Feeding Northeast Florida is opening the region’s largest food bank on Thursday and will be able to serve thousands more people.

Residents who live in a troubled apartment complex in Grand Park are finally catching a break.

Feeding Northeast Florida has outgrown its current facilities and is moving into the former Kinco Windows factory building on Old Kings Road in Jacksonville.

According to Feeding Northeast Florida, roughly 237,000 people in Jacksonville and its surrounding counties are food insecure, meaning they don’t have consistent, reliable access to nutritious food.

A major University of North Carolina donor whose name is on its journalism school says he is curious about how much research went into the selection of Nikole Hannah-Jones to join the faculty.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville City Councilman Terrance Freeman joins this edition of “This Week in Jacksonville” to discuss the City Council meetings in March that included discussions of the NOPE bill and the replacement of septic systems in the Christobel neighborhood. Then, Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren and state Rep. Cord Byrd join the show to share their views on HB 1, the so-called “anti-riot” bill. Finally, Susan King, president and CEO of Feeding Northeast Florida, joins the show to talk about her meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris and the help her organization is receiving and providing for COVID-19 relief.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Feeding Northeast Florida distributed more than 30 million pounds of food in 2020. At the beginning of the pandemic, King said the non-profit had to adjust its grocery recovery process. It’s been inspiring.”The pandemic is still impacting people in Northeast Florida in 2021. In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Feeding Northeast Florida has several volunteer opportunities. Looking ahead to 2021, Feeding Northeast Florida is looking for volunteers.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The need for food is increasing amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to Feeding Northeast Florida. King said food donations are also down heading into the holiday season. “I would say that our food donations are significantly down,” said King. “Luckily, we have been able to provide food through the USDA CFAP (U.S. Department of Agriculture Coronavirus Food Assistance Program). According to the organization, $1 can help provide six meals.

Feeding Northeast Florida has seen two or three times as many households seeking food assistance. Typically, Feeding Northeast Florida receives donations from food distributors and grocery store chains. The need for food in Northeast Florida has enhanced in the last six months due to the pandemic. Feeding Northeast Florida said this donation will help a lot of people on the First Coast. If you are looking for food assistance, you can find a list of Feeding Northeast Florida’s food distribution partners on their website.

That ripple effect caused millions to lose their jobs, and the unemployment system wasn’t enough to rescue unemployed workers from falling into the condition of food insecurity. Food insecurity is defined as the disruption of food intake or eating patterns because of a lack of money and other resources. “When you break it right down, food insecurity is that you don’t know where your next meal will come from,” Feeding Northeast Florida CEO Susan King said. It shows 125,000 more people in the region will fall into the condition of food insecurity by November. Putting it into numbers, prior to the pandemic, Feeding Northeast Florida was processing about 50,000 pounds of food every day.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Players from the Jaguars defense went off the practice field Tuesday to help families in need. Abry Jones and Dawuane Smoot volunteered in a food sorting event at TIAA Bank Field in support of Feeding Northeast Florida. "The Jaguars are enormous supporters of our organization and of hunger issues in general. I think they bring such a big voice to a problem," said Susan King with Feeding Northeast Florida. pic.twitter.com/2Zgv79pkWP City of Jacksonville (COJ) (@CityofJax) October 15, 2019Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.