Rural Food Security COVID-19 Response Initiative

Through a strategic partnership with the Walmart Foundation and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Living Healthy in Florida has launched a Rural Food Security COVID-19 Response Initiative that will support food banks and pantries located in rural communities across the state.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions in Florida’s food system, resulting in unforeseen economic challenges in communities throughout the state. These challenges have resulted in an unprecedented surge in the demand for food assistance programs, which are typically operated by local food banks and pantries.

The Walmart Foundation has committed $100,000 to support this initiative that will benefit food banks and pantries in areas that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Living Healthy in Florida will lead this effort through the distribution of grant packages that will be provided to nonprofit organizations operating food assistance programs in rural and underserved communities. The grant packages include the following:

• One-on-one consultation sessions provided by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension Family Nutrition Program to assess operational and infrastructure needs and assist with the creation of an action plan to support the identified improvements
• Purchasing of refrigeration/freezer equipment, pantry shelving, temperature control containers, personal protective equipment (PPE), and other essentials for operational and infrastructure improvements that are identified during the assessments
• Fresh produce boxes consisting of fruits and vegetables that will be distributed to program participants in partnership with the Center for Sustainable Agricultural Excellence and Conservation (CSAEC), a network of Florida farmers dedicated to increasing access and diversity within the food system

Selection Criteria

Each organization was required to meet the following criteria to be eligible for participation:

• Organization must hold 501(c)(3) status.
• Must be a community food bank/pantry that has been in operation for a minimum of two years.
• Must not receive The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).
• Must support rural or underserved communities.
• Must be able to provide information on individuals/families served.
• Must demonstrate a need for infrastructure/operations improvements.

Living Healthy in Florida identified nonprofit organizations operating food assistance programs in six Florida counties. Of these counties, five are in Rural Areas of Opportunity as designated by the state. The nonprofit organizations participating include:

• Bread of Life (Putnam County)
• The Children’s Table (Levy County)
• Faith Hope Love Charity Inc. (Palm Beach County)
• First Methodist Church (Flagler County)
• Food for Thought (Walton County)
• Heartland Food Bank (Highland County)

Living Healthy in Florida would like to thank its partners in the execution of the Walmart Rural Food Security Initiative Grant to distribute food to those living in food deserts and areas with a shortage of food supplies. Please take a look at the success stories we gathered from our partners to show how this grant has helped communities in Florida.

• Food Pantry Project [ 2.1 MB ]

Program Partners