JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Free fresh produce for more than 600 Jacksonville families was a mission accomplished Saturday at a local church as the Nourishment Network handed out more than 40,000 pounds of food.
For many it was more than a chance to receive, but also a chance to give.
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Tonya Washington said she's grateful events like this exists.
"I'm a single mother, too, and this is really helping me not having a lot of money to feed my two boys and myself," said Washington.
The free food giveaway was made possible by a partnership between the Nourishment Network and Farm Share. It's not just any food, it's fresh fruits and vegetables brought from local farms to people who need it most.
"I really love the wheat bread, the real nourishing things, getting cucumbers for your family," said Washington. "You're not only receiving, we're receiving the turkey today and some chicken, but were also receiving the nourishing stuff that I'm able to feed my children during the week."
Lines wrapped around St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church on the Northside for the last of series of summer food giveaways. The families fill out a paper saying they have a need and are given 50 pounds of food, everything from fruits and vegetable to turkey and ham.
Organizers originally planned to hold 15 events this summer but had to double it because the need was and still is so great.
"Every single distribution including today we've had to turn people away," said Frank Ormonde, executive director of the Nourishment Network. "Today, we're going to have to turn people away, too. I mean, you can see the line wrapped all the way around the street, and we're going to run out of food."
Organizers said one in six adults and one in four children are actively hungry, and 40 percent of the families in line are working families.
Organizers said this and all the summer distributions wouldn't be possible without the companies who donated the food and the volunteers who worked behind the scenes.
That's why Washington said it's important for her and her sons to be here as volunteers, in addition to receiving food.
"You have to be able to even come and get up early, and even get up. I mean, it's hard on a Saturday to get up early but you're here and volunteering, and you're able to say thank you to the community for doing things like this," said Washington.
These are things the Nourishment Network said it will continue provide for the community.