Emergency Food Support

Raising $200,000 for Food Distributions and Other Local Needs

November 20, 2025

The longest ever federal government shutdown – which disrupted federal SNAP food aid for thousands of Broward residents and left local federal workers going weeks without paychecks – exacerbated a growing local food insecurity crisis.

Broward food pantries and other front-line nonprofits were forced to step up to meet an increasing demand for the lifelines they provide. Many were providing these critical services while also trying to overcome their own funding delays as well as the lingering effects of previous federal cutbacks.

While the federal government shutdown has recently ended, Broward’s food insecurity crisis remains. Far too many of our neighbors are still struggling to put food on their tables. More than 250,000 people in Broward County – about one in eight people – are food insecure. In September alone, 141,000 Broward families were receiving SNAP benefits to help make ends meet.

Like our nonprofit partners, the Community Foundation is committed to doing more to help. As a result, during the shutdown the Community Foundation pledged to raise $200,000 in immediate support for food pantries and other help for residents with emergency needs.

Thank you to Fundholder Marsha Levy for her lead gift of $25,000 to jump-start this emergency effort. The Community Foundation provided an additional $75,000 to fuel an initial $100,000 in grants to support food pantries and other front-line nonprofits. We have since raised an additional $35,000 in matching grants. Now we are seeking an additional $65,000 in matching support to reach our $200,000 goal.

Here’s How You Can Help

Click here to make an online donation through the Community Foundation’s “Community Impact Fund.”

If you have a Donor-Advised Fund at the Community Foundation and would like to use your fund to support this emergency response, click here to email your advisement.

Coordinated Response

The Community Foundation is part of a coalition of community leaders taking action to help feed people in need. Together, we have raised approximately $1.5 million to increase the amount of food available for distribution through local food banks and pantries serving our county’s most food-insecure families.

This effort is a shared commitment led by Broward County Commissioner Nan Rich together with Broward County government, United Way Broward, the Community Foundation of Broward, Children’s Services Council of Broward County, Jewish Federation of Broward County and the Health Foundation of South Florida. By pooling our resources and fundraising efforts, we’re able to make a much greater impact than any one organization could achieve alone.

With lead contributions from Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System, Children’s Services Council and Broward County, funding from this partnership is providing emergency funding to Feeding South Florida, Farm Share and United Way Broward’s project lifeline – three organizations on the front lines of local hunger relief. This support will be used to distribute approximately 2 million pounds of food (equal to more than 1.9 million meals) and $100,000 in gift cards to families in need. This support helps ensure that more food reaches local families, seniors and children who need it most.

We are grateful to all the partners, donors and many community organizations and volunteers who make this work possible. Combating hunger is a collective effort and we are proud to stand together in this mission.