{"id":306959,"date":"2026-06-14T09:11:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-14T09:11:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/306959\/"},"modified":"2026-06-14T09:11:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-14T09:11:10","slug":"feed-the-need-treasure-coast-food-bank-expands-capacity-as-demand-for-hunger-relief-grows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/306959\/","title":{"rendered":"Feed the Need: Treasure Coast Food Bank expands capacity as demand for hunger relief grows"},"content":{"rendered":"

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) \u2014 CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW<\/a><\/p>\n

As more families across the Treasure Coast struggle with rising grocery prices, housing costs and economic uncertainty, the Treasure Coast Food Bank<\/a> says the need for food assistance continues to grow.<\/p>\n

The organization serves as the largest hunger relief network in Indian River, Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties, providing food and support services to individuals and families facing food insecurity.<\/p>\n

\"Feed<\/p>\n

Feed the Need: Treasure Coast Food Bank expands capacity as demand for hunger relief grows. (WPEC)<\/p>\n

\u201cFor many people, hunger doesn\u2019t look the way they expect it to,\u201d said Treasure Coast Food Bank <\/a>CEO Judy Cruz. \u201cThe face of hunger really is the person that looks like you and I.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cruz said inflation, higher fuel costs and broader economic uncertainty have placed additional pressure on household budgets, leading more people to seek assistance.<\/p>\n

While many residents interact directly with food pantries and meal programs, the Treasure Coast Food Bank plays a larger behind-the-scenes role. As a member of the Feeding America network, the organization helps supply approximately 300 local agencies and nonprofit organizations that distribute food throughout the region.<\/p>\n

\"Feed<\/p>\n

Feed the Need: Treasure Coast Food Bank expands capacity as demand for hunger relief grows. (WPEC)<\/p>\n

\u201cFood assistance happens in all different ways, and it takes a community to do that,\u201d Cruz said.<\/p>\n

The organization distributed more than 52 million pounds of food last year \u2014 equivalent to roughly 57 million meals across the Treasure Coast.<\/p>\n

\"Feed<\/p>\n

Feed the Need: Treasure Coast Food Bank expands capacity as demand for hunger relief grows. (WPEC)<\/p>\n

However, Cruz said recent federal cuts have created new challenges for hunger relief organizations nationwide.<\/p>\n

\u201cPhilanthropy can\u2019t meet the gap with the cuts that we have been seeing at the federal level,\u201d Cruz said. \u201cIt\u2019s really impacted our resources.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Feed<\/p>\n

Feed the Need: Treasure Coast Food Bank expands capacity as demand for hunger relief grows. (WPEC)<\/p>\n

To help meet growing demand, the Treasure Coast Food Bank recently moved into a larger warehouse facility. Leaders say the expanded space allows them to store more food, support additional community partners and strengthen emergency response operations during hurricanes and other disasters.<\/p>\n

\"Feed<\/p>\n

Feed the Need: Treasure Coast Food Bank expands capacity as demand for hunger relief grows. (WPEC)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re standing in a very new warehouse that we\u2019re moving into to help us increase our ability to not only serve our neighbors on a daily basis, but also be that support in the face of a disaster,\u201d Cruz said.<\/p>\n

Volunteers remain a critical part of the operation.<\/p>\n

\"Feed<\/p>\n

Feed the Need: Treasure Coast Food Bank expands capacity as demand for hunger relief grows. (WPEC)<\/p>\n

Tatiana Russo is one of the many volunteers who helps sort, pack and prepare food donations that ultimately reach families across the region.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a sparkle in the face when they see us coming,\u201d Russo said.<\/p>\n

She said volunteering has allowed her to see firsthand the impact the organization has on local communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a very good and nice organization to help out this whole Treasure Coast,\u201d Russo said.<\/p>\n

\"Feed<\/p>\n

Feed the Need: Treasure Coast Food Bank expands capacity as demand for hunger relief grows. (WPEC)<\/p>\n

In addition to food distribution, the Treasure Coast Food Bank offers workforce development and job training programs designed to help individuals build long-term stability.<\/p>\n

Leaders say community support remains especially important as demand continues to rise. The organization estimates that a $10 donation can help provide approximately 80 meals for local families in need.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt does take a village to make a healthy community,\u201d Cruz said.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Feed the Need campaign helps those in your community fight hunger. (WPEC)<\/p>\n

Those interested in donating, volunteering or seeking assistance can learn more through the Treasure Coast Food Bank <\/a>and CBS12\u2019s Feed the Need campaign.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) \u2014 CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW As more families across the Treasure Coast…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":306960,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[171,173,172],"class_list":["post-306959","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-port-st-lucie","tag-port-st-lucie","tag-port-st-lucie-headlines","tag-port-st-lucie-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/306959","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=306959"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/306959\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/306960"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=306959"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=306959"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=306959"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}