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Right now, one in four people on the Treasure Coast may not know where their next meal is coming from.

The Treasure Coast Food Bank is the only food bank that serves St. Lucie, Indian River, Okeechobee and Martin Counties. Each year they serve about 41 million meals. Weekly they feed 250,000 people.

Resources: Food banks, pantries on the Treasure Coast and in Palm Beach County

“The impact of hunger on our community is pretty significant; especially right now with inflation still impacting people’s household budgets,” Krista Garofalo with the TC Food Bank said.

September is Hunger Action Month, and each Sept. 23, people are encouraged to wear orange to raise awareness about food insecurity.

“We try to remind people that hunger isn’t just around the holidays; it is all year-round for some people,” Garofalo said. “There are people making impossible choices. Can they put food on the table or can they pay their electric bill? Or put gas in their car? Or pay for medication? We don’t want that to be the reality for people.”

Garofalo said people are still catching up from the pandemic and inflation has put a lot of people behind.

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In addition to monetary donations, the Treasure Coast Food Bank needs canned food donations; specifically canned vegetables and fruits.

Donations can be made directly to the food bank or to one of the local breweries participating in a food drive competition.

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