Feeding Northeast Florida Partners With United Way Of Northeast Florida And DoorDash To Serve Area Veterans

Press release from The JAX Chamber:

November 12, 2020

Feeding Northeast Florida (FNEFL) today announced a partnership with United Way of Northeast Florida, DoorDash, and The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to serve area veterans. The program, which launched in October through a United Way Worldwide grant, delivers food and supplies to local veteran families, including homeless veterans. Veterans participating in the initiative will receive a box weekly of shelf-stable goods.

Since mid-October, over 900 deliveries have been made to local veterans through this program. More than 20,000 pounds of food have been set aside for this initiative through year end. FNEFL anticipates it will serve 1,500 of veterans across its eight-county service area upon completion.

“Veterans deserve so much appreciation,” said Susan King, President and CEO of FNEFL. “Through this partnership with United Way of Northeast Florida and the VA, we are able to deliver food to area veterans who may not have access to them otherwise. We are so grateful for United Way and the VA’s support and are honored to be able to give back to those who have risked everything to fight for our country.”

The VA identified and selected veterans in FNEFL’s service area to participate in this initiative. With the help of DoorDash, packages of food and other goods are delivered to the doors of those in the program.

“Nearly 40 percent of Northeast Florida residents struggle to make ends meet – and that was prior to the start of the pandemic,” said Jeff Winkler, United Way of Northeast Florida’s head of basic needs. “The financial fallout of COVID-19 has made it difficult for so many families – including our veterans – to meet their basic needs, including food. We are committed to serving those who have served our country, and our partnership with Feeding Northeast Florida, DoorDash and the VA is a great example of this important work.”

The program will run through December 2020. In an effort to minimize COVID-19 exposure, all delivery drivers participate in proper protocols from the CDC, including wearing masks and keeping social distance. For additional details on the program and how you can get involved, please email Jeff Winkler at jeffw@uwnefl.org. For anyone seeking information on available community resources, please dial United Way 211 by dialing 2-1-1 or 904-632-0600 on your cell phone or landline.

This press release was produced by The JAX Chamber. The views expressed here are the author’s own.