Food distribution helps East Marion County

Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in east Marion County distributed enough food to feed 784 people in its first “Feed the Community” drive-thru food distribution, which was held Saturday, Aug. 5.

The church joins at least two other churches, Wings of Faith and City of Refuge Church, located within about a four-mile stretch of Maricamp Road in Silver Springs Shores offering free food.

According Lyndy Garrett, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church office manager, 90 church members and their families and friends distributed food to a steady stream of vehicles, some picking up for multiple families.

The Rev. Stephen Ogonwa, pastor and parochial administrator of the church, announced the food distribution for several weeks and sought volunteers. He was pleased with the event.

The food drive was conducted in partnership with Agape Mission Markets of Catholic Charities of Central Florida in Orlando. Food was supplied by Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

Juan Vega, director of food ministries with Catholic Charities of Central Florida/Agape Mission Markets, was on hand to instruct IHM volunteers and organize the drive-thru line.

Eight stations distributed Walt Disney World tote bags stuffed with a mixture food items like meat, corn dogs, chicken breast, corn, papaya, celery and more.

“We served 245 families, equaling 784 individuals at the Immaculate Heart of Mary mobile drop,” Vega wrote.

Vega said 30,000 pounds of food was delivered to IHM church for the event. He said the Orlando-based charity distributes over 2.4 million pounds of food from at least seven locations annually.

The first car through the food distribution line at 11 a.m. was driven by a woman named Sandra who said she had been waiting since 7 a.m.

“This will help a lot,” Sandra said after her car was loaded with food.

Food distribution volunteer Milynthia Foard, a teacher at nearby Lake Weir High School, remarked on seeing need throughout the whole community.

IHM plans to make the ”Feed the Community” drive-thru food distribution outreach a regular event, with another distribution being considered for October.

Meanwhile, Jessica Vega, director of ministries with Interfaith Emergency Services in Ocala, said need in the area has “absolutely” increased since last year.

Vega said the agency is getting “30 to 50 phone calls daily” for rental and utility assistance “over and above regular” assistance programs.

Vega said the IES pantry in downtown Ocala provided food for 8,702 people in 4,193 families from January 2023 through July of this year, compared with 7,936 people in 3,829 families during the same period in 2022.

Lisa Smith with Wings of Faith Church indicated in an email the church’s Operation Compassion food outreach distributes 80,000 pounds of food a month and serves over 750 families in the county, including Silver Spring Shores.

Les Bowen, a member of the board of directors of His Compassion Food Bank in Ocala, said the food bank and Wings of Faith Church merged into a partnership after the church received a grant for food handling and storage but decided to join forces with the local food bank to aid the community.

His Compassion Food Bank fed 19,626 people in 2022 and supplied food weekly to 159 agencies including City Of Refuge Church, which is located between Wings of Faith and Immaculate Heart of Mary and holds community distributions, including a Thursday morning drive- thru distribution.

Bowen indicated His Compassion has been delivering about 16,000 pounds of food weekly to City of Refuge Church for about 18 months.

“(His Compassion Food Bank ) distribution is up by about 25% (overall,)“ Bowen said.

For more information:

+ City of Refuge Apostolic Church, 9495 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala; (352) 687-2007; Thursday 8:30 a.m. Prayer and Food Pantry

+ Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 10670 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala; (352) 687-4031; Ihmcatholicchurch.com

+ Wings of Faith, 5066 SE 64th Avenue Road, Ocala; (352) 687-4600

+ Interfaith Emergency Services; 435 NW Second St., Ocala; (352) 629-8868

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Food distribution event, 'Feed the Community,' helps more than 700