Hunger often goes unseen. It may be hidden in the child who can’t focus in your classroom or the one who only has one slice of days-old bread in his lunchbox. It may be hidden in your neighbor who just lost her job and is struggling to pay next month’s rent. It may be hidden in your family member who is battling cancer and the medical expenses that go with it.

Almost 15% of U.S. households do not have enough food for an active, healthy life. High food prices and cost of living, low income, and increased unemployment rates are contributing factors to food insecurity. It is estimated that more than 192,000 residents in Palm Beach County struggle with hunger: More than 50,000 of these individuals are children. Without food, we are starving our children of potential and stripping their parents of hope for a better life. This is a public health crisis that requires the attention of our entire community.

Ruth Mageria is executive director of CROS Ministries. (courtesy, Ruth Mageria)

Despite Palm Beach and Martin Counties ranking in the top 5 wealthiest counties in Florida, more than 11% of each county’s population lives in poverty. The gap between the food secure and those who go hungry is widening.

As the executive director of CROS Ministries — a leading South Florida nonprofit providing hunger relief in both of these wealthy counties — I see firsthand the effects of rising grocery and housing costs and other economic pressures on food security. Over the past five years, the number of people seeking food assistance from CROS has surged by 71%.

This increased demand comes at a time when USDA cuts to The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and other federal funding cuts threaten to limit the food and financial support CROS receives by 10% — directly impacting how much food CROS can provide to the increasing number of families and individuals facing hunger and food insecurity.

In 2024, CROS distributed more than 1.1 million pounds of food, which helped serve more than 120,000 individuals. Behind every meal and bag of food CROS provides is a person, a family and a story of resilience. Access to food can change the trajectory of their lives, helping them transition off food assistance to become the next entrepreneurs, teachers, scientists, doctors or social workers. Access to food will help build a better community, country and world for all of us.

September is Hunger Action Month, a nationwide effort to raise awareness about hunger in America and inspire action. Every action — big or small — is one step closer to an America where no one is hungry. At CROS, although we aim to increase awareness of the hunger crisis this month, we take action every day to ensure access to healthy food for all in need. Our programs include community food pantries, hot meal services, and gleaning initiatives that recover fresh produce from local farms.

We cannot meet the rising need alone. Please consider joining us in taking action against hunger. Volunteer at your local food bank, food pantry or hot meal program to help with sorting, packaging, preparing, serving or delivering food. Host a food drive at your school, workplace or place of worship. Organize a group to help gather surplus fruits and vegetables from local farms that would otherwise go to waste. Contact your state representatives and local leaders to speak out against federal funding cuts to the SNAP (food stamps) and Medicaid programs. Give financially to help fill in the gap for the increased food needed at higher costs.

Whatever your action may be, take action! Take action so that we can ensure our brothers, sisters and neighbors have access to healthy food and don’t have to choose between essentials like food, rent and medicine. Take action so we can feed our children so they can meet their full potential and be the next change agents in our world. Take action so we can restore hope for a better future for millions of U.S. residents.

Ruth Mageria is executive director of CROS Ministries. For more information on CROS Ministries and how to take action and stand in the gap for the hungry, visit crosministries.org.

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/09/07/standing-in-the-gap-for-the-hungry-opinion/