Treasure Coast Food Bank, Inc.

In 2010, TCFB, under new leadership, adopted and implemented a new, broader Food Bank model, one that would expand our purpose beyond \u0022moving food\u0022 and increase our capacity to more effectively address the complex causes of hunger--and put the community on a better path towards alleviating it (both immediately and long-term). \r\nSuch a transformed Food Bank would continue to embrace its traditional role of sharing food-- though that role would also reflect new thinking: more nutritious food would be collected and distributed to address health-related consequences of food insecurity (as described below, TCFB\u0027s new Food Production Facility will significantly expand TCFB\u0027s capacity in this area); non-food items would be shared; and also, client-choice, where people could choose themselves the food they will receive and consume, would be promoted and practiced. \r\nSecond, TCFB, under this revamped Food Bank model, would also begin coordinating a suite of programs and initiatives that would better support self-sufficiency among its clients. These programs included nutrition education, cooking classes, and SNAP and ACA enrollment with our Your Plate Health \u0026 Wellness Center (a separate facility from our Warehouse) serving as headquarters for these programs. TCFB continues to evaluate and revise these programs according to shifting community demographics and best-practice research shared within the Food Insecurity community. \r\nIn addition, TCFB, with an understanding that government anti-hunger and poverty programs are critical towards clients achieving more self-sufficiency, has assumed a role as the community\u0027s leading anti-poverty advocate, mobilizing community support for such federal and state programs as SNAP, Medicaid, ACA, the Farm Bill, Child Nutrition Reauthorization, and TEFAP.

TCFB coordinates programs and initiatives in three priority areas: FEED, LEAD, and STRENGTHEN. \r\nFEED programming includes: Backpack Program (provide 1,200 child-friendly backpacks filled with nutritious food to children from low-income families for consumption at home, on the weekends, and holidays); Kids Cafe (provide nutritious meals and nutrition education to low-income children in an after-school environment); School Pantry Program (partners with local schools or youth clubs providing a variety of shelf-stable food directly to students and families each week); Mobile Pantry Program (brings nutritious food to households living in underserved areas); Healthy Options Program for the Elderly (provide shelf-stable food to seniors struggling to make ends meet); Summer Feeding Program (provides nutritious, free meals to local youth during summer); Farm to School (TCFB stores and transports farm-fresh offerings to local public school students); USDA/TEFAP (TCFB distributes commodities through the USDA TEFAP Program); Teen Pantry (shares non-food items of special interest to teens); Diaper Pantry (provides over 1.5 million diapers to meet any emergency need that arises with families); and Pet Pantry (provides pet food to families/individuals in need). \r\nLEAD programming/initiatives include: Treasure Coast Hunger Free Coalition (project, anchored in democratic decision-making, in all four counties that implements strategies to end hunger through policy, education, community organizing, and community development); Whole Child Connection (a one-stop-shop for local families to become more self-sufficient in the areas of health, education, food, and employment); and Hunger Action Month (an annual awareness campaign on hunger). \r\nSTRENGTHEN programming/initiatives include: Health \u0026 Nutrition Outreach (provides direct food assistance, nutrition education, health management, and medical prescreening for chronic illnesses); SNAP Outreach (TCFB reaches out to eligible low-income people not currently participating in SNAP and shares information to help them make an informed participation decision); Affordable Care Outreach (certified Healthcare Navigators help consumers, small businesses, and their employees as they look for health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, including completing eligibility/enrollment forms); and Your Plate (SNAP Outreach and benefit assistance, nutrition education, family dining, senior programs, and child nutrition Programs).

We aim to affect needle-moving change through cross-sector engagement to improve measurable outcomes in Food Insecurity, Employment/Income, Health, and Financial Literacy.\r\n\r\nWe have a proven track record of successfully developing and piloting numerous new innovative programs to meet the needs of the community. We have the trust of the community and other sectors to gather those who are able to effect change to site at the table.\r\n\r\nWe have the full support of our board of directors, community leaders, and funders to provide support and assistance to achieve positive outcomes.\r\n\r\nWe have a talented staff who are mission driven.

We have not eliminated hunger in our community.\nWe have been able to make a dent in ensuring that those who are missing meals are getting them.\nWe have been able to be a convener of other non=-profits to work more collaboratively thus allowing more efficient use of financial resources.