Bank of America recently announced a $50,000 donation worth 250,000 meals to the Palm Beach County Food Bank to address food insecurity in the region. As the pandemic continues, hunger relief organizations in Palm Beach County and across the country are facing ongoing challenges, such as increased demand for their services and rising food prices.
Bank of America is supporting its employees’ health and safety while addressing one of the local communities’ most critical needs. Earlier this year, the company announced it would contribute funds to local hunger relief organizations and food banks for each employee who received a COVID-19 booster shot or vaccine and notified the bank before the end of January. Since the onset of the pandemic, Bank of America has provided $175,000 in funding to the Palm Beach County Food Bank in support of local hunger relief efforts.
This year, the Palm Beach County Food Bank is celebrating 10 years of working toward alleviating hunger in the county. Currently, the food bank partners with more than 200 local schools, shelters, food pantries and soup kitchens to help distribute more than 14.5 million meals in Palm Beach County. The organization reaches nearly 100,000 individuals experiencing food insecurity each month.
“We are so thankful for Bank of America being a great partner over the years,” said Jamie Kendall, CEO of the Palm Beach County Food Bank. “Their continued support is instrumental to our efforts toward aiding our neighbors experiencing food insecurity in Palm Beach County.”
Nationally, the bank has committed $10.6 million to food banks and hunger relief organizations through this effort. Since 2015, Bank of America has donated nearly $150 million toward hunger relief efforts.
“As the pandemic continues to impact Palm Beach County, food banks and hunger relief organizations are experiencing increased demand and higher costs to meet the needs of individuals and families,” said Fabiola Brumley, president of Bank of America Palm Beach County. “Our commitment to help strengthen the communities we live in and serve is unwavering, which is why we are investing in the health, safety and wellbeing of our teammates while also providing funds to help local organizations support our neighbors and fight food insecurity.”
The company has encouraged its staff to get COVID-19 vaccinations since summer 2021 and has offered incentives such as paid time off and $500 credits toward health benefit premiums. In partnership with local nonprofits, Bank of America has also distributed more than 38 million masks, 41,000 cases of hand sanitizer and 11 million gloves in local communities as part of its ongoing efforts to address health-related disparities accelerated by the pandemic.
