Unveiling Climate-Controlled Food Lockers to Combat Hunger in Walton County
The community of Walton County is set to embark on an innovative initiative to combat food insecurity with the introduction of state-of-the-art climate-controlled food lockers at the Generation Next Kids Homeless Service Center. This exciting project has been made possible through a generous donation by the Board of County Commissioners of Walton County, in partnership with the Florida Department of Health in Walton County (DOH-Walton).
Food insecurity has been a pressing concern in Walton County, highlighted since 2019 as a priority in the Community Health Improvement Plan. DOH-Walton and the Walton Community Health Improvement Partnership (WCHIP) have been steadfast in their efforts to tackle food insecurity, especially in USDA-designated food desert areas. DOH allocated funds to counties to address these priorities, with a key strategy being the establishment of infrastructure to support mobile and community food pantries. Following best practices from other Florida communities, the installation of food lockers emerged as a viable solution to provide round-the-clock emergency food access to the public.
Drawing on their 13 years of dedicated service to the community, the Matrix Community Outreach Center brings a wealth of experience to this groundbreaking endeavor. In partnership with the Walton County BCC and Walton County Emergency Management, the Matrix has been instrumental as the human services branch during disaster activations at the Walton County Emergency Operation Center, particularly throughout the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the COVID crisis, the Matrix (Community Outreach Center) rose to the occasion by securing and distributing millions of pounds of food to residents across Walton County. Their innovative approach included the establishment of 27 pop-up pantries throughout the county, providing weekly food distributions to those in need. This remarkable feat underscored their unparalleled commitment to serving the community and solidified their position as the ideal partner for the current food locker project.
The food locker is located at the Matrix’s Generation Next office located at 1122 N 9th Street in DeFuniak Springs. This pioneering project serves as a pilot initiative with the aim of securing additional funding for similar projects throughout Walton County.
Author: Sowal Editor
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