Dorian Patton, Executive Assistant to the City Manager; Leah Stockton, Florida Keys Area President, United Way of Collier & the Keys; Emily Nixon, Deputy Director, SOS; City Commissioner Clayton Lopez, Assistant City Manager Patti McLauchlin, Mayor Teri Johnston, Vice Mayor Sam Kaufman, City Manager Greg Veliz, Commissioner Billy Wardlow, SOS Pantry Director Raquel Rojas, and Executive Assistant Portia Navarro.
City Opens Food Pantry in Bahama Village
City officials were on hand this morning to cut the ribbon on the new Bahama Village Food Pantry, located at the Frederick Douglass Gym complex.
City staff started the pantry in order to provide for the community. A food and donation drive at City Hall provided the first filling of the pantry, and Key West Business Guild Director Kevin Theriault did the honors of stocking the shelves. Continued donations are gladly accepted, both at the pantry and in drop boxes located at both the front and back entrance of City Hall.
The food pantry provides free non-perishable food items six days a week to families and individuals in need during this challenging time. It’s open from 1:30 until 7:30 Monday through Friday and from 11:30 until 4:30 on Saturday.
“This is a very difficult time for many in our community,” said Assistant City Manager Patti McLauchlin, who spearheaded the effort. “It is my hope by expanding the Food Pantry we will reach people in our community who need fresh and healthy food for themselves and their families. We need to come together now more than ever.”
In addition to the distribution of non-perishables, the Star of the Sea Foundation (SOS) will begin distributing pre-assembled boxes with mixed fresh produce, dairy, and proteins at the pantry on Tuesdays from noon until 4 p.m.
“SOS commends the City’s efforts,” said SOS Deputy Director Emily Nixon, “and we are grateful for the opportunity to work together to ensure those in Bahama Village have access to healthy food!”
SOS is the largest hunger-relief organization in the Keys, operating two client choice food pantries in Key Largo and Stock Island as well as a large-scale Community Kitchen.
“We are grateful to SOS for this effort to add to the options for people in need,” said McLauchlin. “We also hope the community will donate much-needed non-perishables for those in need.”
“SOS has been acutely aware of the need for supplemental food in Bahama Village,” said Nixon, “and we’re excited about this partnership with the City of Key West.”
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