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Since 2019, Smart City has provided the funding needed for thousands of full holiday meal kits for struggling families through Heart of Florida United Way’s Thanksgiving Project. This year’s investment combined with other sponsors will provide Thanksgiving meals to 5,000 households in Central Florida.
“Smart City has continued to grow and expand throughout Central Florida. Our success is due to our employees, partners, and of course customers” said Marty Rubin, CEO and President, Smart City. He added that “Giving back is core to our values. We work with great community partners like Heart of Florida United Way to make a meaningful impact in the lives of our neighbors.”
With the cost of living in Central Florida continuing to increase, a holiday meal is not feasible for many families living on an extremely tight budget. The Thanksgiving Project, Heart of Florida United Way’s community-wide volunteer project that packages and distributes meal kits, has been in place for six years to support ALICE families, described as Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed.
According to HFUW’s most recent ALICE Report, the number of Central Florida households unable to afford basic needs increased post-pandemic, reflecting a total of 386,077 households throughout Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties. This number includes the 110,250 Central Florida households living in poverty, as well as another 275,827 families defined as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), earning above the Federal Poverty Level but less than what’s needed to survive with the escalating cost of living in Central Florida. ALICE families have been overlooked and undercounted by traditional poverty measures.
Local partner agencies and school districts nominated and referred families to the initiative. The meal kits include shelf-stable holiday staples including stuffing, mashed potatoes, rice, beans, vegetables, gravy mix, apple cobbler mix, roasting pan, and cranberry sauce in addition to a $20 grocery gift card to purchase protein of choice. The kit also includes a resource folder with agency information for year-round assistance.
“Between continued economic pressure, inflation and the slippery financial slope ALICE families find themselves on, a Thanksgiving meal simply would not have happened if not for the Smart City,” said Jeff Hayward, President & CEO, Heart of Florida United Way. “Heart of Florida United Way and the 5,000 families served by their generosity are very thankful for this grant making the holiday a little brighter for many.”
Volunteers packing meal kits as part of the 6th annual Thanksgiving Project. Smart City has been the top sponsor of Thanksgiving Project since 2019.
