COCONUT GROVE, Fla. — In Florida, nearly one million people face hunger and don’t know where their next meal will be coming from, and of that number, approximately 500,000 are kids and seniors.
With its upscale homes and historic bayfront setting, it’s easy to overlook the plight of hunger in this community, but the Coconut Grove Crisis Food Pantry stands as a reminder that the need is real and ongoing.
Many special services take place at Christ Episcopal Church, and they extend beyond Sunday.
Every Monday and Tuesday, the Coconut Grove Crisis Food Pantry is there serving the most needy and vulnerable in the 33133 zip code.
“The pantry has been here since 1984, so 42 years, and it was started by parishioners here at Christ Episcopal Church,” said director of outreach Deb Dolson.
Parnice Lee’s mom, Fredericka Simmons Brown, was one of the founding members.
“She was 94 years old and still working every Tuesday with the Pantry,” she said.
Lee, who grew up in west Coconut Grove, has continued the tradition, giving her time for the past 13 years.
“I have to come whether it’s raining or not because she would always tell me come serve the Lord,” said Lee.
She’s one of 50 volunteers who show up faithfully every week to receive deliveries and then meticulously sort and pack the grocery bags, labeling some with the names and special needs of family members.
“We send out about 235 bags of groceries every week,” she said.
Roughly 80% are delivered to nearby homes while the rest are picked up at the pantry.
The pantry had one of their prayers answered this week when, as part of Local 10’s annual Food for Thought program, Publix donated volunteer hours and hundreds of pounds of food.
“Being part of Food for Thought program is so important to us at Publix, because we get a chance to bring a light to organizations that mean so much to these communities, and Coconut Grove Crisis Food Pantry is a great example of that,” said Publix Media Relations Manager Lindsey Willis.
And as long as the people of the 33133 need it, the pantry at the pink church will provide it.
To date, the Coconut Grove Crisis Food Pantry has distributed more than 8,000 bags of groceries.
They’re also good citizens of the Earth, composting more than three tons of organic material.
The nonprofit relies on private donations to keep its doors open.
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