Rachel Gillis, Director of Youth Services at Institute for Workforce Innovation, assists people in loading their vehicles with the food that is provided by Farm Share at The Dr. Banks & Dr. Cosby Youth Empowerment Center, Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. (Xinyue Li/WUFT News)
Farm Share Food Distribution
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – As food prices soar, a Florida non-profit organization Farm Share continues to work with students in Project Youthbuild to alleviate those stresses for families.
The drive was scheduled to start at 9 a.m., but drivers got up bright and early eager to get food.
The Project Youthbuild Leadership Program is meant to provide an opportunity to break barriers for people ages 16 to 24.
“They’re out in the community every day of their school day, school week, contributing in various ways from food pantries to community gardens,” Meg Boria-Meyer, Youthbuild Community Engagement Coach said.
The Farm Share event, allows the students to give back to the community they serve.
“They come non-stop so it tells me that there are a lot of people who don’t have access to food so we’re just here to help them,” Donniya Garrison, a Youthbuild student said.
From milk to chicken, each driver that came by went home with food to fuel their pantries.
Photos below by Xinyue Li/WUFT News:
Rachel Gillis, Director of Youth Services at Institute for Workforce Innovation, assists people in loading their vehicles with the food that is provided by Farm Share at The Dr. Banks & Dr. Cosby Youth Empowerment Center, Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. (Xinyue Li/WUFT News)
A Project YouthBuild member distributes frozen chicken into baskets for recipients at a food distribution hosted by Farm Share at 635 NW 6th Street in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. (Xinyue Li/WUFT News)
Members of Project YouthBuild, AmeriCorp, and the Institute for Workforce Innovation distribute and transport food at a food distribution hosted by Farm Share Food at 635 NW 6th Street in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.(Xinyue Li/WUFT News)
Florida's nonprofit food bank Farm Share hosts a food distribution at 635 NW 6th Street in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. (Xinyue Li/WUFT News)
Farm Share baskets await distribution during Project YouthBuild at 635 NW 6th Street in Gainesville, Fla. on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, Farm Share provides the recipients with a variety of foods, such as milk, rice, beef stew, pasta spaghetti, and chicken. (Xinyue Li/WUFT News)
The student members of AmeriCorps help to bag food for the public during a Farm Share Food distribution event at 635 NW 6th Street in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. Their work here counts toward their post-secondary scholarship credits. (Xinyue Li/WUFT News)