The Palm Beach County Library System has joined the United Way of Palm Beach County Hunger Relief Committee in the SNAP Challenge. During Hunger Action Month, the Library has taken on this challenge to raise awareness about food insecurity.
What is SNAP?
SNAP is the largest program working to fight hunger in America. Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, SNAP (previously named the Food Stamp Program) provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of low-income families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency.
What is the Challenge?
Participants can only spend $47.25 on meals, including breakfast, lunch, dinner and beverages, for one week. This reflects the limitations of such a small food budget.
Why is the Library participating in the SNAP Challenge?
In Palm Beach County, more than 173,000 residents are experiencing food insecurity. According to the data from the United Way, nearly 30% of those struggling are children. That’s over 50,000 kids that are going hungry. Around 50% of the children served by our libraries qualify for free lunches at school. These are kids the Palm Beach County Library can help.
This challenge provides a window into the strain of food insecurity our community faces every day. It reinforces the importance of the life-sustaining resources the Library provides to the children of Palm Beach County in the form of Weekday Snacks and Weekend Meals, as well as emphasizing the need for support and aid to those utilizing SNAP benefits.
For those who need assistance:
Currently, only a few of the Palm Beach County Library locations can provide Weekend Meals to children 18 years old or younger. These meals are provided by The Palm Beach County Food Bank and Pan-Florida Challenge.
For adults needing assistance, the Palm Beach County Library System is partnering with the Palm Beach County Food Bank to offer assistance with SNAP benefits.
For those who want to help:
Over time, the Library would like to expand assistance to all remaining branches. Our hope is other agencies and community members will be inspired to help the Library reach more children in need. If fighting child hunger is your passion and you would like to help your community, please contact Chandra Thornton.
Chandra Thornton
Email: ThorntonC@pbclibrary.org
Phone: 561-233-2759
SNAP Assistance:
Benefits specialists from the PBC Food Bank will assist with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) application process and conduct the food stamp interview. Specialists can also help with other benefit applications available through the ACCESS Florida system including Medicaid and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Applicants must call to schedule an appointment. See below for times and locations.
Mondays, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Greenacres Branch
Specialist: Marie Pierre
(English/Haitian Creole)
Contact: 561-641-9100
Tuesdays, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Hagen Ranch Road Branch
Specialist: Stephany Esocobar
(English/Spanish)
Contact: 561-894-7500
Wednesdays, 10:00 am to 4:30 pm
Glades Road Branch
Specialist: Riquect Lucien
(English/Haitian Creole)
Contact: 561-482-4554
2nd and 4th Thursdays,10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Royal Palm Beach Branch
Specialist: Riquet Lucien
(English/Haitian Creole)
Contact: 561-790-6030
1st and 3rd Thursdays, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Okeechobee Boulevard Branch
Specialist: Riquet Lucien
(English/Haitian Creole)
Contact: 561-233-1880
For seniors age 62 & older:
Specialist: Sacha Narcisse
561-670-2518 ext. 315
SNAP4Seniors@pbcfoodbank.org
(English/Haitian Creole)
Mondays, 9:30 am to 2:00 pm
Hagen Ranch Road Branch
Contact: 561-894-7500
Tuesdays, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Okeechobee Blvd. Branch
Contact: 561-233-1880
