United Way of Indian River County’s Powered by Purpose: Speaker Series in November focused its discussion on food insecurity which affects thousands of local households. The session, presented in partnership with Northern Trust, featured speakers Judith Cruz of Treasure Coast Food Bank (TCFB) and Robin Safley of Feeding Florida.
In opening remarks, United Way CEO Meredith Egan underscored the urgency of the issue. “Food insecurity is no longer a persistent challenge – it’s an accelerating crisis that touches every sector represented in this room,” she said, noting that Indian River County is the 10th largest income gap in the nation. Our ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families living paycheck to paycheck are increasingly vulnerable to becoming food insecure after even a single disruption.
Recent ALICE data reinforces this growing vulnerability. Rising costs continue to outpace wages locally, pushing more working families into food insecurity than in previous years.
During the presentation, CEO Judith Cruz (TCFB) highlighted the scale of need in the community:
- 85,000 Indian River County residents utilized TCFB services last year.
- Food banks continue to act as frontline responders during national and manmade disasters, including the recent federal government shutdown that halted SNAP benefits.
Cruz also emphasized the growing impact of Food as Medicine initiatives. TCFB is pursuing certification to provide medically tailored meals designed to help individuals manage chronic diseases. Early outcomes show reduced complications, fewer hospital visits, and lower levels of loneliness and isolation among participants.
Feeding Florida CEO, Robin Safley highlighted the long-term vision, “The goal is to see food insecurity become an acute need instead of a chronic one in our communities.”
The discussion emphasized that sustainable, long-term solutions will require collaboration across nonprofits, healthcare providers, local government, and the private sector. With demand rising and disruptions such as Hurricane Milton, inflation, and policy changes straining household stability, coordinated action is becoming increasingly essential.
The Powered by Purpose series continues throughout the year, bringing leaders together to address the region’s most pressing social issues.
To learn more, please contact Deana Shately, Director of Community Impact at (772) 567-8900, ext. 114 or gro.CRIyaWdetinU@yeltahS.anaeD, or visit UnitedWayIRC.org.
