On April 17, 5,000 Households Will Experience the Power of Community in Action

by Alexis Basgil, MPA, Director of Financial Prosperity and Emergency Management at United Way Broward

United Way Broward’s Project Lifeline is built on a simple, powerful belief: Access to fresh, nutritious food is a cornerstone of stability, dignity, and long‑term well‑being. On April 17, this life-saving program is taking a bold leap.

United Way Broward has been invited to join Chiquita Banana, Fresh Express, and Planet Harvest for a large‑scale food distribution day — an opportunity blending immediate impact, corporate philanthropy, and long‑term momentum to expand Project Lifeline’s great work.

This event demonstrates what community stewardship and care can achieve. Chiquita Banana, Fresh Express, and Planet Harvest are household names in fresh produce, and their partnerships with United Way Broward on April 17 will bring high‑quality fruits, vegetables, and proteins directly to 5,000 households in Broward County in a single day.

This event is part of the larger Fresh Communities Tour: From the Fields to America’s Cities, a multi‑day initiative delivering 5,000 fresh-food boxes across Miami and Fort Lauderdale from April 16 to April 18.

Fresh produce is often the hardest item for people facing food insecurity to access consistently. By joining forces with these generous partners, United Way Broward is providing more essential, high‑nutrition foods families struggle to access.

Each food box will include staples such as fresh fruits and vegetables, Fresh Express salad kits, and Chiquita bananas — ensuring children, seniors, and working people can be nourished while supporting the farmers and supply chains that make fresh produce possible.

Project Lifeline is a reliable, year‑round source of healthy foods for Broward’s residents, and within the past year, we have supported nearly 600,000 households in our community. This food distribution day on April 17 will amplify Project Lifeline’s impact by:

• increasing the volume of fresh foods at a time when grocery prices remain high and budgets are stretched thin

• helping more people learn about the resources available in Broward County 

• building stronger relationships with corporate partners instrumental in supporting our mission through donations, sponsorships, or ongoing contributions

• highlighting the program’s effectiveness and expansion through media coverage and community engagement

Every one of United Way Broward’s food-distribution events is an illustration of how alleviating food insecurity is a sustained, collective effort. Project Lifeline’s ongoing partnerships with local agencies and with national companies like Chiquita Banana, Fresh Express, and Planet Harvest are building long‑term foundations for a healthy, hunger-free Broward County.

Media presence at the event on April 17 will offer a powerful platform to elevate the conversation and confront the issue around food insecurity in Broward County. Coverage will help:

• showcase the scale of need and the acute importance for people to have reliable access to nutritious food

• highlight the generosity and leadership of corporate partners stepping up to support local people

• demonstrate United Way Broward’s powerful ways in mobilizing resources

• inspire additional donors, volunteers, and organizations to join our efforts

With people receiving fresh produce, volunteers working side by side, and partners contributing meaningfully, the story demonstrates how leadership donors and corporate teams are improving the community where we live and work in a tangible, emotional way. It also reinforces the broader mission of the Fresh Communities Tour — bringing fresh produce to people in underserved communities.

For leadership donors, this event on April 17 offers:

• the experience of seeing direct improvements in people’s lives through their philanthropic acts

• direct interactions with people who are benefiting from Project Lifeline’s coordinated efforts

• a deeper understanding of Project Lifeline’s impact and future needs

For corporate partners, it provides:

• a team‑building experience rooted in community service

• a visible demonstration of corporate social responsibility

• a meaningful way to strengthen your connection to Broward County

Food insecurity affects every corner of Broward County — working people, seniors on fixed incomes, children who rely on school meals. Project Lifeline is bridging existing gaps, ensuring that no family has to choose between paying a bill and putting fresh food on the table.

Our partnership with Chiquita Banana, Fresh Express, and Planet Harvest will strengthen Project Lifeline’s drive to end food insecurity. It brings together national brands, local leadership, volunteers, and media to highlight both the need and the solutions. Most importantly, it reinforces a core truth: When our community comes together, all of us thrive.