BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2026 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — More than 1.7 million people across South Florida are expected to face food insecurity this holiday season. Feeding South Florida, the hunger-relief organization serving Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, will host its first Thanksgiving Community Feast on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium. The nonprofit tells BocaNewsNow.com that it plans to seat 500 guests for a traditional holiday meal.
The idea grew out of the group’s annual holiday food giveaways. In 2025 alone, Feeding South Florida handed out turkeys and side dishes to more than 15,500 families. But some of the people picking up food said they had no one to share it with. They had lost a spouse or loved one, lived far from family, had no transportation or were simply isolated.
“Community Feast was born from the stories of neighbors who told us they were thankful for a meal but had no one to share it with,” said Paco Vélez, president and CEO of Feeding South Florida. Guests will get turkey and traditional favorites, plus live entertainment and family-friendly activities. Resource partners will also be on-site to connect people with food assistance, benefits enrollment, workforce development and other services.
Partners include Florida Dairy Farmers, Hispanic Unity, the City of West Park, Eat Well Exchange, Heart & Hand Outreach, Lucky Strike Entertainment, Sistrunk Seeds, Southern Flow Logistics, Bank of America, Miami-Dade County and The Light Preparatory Academy Inc. Sponsorships and cash donations are paying for the meal and the guest experience, and Feeding South Florida is asking businesses, organizations and individuals to pitch in. Vélez said the organization welcomes help from volunteers, chefs, donors and sponsors.
