The Broward County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 4 issued two proclamations: one designating Sept. 25 as Hunger Action Month in Broward County and another recognizing September 2025 as World Alzheimer’s Month.

Why it matters: Both proclamations call attention to countywide needs—food insecurity and support for people living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers—and encourage civic engagement, donations and volunteer activity.

Feeding South Florida: The board presented a proclamation to Paco Velez, chief executive officer of Feeding South Florida. The proclamation text said more than 270,000 Broward residents, including over 90,000 children, experience food insecurity and noted that Feeding South Florida “distributed over 154,000,000 pounds of food last year, the equivalent of 128,000,000 meals.” Paco Velez thanked the commission for ongoing partnership and invited commissioners to visit the organization’s warehouse and partner agencies. Nadie McCray, who operates a local pantry in Hollywood and whose agency partners with Feeding South Florida, introduced on-the-ground staff and described the pantry’s expansion to meet demand.

Alzheimer’s proclamation: The board presented a proclamation recognizing World Alzheimer’s Month and the Alzheimer’s Association’s local work; Senator (Commissioner) Rich led the presentation. John Strader, cochair of the Southeast Florida Alzheimer’s Association board of directors, accepted the proclamation and described the local scale of the condition: “approximately 48,000 people here in Broward County live with the disease currently, one of them being my wife, Lisa,” he said. Strader urged continued funding for research and caregiver supports, and invited county departments and commissioners to participate in the association’s annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Dec. 6 at Nova Southeastern University.

What the board said: Commissioners emphasized the local impact of both issues. The proclamation for Feeding South Florida noted SNAP reductions at the federal level and encouraged public support. Commissioners and nonprofit representatives urged visits to local food-distribution sites and formation of county department walk teams for the Alzheimer’s walk.

Next steps: The proclamations are ceremonial recognitions that county leaders said will coincide with local volunteer drives and awareness activities. Feeding South Florida’s food drive was referenced as ongoing at the meeting location, and the Alzheimer’s Association requested continued local support for caregiver programs and respite services.

Speakers quoted in this article spoke at the Sept. 4 Broward County Commission meeting and are named as they appeared in the meeting record.