Handing out food to people in need almost every day has been The Neighborhood House’s mission for seven years.
The food distribution program is administered by the Beta Pi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. in Gainesville and is designed to reduce food insecurity in the community.
The nonprofit has been serving the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness and struggling to make ends meet in the Gainesville community since 2010 and was founded on April 10, 2009 by Dennis Franklin. The guys at Beta Pi started running the program for 2017.
“Our growth can be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, consistency with operating hours, friendly and welcoming attitudes to all customers and word of mouth from our constituents,” said Michael Perkins, president of Beta Pi.
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The food bank serves moderate families in need of food and other items or necessities. and the people they serve include children, the homeless and veterans.
The fraternity has expanded the food bank’s reach to include students and immigrants from the University of Florida and Santa Fe College, in addition to its core clients of children, the homeless and veterans, Perkins said.
Food is distributed Sunday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 739 NW Fifth Ave. Wearing a mask in the building is mandatory during food distribution.
The program receives food from the Food Donation Connection (FDC), a national program that connects food service donors with local nonprofits to donate excess prepared food.
The Neighborhood House serves about 1,300 individuals and families per month, Perkins said.
Monday through Friday, the nonprofit distributes food donated by local vendors such as Wawa, Starbucks, Outback Steakhouse and Kentucky Fried Chicken.
On Sundays, the nonprofit serves food donated by Whole Food stores and distributes milk, eggs, fresh vegetables, raw meat and more.
“We are eager to expand our reach into the food deserts of East Gainesville due to the lack of grocery stores serving these areas and limited transportation among low-income individuals and families,” Perkins said. “The expansion also includes a mobile refrigerated food truck so we can offer fresh meat and fruit to the community. With schools closed, children need good nutrition.”
The program looks forward to having at least five students assist in surgeries this summer through the Alachua County Children’s Trust Fund, Perkins said.
“We are grateful for all the volunteers and people who contribute,” said Fred Murry, who has been volunteering at the food bank for two years. “I am committed to serving the community. That is what my fraternity is all about.”
During the food distribution on a recent Thursday, volunteers handed out corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, salad, sweet potato fries, biscuits, fried chicken, hot dogs, egg sandwiches, PB&J sandwiches, muffins, cakes, donuts, milk and apples.
Georgia Fair said she has been retired since December 2023 and has been volunteering since then.
“This is one of the most rewarding jobs in social services,” Fair said. “I’m grateful to give back to those who are homeless. We’ve seen people who have addictions and suffer from mental illness. This is for people who really don’t have it, and it makes a big difference for them.”
This article originally appeared in The Gainesville Sun: Hungry in Gainesville, fueled by the Beta Pi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi
