$30 grocery cards are part of this year's Strike Out Hunger Thanksgiving basket giveaway

The Strike Out Hunger Food Giveaway this year features organizers collaborating with

Alachua County’s 2022 Fall Food Partnership that will provide food relief by offering $30 grocery cards and related services.

Those interested in applying for the gift cards and related services must be an Alachua County resident and meet any of the following FarmShare USA criteria that includes receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Women, Infants and Children nutrition program (WIC) and income eligibility requirement.

The link to apply is alachuacounty.us/foodhelp and a form will be available for residents to sign.

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The annual giveaway, sponsored by the Long Foundation and its many partners, this year didn’t include turkeys as part of the giveaway, but chickens were given away instead and those who qualify for the gift cards can buy turkeys with them if they want.

The giveaway was held Thursday in the Oaks Mall parking lot behind Dillard’s. Hundreds of residents lined up in drive-thru fashion to receive food that included chickens, eggs, milk, dry goods, produce and more.

The Long Foundation’s partners included FarmShare USA, Alachua County Christian Pastors Association, Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Florida Inc., City of Gainesville, Alachua County Government, Prayers By Faith Ministries and The Oaks Mall.

Rodney Long is president and founder of the Long Foundation, and is a longtime community activist whose political career includes serving on the Alachua County and City of Gainesville commissions during a political career that lasted more than two decades in elected offices.

He has been bringing awareness to food insecurity since 2008 with the creation of Strike Out Hunger, which started out as an event that normally focused on collecting food to fill the shelves of local food banks and pantries.

“We want to give people a chance to help supplement them in addition to the food we provide,” Long said.

Long said the $30 grocery card gives people an opportunity to select what they want.

“We and the county are offering these cards so people are not limited to what we provide," Long said.

Long said the foundation is planning on hosting four food giveaways next year: one in January, April, July and November.

“Hosting four giveaways a year helps people with food insecurity,” Long said. “We feed 1,200 to 1,500 households and on average there are four people in the household.”

The giveaway Thursday began with cars lining up way before it began, Long said.

“There’s a real food insecurity when people are taking time off their jobs to get food,” Long said. “With inflation, the dollar doesn’t stress as long as it used to. We make sure to keep the food giveaways going to help families. This is much needed and appreciated. When people thank us, it makes our day.”

Karl Anderson, Upper Room Ministries pastor and current Vice President and founding president of the Alachua County Christian Pastors Association, said The food giveaway partnerships have helped the county’s mission to feed families on a larger scale, said Pastor Karl Anderson, senior pastor at Upper Room Ministries and current vice president and founding president of the Alachua County Christian Pastors Association.

“Right now during the holidays, there’s high gas, inflation and tough financial situations,” he said. “What we are doing is meeting the needs of families and having a positive effect on them.”

The pandemic has left many families grieving the loss of loved ones and the holidays may bring back sad memories, Anderson said.

“COVID-19 took a lot of our friends and families,” Anderson said. “We are dealing with grief over and over again during the holidays.”

The food giveaway is also helping families from all walks of life, Anderson said.

“We see the demographics,” Anderson said. “Food insecurity affects everybody, not only East Gainesville.”

70 volunteers help giveaway food

Jackie Sutton, one of the 70 volunteers who helped out at the giveaway, said she heard about the volunteering opportunity for her co-worker.

With the economy not doing so great, the Strike Out Hunger food giveaway will help many families in need of food for the holidays, she said.

“I love to serve the community and help people,” Sutton said. “This is a critical time to help people in need. I love to see the joy on people’s faces. People from all over are coming to get some food. They need help physically, spiritually and mentally.”

Giveaway relieves food burden on families

Candace Careccia waited in the line with dozens of cars until it was her turn to pop her car trunk and proceed to the food stations. She said the event is a relief for her this holiday season.

“This is a great way to get to know the community,” Careccia said. “I am very thankful for this, especially during this time of year where we don’t have much.”

Rory Jones, a volunteer and a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., said serving the community is his mission. He said he enjoys volunteering and does his best to attend the food giveaway.

“I do my best to give back,” Jones said. “There are families who don’t know where their next meal is going to be. When you’re blessed, you bless someone else. If I can do what I can to make someone’s holiday better, it is worth it.”

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Grocery cards part of this year's holiday giveaway in Alachua County