MELBOURNE, Fla. – News 6 has been hitting the road, bringing our live broadcasts to different cities across Central Florida. This time, we went to Melbourne.
You’ve seen stories all month long covering everything from hidden gems to challenges that Melbourne residents face.
We also want to highlight organizations getting results for the community. News 6 staff members visited the South Brevard Sharing Center in Melbourne off Hibiscus Boulevard, spending hours sorting produce and other donated food items in the food pantry.
“This organization sees so many people at once and we have to constantly be recycling and replenishing all the produce in the pantry because the peppers and fruits, everything... As soon as we get it sorted, it’s going out the door to a family in need,” News 6 Investigative Reporter Erik Sandoval said.
Executive Director Pamela Huffman said the need for food assistance is greater than some may think.
“Since COVID, we’ve seen a huge increase especially for people coming to our food pantry, upwards of 60%. With the inflation people are experiencing, people are finding it harder to pay their bills and oftentimes the first thing they cut back on is food,” Huffman said.
The Sharing Center provides families in need with food items to cover meals like eggs, milk, canned goods, meat and more.
“When these eggs first arrived here as a donation, they really faced what is a big issue here. They don’t have enough refrigerators, so the eggs were great, a great donation, but they don’t have the refrigeration space to put them in,” Erik said.
“There are days when it’s tough. There are days we wish we could do so much more, but it’s heartwarming when we hear from our clients how grateful they are that we’re here,” Huffman said.
The South Brevard Sharing Center was founded in 1971, getting results for hundreds of families every day. But it’s more than just a food pantry, it provides other critical services from rental assistance to emergency medical assistance, even workforce training.
“Our mission is to support, strengthen and empower so beyond providing food for people’s bellies, we try to feed their soul and give them hope. Our case managers and resource specialists are here to help provide connections to other community resources they don’t realize are available in the community. Sometimes it’s just to listen and offer them the hope they need that they can get through the struggle they may be going through that day,” Huffman said.
Want to get involved? You can volunteer your time at the sharing center or make a financial contribution.
“We cover nonprofits and service organizations often, but getting our team together to volunteer at the sharing center really gave me new perspective on the need for centers like this,” News 6 Morning Anchor Crystal Moyer said.
They so do much for our neighbors and now they need our help.
The South Brevard Sharing Center receives fresh produce and meet daily that need to stay cool until they are distributed to families, but they don’t have enough fridge space.
This is where our amazing community comes in. We’d like to spread the word to help get results for this incredible resource, by finding someone who can donate a couple commercial-grade refrigerators.
If you know someone or a company that can donate a new or used commercial fridge, please email cmoyer@wkmg.com so we can coordinate pickup. We can get results together!