Jamie Kendall
CEO of Palm Beach County Food Bank
When was the last time you felt real hunger? Not the kind where you’re counting down to lunch, but the kind where you hand your child a glass of water at bedtime “so that their rumbly little stomachs don’t wake them up.”
A mother shared that story with Jamie Kendall 15 years ago, and it never left her. It’s the kind of reality that drives the Palm Beach County Food Bank CEO, who’s spent 18 years in what she calls “a life-saving service.”
The numbers tell one story: 192,000 food-insecure residents. But Kendall also sees the faces—working families one flat tire away from skipping meals, seniors stretching Social Security checks, parents going without so their children can eat. “It’s a quiet problem,” she says.
After leading a food bank in Georgia for over a decade, Kendall took the helm locally five years ago, overseeing the distribution hub that serves 150 partner agencies countywide.
Last year marked a milestone with the opening of the Michelle Haggerty Community Kitchen and Premier Kitchen. The Community Kitchen produced 64,000 meals at 30 feeding sites this past summer, while the Premier Kitchen invites businesses to meet, dine, and volunteer—like packing some of the 5,200 weekend food bags sent home with students every Friday.
Kendall dreams of a day when her work is no longer needed, but until then, she’s focused on filling the gap. “Donate your time or treasure,” she says. “The need is here, even in one of the most affluent areas in the country.”
PALM BEACH COUNTY FOOD BANK
561-670-2518
pbcfoodbank.org
