsukuro will donate $1 per person with the certificate redemption.
-If a guest Adds A Plate or presents a certificate, Tsukuro will apply their check total to a Feeding South Florida loyalty card. For every $1 spent, Feeding South Florida gets one point. For every 250 points, Feeding South Florida will receive $20 in gift cards.
225 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316. www.tsukurofl.com

Corporate Volunteer Groups
Corporations/organizations will hold food drives, dress down days and volunteer for Feeding South Florida in September in support of Hunger Action Month. Members of the corporations/organizations are encouraged to wear orange on their respective volunteer days. Included in those holding food drives are Boston Proper (Chico’s), the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, and Latitudes at the Moors in Hialeah, Fla.

Bank of America purchased 3,100 orange Feeding South Florida wristbands, and in September, will launch its Give-A-Meal Campaign. Through the campaign, taking place from September through December 2014, every $1 donated will be matched by $2 from Bank of America. Bank of America will donate up to $75,000 to Feeding South Florida. In addition, the Bank of America Building in Fort Lauderdalewill “Light Up Orange” for the entire first week of September 2014.

“During the month of September and every day of the year, there are many actions that members of the SouthFlorida community can take to end hunger,” said Paco Vélez, president and CEO of Feeding South Florida. “Nearly 880,000 South Florida residents face hunger each day; they are our neighbors, who live right in our own communities. During Hunger Action Month, we are challenging the community to raise awareness, volunteer, donate food and funds, and simply ‘Go Orange’ to end hunger and set the table for everyone.”

For more information about how Feeding South Florida is participating in Hunger Action Month and how to be a part of theeffort to end hunger in South Florida, visit www.feedingsouthflorida.org.

About Feeding South Florida™
Feeding South Florida’s mission is to end hunger in South Florida by providing immediate access to nutritious food, leading hunger and poverty advocacy efforts, and transforming lives through innovative programming and education. Feeding South Florida™ is one of 202 member food banks in the Feeding America™ network, the sole Feeding America food bank in South Florida, and the largest food bank in the state, serving 30 percent of the state’s food insecure population. Through a local network of approximately 325 nonprofit partner agencies, Feeding South Florida distributes almost 37 million pounds of food annually, serving 871,920 individuals in need of food assistance, 287,650 of whom are children, and 150,000 are older adults, throughout Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. Formore information, visit www.feedingsouthflorida.org or call 954.518.1818.