FIU Meal Pack for Thanksgiving

Join us in the spirit of giving this Thanksgiving, as Beta Alpha Psi at Florida International University helps combat a pressing issue in South Florida: Food insecurity.

THE NEED

Across Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties, 11% of individuals are unsure of where their next meal will come from, with approximately 1.2 million experiencing food insecurity last Thanksgiving. Let's change this!

GOAL

The goal of this project is to bring students, educators, professionals, and community leaders together to pack at least 50,000 healthy, shelf-stable meals. With the help of local food pantries and other non-profit partners, all meals packed at this event will feed fellow South Floridians who are at risk of hunger this Thanksgiving.

WHO

This initiative is being organized by Beta Alpha Psi, an honors society at Florida International University, in partnership with The Pack Shack’s Feed the Funnel program, and our local community partners. Please join our efforts in the spirits of unity, service, and humanity this Thanksgiving. Thank you in advance for your support! Let's share the Thanksgiving spirit!

WHAT IS THE FIU MEAL PACK FOR THANKSGIVING?

On November 16, 2024, we will pack at least 50,000 shelf stable meals that will benefit our campus food pantry and other local organizations in our community. Prospective recipient organizations include, but are not limited to:

HOW YOU CAN HELP

The total budget for our FIU Meal Pack for Thanksgiving is $23,500 for 50,000 meals. That's only $0.47 per meal! We would deeply appreciate your contribution to help provide meals for those in need this Thanksgiving. You can donate through this page with a credit or debit card. All contributions are tax-deductible. Consult your tax professional.

Every dollar contributed goes a long way in stocking food pantries and ensuring that families in need have access to nutritious meals this Thanksgiving. Your donation, no matter the size, makes a tangible difference in putting food on the table for those who need it most.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your much anticipated support. Together, let's make a meaningful impact in the fight against food insecurity and build a stronger, more resilient community for all!

WHY

In response to the pressing issue of food insecurity gripping our surrounding communities, Florida International University’s Beta Alpha Psi chapter has made it our mission to take action. According to data from Feeding America as of 2022, across Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties, over 772,590 individuals are food insecure; with 229,990, or 30%, being children. Year over year these numbers have risen, with a 14% increase occurring from 2020 to 2022. However now in 2024, the population of those suffering from food insecurity is estimated to be much higher, with Feeding South Florida feeding 1.2 million people last Thanksgiving in 2023.

Last summer, our Executive Board members participated in a Feed the Funnel party for the first time at the Beta Alpha Psi International 2023 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, NV. After helping pack over 125,000 meals, we left inspired, and committed to bringing the party back home to Miami, FL.

Our FIU Meal Pack for Thanksgiving Feed the Funnel party is not just about providing meals; it's also about unifying our community for a shared purpose this Thanksgiving. We aspire to leverage our network, bringing together students, educators, professionals, and community leaders, to fight hunger and make a difference in the lives of others. We invite you to join in this heart filled effort this Thanksgiving!

Mark your calendars for November 16, 2024

as we embark on our FIU Meal Pack for Thanksgiving Feed the Funnel party! Last year we hosted a much smaller food packing event, where we packed 1,271 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and donated them to Miami Rescue Mission and Broward Outreach Centers, Camillus House, the Miami Veterans Association, and Buddy System Miami’s community fridges in Little Haiti, Overtown, Coconut Grove, Richmond Heights, and Florida City. This year we have ambitions to expand our reach and help feed even more people!

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS

On behalf of our Beta Alpha Psi chapter’s sponsors this semester, we are proud to announce that a portion of the Platinum, Gold, and Silver sponsorship contributions will be dedicated to supporting the FIU Meal Pack for Thanksgiving Feed the Funnel party! This meaningful initiative is a cornerstone of our chapter’s commitment to giving back and making a tangible difference in the lives of those in need. By channeling these funds into providing meals for those in need, we aim to extend the reach of our sponsors' generosity. We are deeply grateful for their contributions to this effort, thank you!

We would also like to thank the Miami Arts Studio 6-12 @ Zelda Glazer for their role in making this initiative a reality. Your support towards this cause, and commitment to fostering the desire to help others within our community’s youth, is truly admirable. Thank you!

FOR MORE INFORMATION

If you have additional questions about this event, please visit our website at www.bapfiu.com/feedthefunnel.

(Data: SFBW, Feeding America)