Nonprofit Feeding South Florida experienced a significant setback after thieves made off with approximately $30,000 worth of mobile kitchen equipment from their Pembroke Park warehouse. The missing items, including two large mobile teaching kitchens, were reported stolen Sunday and actively played a role in the organization's efforts to provide hands-on cooking demonstrations to families - a program that employs nutrition educators to promote healthy eating habits among those facing food insecurity. The organization serves millions of people annually and considers outreach through these kitchens an integral part of their mission, as reported by CBS12.
The burglary, which resulted in the loss of equipment like blenders, used during events, and rolling kitchens valued at about $15,000 each, was caught on video. Captured footage reveals two men breaking the locks on the trailers and loading the stolen goods into their vehicle. Feeding South Florida, in an interview with WSVN, expressed their distress over the incident, emphasizing the impact not only on their operations but also on the trust they have built within the community they serve. Stolen also, small appliances that are used for events.
"They broke into two trailers that housed our little mobile kitchen that we use to train individuals or teach individuals how to prepare meals in a healthy way," Paco Velez, the organization’s president and CEO, told WSVN. The theft not only derails their educational initiatives but happens at a time when the food bank faces other financial hardships, including a nearly $1 million grant frozen and a paused government program for providing fresh produce.
The loss comes after a series of contributions by Feeding South Florida to disaster relief, including providing food and generators to Southwest Florida in the wake of Hurricane Ian and crucial groceries during the pandemic. "We’re out there trying to help community. We need all the resources we can get. We’re not a for-profit that can sell things and make up for it. We only exist through the generosity of our community," Velez explained in a statement obtained by WSVN. The stolen kitchens would have been used at future events meant to assist community members in meal preparation.
Feeding South Florida has made a plea to the public for assistance in recovering the stolen items and encourages anyone with information on the crime to contact Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Callers may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000. Those willing to support the food bank's mission and offset the loss can also make donations directly through their website.
