Palm Beach Outlets hosts pandemic food distribution program

Needy families in South Florida are finding help at Palm Beach Outlets in West Palm Beach, where Feeding South Florida has expanded food distribution efforts during the pandemic.

People began lining up at the outlet center at 5 a.m. on Monday to secure vouchers for groceries, and all were claimed by 9 a.m. Each donation consists of an approximate one-week supply of protein, fresh produce, eggs, milk, and other essential goods.

“We were able to feed 800 families. The bad news was that we had to turn away hundreds of people,” said Tina Holmsted, marketing director of Palm Beach Outlets, which is owned by New England Development Corp.

Feeding South Florida, a Broward County-based non-profit, has expanded outreach in Palm Beach County during the coronavirus pandemic, running food distribution efforts in Lake Worth Beach, Boynton Beach, and other local communities.

“During this challenging time, many families are struggling to put food on their tables,” Holmsted said. “Palm Beach Outlets is proud to host this much-needed distribution effort.”