Cars lining up along Buenaventura Boulevard when it’s still dark to attend a food giveaway has become almost routine or habit.
The need for food for some families in Osceola County district 2 has been a concern even before March 2020.
“Food insecurity is a topic that’s been common in Osceola County, even before the pandemic,” said County Commissioner Viviana Janer.
At Archie Gordon Park, Friday was a free drive-through FarmShare event, where residents in need could get some staples to top off their pantries — the bags this day included fresh papayas and okra, cereal and snack food, and sugar-free energy drinks.
There was enough to provide a few days of food comfort for 400 families, but by the time the line began moving at 10 a.m. there were already 200 cars in line, the first ones arriving by sunrise.
“There’s still a great need. In our community the recovery has been slow,” Janer said. “Prices have gone up, so this is important.”
Unlike some local food drives and giveaways, these county-backed events, utilizing FarmShare or federal American Rescue Plan dollars (the program that picked up where the CARES Act has left off) are first-come-first-serve.
Other commissioners, like district 3’s Brandon Arrington and district 4’s Cheryl Grieb, have also arranged drive-up, contactless FarmShare events in their areas.
To stay on top of such events in the future, be sure to register for county updates at Osceola.org/Covid19, or follow your commissioner’s social media channels (for Janer, Facebook.com/Viviana.Janer and @VivianaJaner on Twitter).
Since 1991, FarmShare has been making sure excess fresh foods like fruits and vegetables from Florida farmers have gone into the hands of those who need it, rather than it going to waste. Farm Share gives food to recipient agencies like food pantries, or Osceola County, and Janer has assembled volunteer groups to hand out the food, without any fees. Friday, New Dimensions High School helped out and earned their service hours for graduation.
“Fresh produce can be hard to come back and prices some people out in the stores,” Janer said. “Those of our neighbors are more likely to buy it in a can, which isn’t as fresh and natural.”
