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PalmBeachandMartinCountiesarearegionofabundanceandbeauty.AccordingtotheFloridaDepartmentofAgricultureandConsumerServicesin2007ourtwo-countyregionproducednearly1.1billionofagriculturalproductssold.HoweverduringthatsameyearFloridaImpactreportedthat138854peoplefellbelowthepovertylineincluding43649children.Andsincethenthenumbershavecontinuedtogrow.Hungerisanofteninvisiblebutprevalentandseriousprobleminthemidstofourregion.Wehearfromourpartnernonprofitorganizationsthestoriesofthenewlypoorvisitingafoodpantryforthefirsttime.Inadditionlackofknowledgeaboutavailableassistanceoftenmeansthatlocalresourcesareunderutilized.Theneedtoworktogethertoalleviatehungerisgreaternowthaneverbefore.CollaborationisthedrivingprinciplebehindtheAlleviateHungerInitiativeaprojectoftheFoundationsLeadershipFund.TheInitiativeseekstohelpbuildpartnershipsbetweentheagenciesinourfoodsystemwiththeultimategoalofimprovingtheaccesstoanddistributionoffoodinourcommunities.Overthepasttwoyearsweconductedfactfindingfacilitateddiscussionsmadedozensofsitevisitsandlearnedfromanincrediblecommunityoflocalandregionalleadersabouttheneedtoimprovelocalsystems.Wealsomadestrategicinvestmentsinorganizationsandprogramsthathelplow-incomeanddisadvantagedchildrenandadultsaswellasnewlyvulnerableindividualsandfamilieswhoarestrugglingtomeetbasicneedsforfood.Whethersupportingthecreationofcommunitygardenssofamiliescantasteforthefirsttimefoodsfreshfromthegroundorcomprehensiveeffortstoexpandthecapacityoflocalfoodpantriestheresultsofourinvestmentscontinuetobeinspiring.AsanexampleagranttoFloridaImpacttoworkinpartnershipwithmanylocalagenciestoassistinmarketingtheSummerFoodNutritionProgramhelpedtoprovidenearly26000additionallunchesand38000additionalbreakfaststochildreninjustthreemonthsandleveraged2millionforourcommunities.AgranttoFlorenceDeGeorgeBoysGirlsClubinWestPalmBeachhelpedsupportthehiringoftwelveteensasClubstafftomanagetheTheco-opprovidesanopportunityforfamiliestopurchasefreshfruitsandvegetablesnonperishablefoodandhouseholditemsatbulkormuchreducedpriceswhileprovidinganopportunityforyouthtolearnentrepreneurialskillsinamentoredrolewhilegainfullyemployed.Thegreatestattributeofprogramssuchastheseisthedeeplevelofcommitmenttopartnershipthestrongcollaborationsrequiredtobuildacommunitythatcaresforitsown.Organizationsineverysectorhavecometogethertohelpthoseinneed.Itiswithgratitudetoourdonorsandourmanypartnersthatwecontinuetofindopportunitieswherecharitablegivinginourcommunityiscreatingaworldofchange.AstheAlleviateHungerInitiativeseekstofindsolutionstoissuesofhungerwelookforwardtosharingtheresultsofourdonorsgivingwithyou.Teamworkistheabilitytoworktogethertowardacommonvisiontheabilitytodirectindividualaccomplishmenttowardorganizationalobjectives.Itisthefuelthatallowscommonpeopletoattainuncommonresults.AndrewCarnegieRiseShineFamilyFoodCo-op.IDEASACTIONWorkingTogethertoAlleviateHunger