Each donation will be matched $1 for $1 up to $50,000 by the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation
The Need
According to the United Way of Palm Beach County, 181,340 residents struggle with food insecurity. 52,580 of these residents are children who do not have enough to eat on a daily basis. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the hunger crisis in South Florida. Additionally, protein malnutrition is often the most common form of nutrient deficiency. A study done by Feeding America found that people currently facing hunger are likely falling further behind academically and economically as they continue to struggle to buy enough nutritious food to meet their needs. In addition, malnourished children tend to underperform in school, limiting their future job opportunities. Malnourished adults are also less able to work, contribute to local economies, or provide care for their families. As the pandemic has impacted food security, we must create more sustainable options for producing healthy food in our communities.
The Solution
Aquaponics is the science of growing plants with the nutrient-rich wastewater left by the fish, while the plants clean the water. Aquaponics can grow a tremendous amount of food with a fraction of the water as well as land that is normally utilized in soil-based agriculture. Our produce is grown locally in our communities, providing access to nutritious food, creating jobs, and eliminating the huge carbon footprint associated with transporting food long distances.
Our flagship 1,700 sq foot aquaponics facility in East Boca Raton was created because of the food supply chain issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the growing need for environmental education in school systems. Our new Aquaponics Center will be 7,500 sq feet located on Lake Ida and Congress Ave in Delray Beach, FL. This new facility will allow us to provide over 200,000 meals per year to various soup kitchens throughout Palm Beach County and expand our educational offerings to thousands of youth in South Florida. At our Aquaponics Center, students are able to experience and interact first-hand with a microcosm of a natural aquatic environment. We are able to provide the necessary tools to educate the next generation on water quality, the nitrification cycle, biology, and mathematics. By teaching the students that visit our center the power and usefulness of sustainable agriculture, we hope to create more resilient communities by empowering these students to grow their own food. Help us grow today!
Naming Opportunities
- Naming of Aquaponics Center: $500,000
- Aquaponics Grow Room: $250,000
- Classroom: $100,000
- Refrigerated Van: $75,000
- Lab: $50,000
- Office (5): $25,000
- Break Room: $15,000
- Media Room: $15,000
*Naming opportunities can be broken into multi-year gifts*
Give via Check
- Make check payable to "Marine Education Initiative" and mail to: PO BOX 810102, Boca Raton, FL 33481