Leaders of the Treasure Coast

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While Florida’s Treasure Coast has been blessed with a wealth of abundance, even  the most basic of necessities, food, can be challenging to obtain for a significant
number of its residents.

“One of four neighbors on the Treasure Coast do not have enough food to be healthy and thrive,” said Judith Cruz, president and CEO of Treasure Coast Food Bank, the only food bank, and the largest hunger relief organization on the Treasure Coast.

The organization that Cruz has headed since 2009 has made tremendous strides to not only put food on the table for residents at risk of going hungry but also to implement innovative programs that break the cycle of hunger by connecting neighbors with additional essential resources and job training needed to secure a stable future.

Treasure Coast Food Bank distributed 55 million meals across Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Okeechobee Counties within the last year and serves 250,000 people—children, seniors, and families—facing hunger and food insecurity each week.

Part of the Feeding America network, Treasure Coast Food Bank also partners with food security organizations nationwide to develop and share best practices and resources. Cruz herself has served numerous roles within the Feeding America network, including as a founding member of the Feeding America Policy Engagement and Advocacy Council, which acts as a voice in Congress for millions of impoverished Americans who depend on the network of food banks.

A rooted history of helping

In 35 years, a nonprofit that began with a few volunteers delivering food has evolved into a powerhouse for good. Last year alone, more than 10,000 volunteers, the heart of the food bank, gave more than 45,000 hours of their time — the equivalent of 20 full-time positions — to further the organization’s mission to alleviate hunger.

Through a strategic network of 300 community partners, Treasure Coast Food Bank serves as the conduit that connects people with the food they need.

“We are united in the common mission of distributing healthy food, building community, and breaking cycles that cause food insecurity,” Cruz added.

Pathways to stability

Food distribution is only one of the food bank’s modalities for ending hunger and food insecurity. A wide range of direct services and programs help Treasure Coast residents achieve self-sufficiency, food stability, and better health.

Their job training programs incorporate life skills training and professional preparedness training such as interview and resume skills. The Culinary Training Program, for example, provides industry-standardized training in culinary skills and food service management so participants can succeed in the hospitality industry. The program provides a solid foundation in food service management.

“Our work transforms the lives of participants while providing a ready-trained pool of skilled workers,” Cruz said.

In addition, their neighbor experience programs, like Whole Child Connection, create a straight path for families to find the educational, economic, environmental, social, and spiritual resources they need for healthier, more fulfilling lives.

“We adhere to a holistic approach to ending hunger,” Cruz said.

A stronger future

As the Treasure Coast’s population increases, so does the need for food assistance. Estimates predict that the population will expand by 20 percent before 2030 and given increases in the cost of living and the seasonal nature of many jobs in the state, almost half of these individuals are only a paycheck away from crisis.

“We’re seeing an elevated need for services that is 58% percent higher than pre-pandemic levels,” Cruz said.

To meet the challenge, Treasure Coast Food Bank launched “Feed Unite Flourish”, a campaign committed to ensuring that everyone along the Treasure Coast has access to nutrition and supportive services that address the complexities of hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition.

Early in 2024, construction began on a 132,000-square-foot facility in Fort Pierce to serve as the central hub of the Food Bank’s operations.

Because the food bank covers such a wide geographic area, staff, programs, and services are spread among five locations, a system that limits efficiency and long-term sustainability with the continuing increase in demand.

Through this expansion, the organization can strengthen its capacity. The new hub will centralize operations and provide significantly expanded cold and dry storage, a new wellness outreach and job training center, a temperature-controlled volunteer center, and room to continue growing.

This new facility represents a promise for the future — a future where every person has the nutrition, they need to grow strong and healthy and where food leverages the power of community.

Visit stophunger.org, for more information.