![]() ![]() Haight said people who receive food from the food bank can use money budgeted for food or utilities and to avoid foreclosure. Robert Haight, United Way of Marion County interim CEO and president, spoke at the press conference about those in the community who are considered A.L.I.C.E.: "asset limited, income compromised." Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida has its main warehouse and Mercy Kitchen in Orlando, and food banks Daytona Beach (Voliusia County) and West Melbourne (Brevard County) and now Ocala. Robinson said food safety measures at the food bank include all food being within date. ![]() ![]() "We believe that this is the best path forward for Marion County and we support your organization in establishing a Second Harvest Branch in Marion County," he said. Robinson said he was "passing the torch" to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. ![]() Karla Grimsley-Greenway, CEO of Interfaith Emergency Services, hopes the merger and presence of Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida in Marion County will provide an opportunity for IES to "purchase specific food items (such as canned meat, canned vegetables and peanut butter) at a better rate."įirst Step Food Bank board of directors member Stewart Robinson praised the First Step Food Bank staff and volunteers and supportive grants from United Way of Marion County and local grocers. He said Brother's Keeper Soup Kitchen currently prepares about 150 sandwich meals daily.Ī man sitting in an area near the soup kitchen who identified himself only as Jeffrey said if not for the meals at the soup kitchen "he would starve to death." "I don’t know what we would do without them," he said.Įd Hamilton, assistant of operations at Brother's Keeper Soup Kitchen in downtown Ocala, said the operation has received food and donated some items to First Step Food Bank. He said the food bank’s warehouse staff does a fantasitic job of handling the food and helping out Gary Pascale, office manager at Marion County Veterans Helping Veterans, said the organization assists 70 to 100 veterans monthly with food, thanks to its partnership with First Step Food Bank. He emphasized that the merger was about people not just increased food distribution numbers.Įast praised Del Toro and the staff and said the merger should be an "awesome addition."Įast said she "believes in unity in the community" and people joining to help each other. The merger is aimed at bolstering the Marion County branch distribution level to perhaps 10 million pounds annually (more than 8.3 million meals) in a few years and provide programs like summer meals for school children, according to Derrick Chubbs, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.Ĭhubbs indicated the two food banks have worked together for 30 years but now have officially merged. Which ones received the most? Taking a look at the numbers Helping out: Give4Marion raised a record $771,000 for 87 local nonprofits. Local United Way gets interim CEO: Scot Quintel to lead Ocala/Marion homelessness office Local struggle: In SW Marion, a small land owner tries to resolve an access issue with On Top of the World 14 press conference at the Marion Branch warehouse at 4035 NE 36th Ave.įirst Step Food Bank was established in Ocala in 1992 and currently distributes about 2 million pounds of food annually (more than 1.6 million meals) to more than 40 agencies that operate 38 emergency food pantries, kitchens and other outreaches in Marion County, according to. The merger with Orlando-based Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, touted as one of Central Florida's largest hunger relief networks, was announced at a Nov. Watch Video: Food bank merger helps those in need in Marion Countyįirst Step Food Bank of Ocala is now the Marion County branch of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. ![]()
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