Hustle To End Hunger 5K Event Draws 300 Community Members – Town-Crier Newspaper

Report on CROS Ministries’ Initiative to Combat Food Insecurity in Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Event Overview and Fundraising Outcomes

On October 4, CROS Ministries hosted the “Hustle to End Hunger 5K Run/Walk” at John Prince Park. The event was organized in response to a significant increase in demand for food assistance across Palm Beach and Martin counties. The primary objective was to raise funds and awareness to support local food security programs, directly contributing to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Participation: Over 300 community members participated.
• Funds Raised: More than $45,000 was generated.
• Beneficiary Programs: Funds will support CROS Ministries’ core services, which are critical for achieving Zero Hunger (SDG 2).

Direct Contribution to SDG 2: Zero Hunger

The initiative’s core mission is to end hunger, ensure food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. The funds raised directly support programs that provide access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food for all.

Key Programs and Services:

1. Food Pantries: Operation of six fixed-location food pantries and one mobile “pop-up” pantry to distribute food directly to communities in need.
2. Hot Meal Program: The Caring Kitchen provides hot meals, ensuring immediate nutritional support for vulnerable individuals.
3. Gleaning Program: A produce recovery program that salvages unharvested crops from local farms, reducing food waste and providing fresh, healthy food.

Operational Impact and Growing Demand:

• 2024 Food Distribution: 1,160,913 pounds of food were distributed.
• Individuals Served: 121,664 individuals received assistance.
• Increased Need: A 71% surge in individuals seeking food assistance has been recorded over the past five years, highlighting the urgent need for action in line with SDG 2.

Addressing Interlinked Sustainable Development Goals

The work of CROS Ministries extends beyond SDG 2, addressing a network of interconnected global goals.

• SDG 1 (No Poverty): The organization provides a critical safety net for individuals and families facing economic pressures from rising grocery and housing costs.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): By providing access to healthy food and nutritious meals, the programs contribute to the physical well-being of the community.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The gleaning program is a direct implementation of SDG 12 targets, specifically by reducing food losses along production and supply chains.

Challenges and the Imperative for SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Despite community support, the organization faces significant operational challenges. A projected federal funding cut of $140,000 threatens the capacity to meet the escalating demand for food. This situation underscores the importance of SDG 17, which calls for revitalizing global partnerships for sustainable development.

Strengthening Partnerships:

The success of the “Hustle to End Hunger” event was made possible by a multi-stakeholder partnership involving community members, corporate sponsors, and non-profit organizations.

Community and Corporate Sponsors:

• Genetics Institute of America
• Lake Worth United Church of Christ
• Valley Bank
• Publix Super Markets Charities
• The Corella & Bertram F. Bonner Foundation
• The Conde Center for Chiropractic Neurology
• Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley
• Lakeside United Methodist Church
• Alloy Personal Training
• Holyfield & Thomas LLC
• Humana
• Florida Public Utilities
• Mission Marketing

A public call to action was issued for continued financial and volunteer support, emphasizing that sustained and expanded partnerships are essential to bridge the funding gap and ensure progress toward ending hunger in the region.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The article’s primary focus is on combating hunger and food insecurity within Palm Beach and Martin counties. The entire initiative, the “Hustle to End Hunger,” and the work of CROS Ministries, which includes food pantries and meal programs, directly align with the goal of ending hunger and ensuring access to food.

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  The article explicitly links the increased need for food assistance to economic factors such as “rising grocery and housing costs and other economic pressures.” This connection demonstrates that the issue of hunger is intertwined with poverty and economic vulnerability, making SDG 1 relevant.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article highlights a collaborative effort involving various stakeholders. CROS Ministries (a civil society organization) partnered with community members (“more than 300”), and numerous private sector sponsors (e.g., Genetics Institute of America, Valley Bank, Publix Super Markets Charities) to organize the event and raise funds. This multi-stakeholder approach is central to SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
     
     Explanation: The article details how CROS Ministries’ programs, such as “six brick-and-mortar food pantries,” a “mobile ‘pop-up’ pantry,” the “Caring Kitchen hot meal program,” and a “gleaning produce recovery program,” are designed to provide food directly to those in need. The statement that these programs “ensure access to healthy food for all in need” directly reflects the objective of this target.

2. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
     
     Explanation: While the article doesn’t measure poverty reduction, it identifies the beneficiaries as those impacted by “rising grocery and housing costs.” The food assistance provided by CROS Ministries acts as a social protection measure, alleviating the immediate impact of economic hardship and supporting vulnerable populations who are either living in or at risk of poverty.

3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
     
     Explanation: The “Hustle to End Hunger” event is a clear example of this target in action. It represents a partnership between a civil society organization (CROS Ministries), the private sector (numerous corporate sponsors listed), and the community (“more than 300 community members”). This collaboration successfully mobilized financial resources (“more than $45,000”) to address a social issue.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of individuals served: The article states that CROS Ministries “helped serve 121,664 individuals” in 2024. This is a direct quantitative indicator of the reach of food assistance programs, relevant to Target 2.1.
• Volume of food distributed: The figure of “1,160,913 pounds of food” distributed in 2024 is an indicator of the scale of the intervention to combat hunger.
• Prevalence of food insecurity (implied): The statistic that “the number of people seeking food assistance from CROS has surged by 71 percent” over the past five years serves as an indicator of the growing challenge of food insecurity in the community.
• Financial resources mobilized from non-government sources: The event raising “more than $45,000” is a specific indicator of resource mobilization through partnerships, relevant to Target 17.17.
• Community engagement in civic action: The participation of “more than 300 community members” in the 5K run/walk is an indicator of community involvement and support for addressing local hunger.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: gotowncrier.com