Free produce is coming to Lealman thanks, in part, to Pinellas County Commissioner Charlie Justice. Justice is launching Farm Share to the area Monday, April 4. Free produce will be available to those who need it while supplies last.
“The Lealman community is incredibly important to me and to our entire Commission,” said Chairman Justice.
The event begins at 11 a.m. at the Lealman Connection Center at 3875 54th Avenue North.
Justice partnered with the Pinellas Sheriff’s Police Athletic League, the Florida Dream Center and Adopt-A-Block, the Lealman Asian Neighborhood Family Center and the Juvenile Welfare Board. He’ll be on hand during the give-away along with other county staff.
Lealman is classified as one of five zones of poverty within the county. The area faces problems with poverty, homelessness and unemployment. The area also suffers from lack of access to healthy food.
“We are making Lealman a priority. Creating a Community Redevelopment Area, targeting funds to acquire land for workforce and affordable housing, and prioritizing staff time to target Lealman are just some of the ways we are looking to improve the quality of life,” Justice continued. “The Farm Share free produce give away is one more way to make things a little better.”
Farm Share is a non-profit organization providing nutritious foods to people in poverty and in areas deemed food deserts. It utilizes surplus food from farmers to distribute to those in need and to social service agencies in Florida and throughout the Southeastern U.S.
Last year they provided more than 32 million pounds of food to hungry families in four million Florida households.
