To address the food crisis in different parts of the country, the Publix company organized its inaugural summit on hunger in Lakeland, Polk County at the end of February, gathering executives from the 35 food banks that are members of Feeding America, as well as state and federal officials.
There they discussed, among other things, how past work experience can be used to feed people, Publix reported through pamphlets.
This has resulted in an estimated 7 million people in South Florida suffering from food insecurity. As such, Publix leaders shared best practices in talent acquisition, relocation, warehousing, and distribution.
“Our greatest opportunity is to make connections stronger and at the same time find better ways to achieve a common goal: feeding more people in the communities we serve,” said Todd Jones, CEO of Publix, as reported in a statement.
Top attendees also heard from special guests including Ambassadors Darren Soto and Laurel Lee and US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service Southeast Regional Administrator Willie C. Taylor.
“It was an honor to serve at the Publix Hunger Summit and to hear from our food banks about their efforts to fight food insecurity,” said Rep. Soto, for Florida’s 9th district. “Recently appointed to the Congressional Committee on Agriculture, I look forward to working with these organizations to prioritize the needs of our communities in the next Farm Bible. My role will include increased advocacy for farm funds for key programs, streamlined application processes for families in need, and much more.” .
“Seed the issue of hunger to take care of a lot,” said Rep. Lee, Florida 15th District. “My time serving with Brandon ECHO and the Open Arms Ministry at Hyde Park United Methodist Church has shown me the need to seek food supplies in our community. Food facilities like this are a vital part of ensuring that people in need have access to critical resources. I appreciate Publix’s dedication to bringing together local partners to addressing hunger and developing community solutions to support families”.
At the summit, representatives from Publix Super Market Charities (PSMC) will announce a unique $4 million grant available to banks in the Publix operating area to fund one-time capacity building projects.
This grant opportunity is in addition to PSMC’s annual grants for hunger relief announced in September during Action Against Hunger Month. It will bring the organization’s total contributions to more than $46 million since 2015 to alleviate hunger.
