An Oasis in Pahokee, Florida

When we work together, we can end hunger. 
 
Melinda’s Place offers an oasis in Pahokee, Florida, which is approximately 50 miles west of Palm Beach. The Gulfstream Goodwill Industries facility provides shelter, case management, and food to its 110 guests, including a dozen seniors and 44 children. Due to limited access to affordable food and the rapid increase of grocery store prices more residents are seeking additional pantry assistance.  
 
“To stock the pantry, we used to shop on the coast for food because the food here was three times the price. We weren’t able to provide free, quality food in a community that had been unserved,” said Yvette, the program director. 
 
Gulfstream Goodwill was a perfect candidate for the Feeding South Florida® Neighborhood Pantry program. Program partners receive deliveries of nutritious groceries every week. With their pantry stocked, Melinda’s place can focus on supporting their guests as they start the next chapter in their lives. For residents like Shayna, mother to one year-old Emma, having access to the food provided by Feeding South Florida® offers relief. She can finally provide the necessary nutrients needed for her toddler. 
 
“I’m 18. I’m a teen mom. I was born and raised in Boynton. I was homeless and on probation,” said Shayna. Because her basic needs for food and shelter are met, Shayna can focus on a new start. She is taking steps to complete her GED and then attend school for cosmetology, so she can ensure stability for her and her daughter’s future. “I want to be independent and living with me and my baby. With the help we can do that,” she said.  
 
Feeding South Florida’s partnership with Gulfstream Goodwill provides more than food. It is an opportunity to show that when we work together, we can change lives one meal at a time.