Nonprofit food bank and Winn-Dixie provided turkeys and more to meet food needs this holiday season
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – November 20, 2021 – Feeding Northeast Florida (FNEFL) today shared details of its partnership with Winn-Dixie and the Winn-Dixie Gives Foundation for the second year of their Harvest Helpings initiative, a program that provided turkeys and other food staples to those in need across the food bank’s eight-county service area.
The program began November 15th and concluded with a Duval County distribution earlier today at Lonnie Miller Park, providing 510 turkeys to those in need in advance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Harvest Helpings included distributions in each of the counties served by the food bank and served over 2,500 families.
Food insecurity affects approximately 240,000 individuals, equating to one in seven adults in Northeast Florida. With the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic still being felt, the need for food resources has continued to be elevated. This partnership with Winn-Dixie enabled FNEFL to distribute not only seasonal sides and fresh produce, but turkeys for the upcoming holiday.
“The families we serve face tough decisions throughout the year, but it is particularly challenging during the holidays,” said Susan King, President and CEO of Feeding Northeast Florida. “With the effects of COVID-19 still being felt by many in our community, we are serving more than double our pre-pandemic levels. Thanks to our partnership with Winn-Dixie, we were able to provide a full holiday meal to those in need in time for Thanksgiving.”
For more information about Feeding Northeast Florida or to make a donation, visit feedingnefl.org. Every dollar donated helps support Feeding Northeast Florida’s continued work in the county and provides six meals to those in need.
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About Feeding Northeast Florida
Feeding Northeast Florida (FNEFL) is the region’s largest nonprofit (501c3) food bank and hunger relief network, aiming to improve the quality of life of the people of Northeast Florida by addressing food insecurity, poverty and poor health by providing nutritious foods and other essential goods to those in need. Alongside our network of food distribution, agency and community partners, Feeding Northeast Florida provides food and hope to help the more than 1 in 6 people living in our eight-county service area (Baker, Bradford, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns) who struggle to feed themselves and their families. Feeding Northeast Florida works daily to find solutions to address the issues of food insecurity and poverty through awareness, advocacy, education and action in ways that promote dignity, respect and empowerment. For more information, visit feedingnefl.org.
About Winn-Dixie
Founded in 1925, Winn-Dixie grocery stores, liquor stores and in-store pharmacies serve communities throughout five southeastern states – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. is a subsidiary of Southeastern Grocers, which is one of the largest supermarket chains based in the Southeast. For more information, please visit www.winndixie.com and www.segrocers.com.
About Winn-Dixie Gives Foundation
Winn-Dixie Gives Foundation is part of the charitable arm of Southeastern Grocers, Inc. (SEG), parent company of Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie stores. The Winn-Dixie Gives Foundation aligns giving with causes that are priorities to the communities Winn-Dixie serves, including the fight against hunger, support for military service members and their families, relief to those affected by extreme weather and natural disasters and quality educational opportunities for students. Winn-Dixie strives to be ingrained in its communities and, through the Winn-Dixie Gives Foundation, better the lives of its customers and neighbors.
