Miami – The day Village (Free) Edge closed was a heartbreaking day for the woman who opened it who had to drive out those in need. , and the food bank reopened and cheered.
Sherina Jones installed her first refrigerator with free ready-to-eat health foods about two years ago outside her store in Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood. The community immediately started using it.
On Monday, the refrigerator and food pantry shelves were empty. Jones told Local 10 News that donations dried up just as people were dealing with the rising cost of living.
“We are the lifeblood of so many people who depend on us every day, so it was really devastating to find out we couldn’t provide service the next day,” Jones said.
Local 10 News raised awareness, Jones said, and philanthropists responded with cash and food donations. Even local grocers have responded to avoid food waste.
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“Things that are rescued from Trader Joe’s usually end up in the trash, so we created a system to rescue those types of food,” said Jones.
The Pantry on 7th Avenue in front of Roots Collective is open six days a week. Jones says that when the shelves are full, the pantry will feed more than 300 households.
“We need more of that kind of financial support so that we can continue for the rest of this year, and probably for the next few years, until the grant is awarded,” Jones said.
how to help
Please visit the Village (Free)dge page for more information on how to help.
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