The Florida Baptist Convention’s Disaster Relief team does not just respond in times of disaster but anytime there is a need, says Marvin Corbin, logistics and field missionary.
In mid-January, the Federal Emergency Management Agency released 3,000 pallets of boxed meals, of which the FBC DR team was able to receive a portion.
Even though the ministry’s building at the Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center in Leesburg is full, the abundance of food is being shared throughout the state with organizations and churches serving those in need.
Some of those include First Baptist Church Umatilla, the Leesburg Food Bank, First Baptist Church of Leesburg’s food pantry, Ocala military veterans, Salvation Army in Sumter County, and Chipola Baptist Association to name a few.
“Bradford County used their [semitruck] driving school to pick up a load and deliver it to Starke where the food is being used in an after-school backpack program,” added Corbin.
Churches and groups can email Corbin here with a short note explaining who they are and how many pallets they want. Corbin will reply with when the pickup can happen at the Lake Yale warehouse.
If a church has access to a semi with a box trailer, a pickup in Jacksonville can also be arranged.
According to Feeding Florida, a statewide food bank network, more than 3.4 million Florida residents do not have reliable access to enough nutritious, affordable food. More than one million of those residents are children. The United States Department of Agriculture reports more than 41 million people live in households that would be considered food insecure.
Has your church received food boxes? Share it with us by sending photos to Marvin Corbin by clicking here.
For more about the Florida Baptist Convention’s Disaster Relief ministry visit flbaptist.org/disasterrelief
By Keila Diaz, Florida Baptist Convention, January 24, 2018