JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – FarmShare is ramping up its food distribution events ahead of the holidays. There were three events Saturday across the River City where families picked up tens of thousands of pounds of food.
Dozens of volunteers loaded cars with food from Farm Share at Legacy Ministries in Arlington Saturday morning.
“There are cars that are barely driving, coming through,” said Pastor Abraham Lincoln Washington. “Beautiful cars -- Mercedes bands -- that are coming through. I’ll let you know the impact of the pandemic.”
He told News4Jax teamwork makes the dream work.
“We’re in a pandemic right now what is overwhelming to me is to see the diversity that we have on the serving side the community people that live right here in Arlington coming together,” Washington said.
“Well you can imagine during Christmas time a time to keep everyone’s morale high holidays when you really feel it so we’re trying to help as many people as you can and that’s farm shares main mission during the holidays,” said Leighsha Johnson with FarmShare.
FarmShare helped feed 429 families at Legacy Ministries on Saturday.
“It means a lot because it helps the people that are struggling, trying to eat,” said Shiray Wilson, who was picking up food. “It makes all the difference.”
RIGHT NOW — making sure the Jacksonville community has food on the table ahead of the holidays! The 3 Farm Share food distribution event happening right now:
Posted by Brittany Muller on Saturday, December 19, 2020
FarmShare distributed more than 68,000 pounds of food Saturday, making it easier for families to put food on their table right before Christmas
At Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Fort Caroline Road, several hundred more families fed and Jacksonville City Councilman Al Ferraro distributed thousands of toys.
There was also a third farm share event at Abyssina Missionary Baptist Church on the Northside.
FarmShare is hosting one more food distribution event before Christmas: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Bethel Baptist Church just north of FSCJ Downtown Campus.
FarmShare is looking for volunteers and financial donations. If you would like to help, visit farmshare.org or text EAT to 41-444.
Farm Share was established in 1991 with the idea of distributing fresh food to families, children and seniors who need it free of charge. They now feed millions of people. They have really made a difference through this COVID-19 pandemic, especially through job insecurity.
Farm share says since the beginning of March its distributed nearly 81 million meals to Florida residents.