by Marty Proctor
FAITH Neighborhood Center (FNC) has been in continuous operation since 1972 and remains serving food-insecure, low-income families during this phase of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Center, located at 14727 Timber Village Road, Groveland, is opened on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 am -12 pm and Thursday from 1 pm – 4 pm.
On March 17, FNC provided food to more than 100 families in need. The Center has over 100 active volunteers and 20 were present to help prepare and deliver hundreds of pounds of fresh, canned, and frozen food to clients in need. The Center has made adjustments to the verification and delivery process to ensure the health and safety of both the volunteers and clients during this pandemic.
“We are struggling to take care of our most vulnerable population: children, seniors and working poor,” said Patricia Kry, FNC Executive Director. “It is no surprise that in a period of panic, donations from supporting local stores are down. Stores are depleted and monetary donations are down because people are not attending public services like church,” Kry added. “People are justifiably thinking of family and personal safety first”.
“This is an ideal time to remind the general public that the Center has access to very cost-effective and safe channels to obtain fresh, frozen, and canned food for clients”, advised Kry. The Center obtains food in bulk from Second Harvest and the USDA and from Aldi. The Center also operates a refrigerated box truck that picks up donated food from local Grocery Alliance stores.”
Ms. Kry continued, “the combination of free food from the USDA purchased food through Second Harvest, and bulk pick up with our truck, result in getting about $10 worth of food for every $1 we get in cash donations.” Put more clearly, a $20 cash donation will buy $200 worth of healthy food for distribution to the Center’s clients.
An FNC volunteer stated, “We are here to help the clients. We understand that health risks are high for some people who want to volunteer in person but keep in mind, cash contributions will help to provide much-needed food for our client. We all know the old adage, ‘time is money’.”
There are many ways to help clients at FNC. Cash donations allow volunteers and staff to purchase much-needed food. The Center, through Second Harvest, the USDA and other agencies and partners can generally purchase food at a lower cost …often at less than 10% of the retail cost at the grocery. So your cash contribution goes a long way.
Volunteering is fun and easy with limited time commitments and a variety of task options.
Learn more at faithneighborhoodcenter.com, call at 352-429-1200, or visit at 14727 Timber Village Road in Groveland.
