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If you donate $1, you’re providing SIX meals for families in need this holiday season

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — 95.1 WAPE’s Feeding Families food drive is taking place at two Publix locations: one at the Shoppes at Beachwalk in St. Sohns County (835 CR 210W), and the other at University Park in Jacksonville (2875 University Blvd West).

They’ve partnered with Feeding Northeast Florida to collect food and cash donations.

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Right now, one in seven adults and one in five children in Northeast Florida don’t know where their next meal will come from.

“You probably know someone in your life that is food insecure and people aren’t really aware of that,” said Eli Darkatsh with Feeding Northeast Florida.

So to spread awareness, Meghan Lane and Austen Lane, who are not related, from WAPE’s Meghan and Austen Mornings broadcasted live from the food drive in St. Johns County.

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“No one should be going hungry around Christmastime, around the holidays,” Austen said.

And they want you to know you can prevent a family from going hungry, with just $1.

“One dollar equals six meals,” Meghan said.

Read: 95.1 WAPE holding Feeding Families Food Drive to benefit families in Northeast Florida

So how does Feeding Northeast Florida make those dollars stretch?

“We rescue food from a lot of different places,” Darkatsch said. “Nutrition is a big deal. We also purchase products from vendors at wholesale pricing.”

Knowing the difference every amount makes, Mitzi Hovancik was happy to leave a cash donation.

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“We’ve been so blessed this year with our job and we have another grandbaby on the way and just blessed in general,” she said. “So we wanted to share that blessing with others that aren’t as fortunate.”

And it takes the community to see this through.

“We’re blessed to be in an area to have folks with hearts in the right place,” Darkatsh said.

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“Give to those that need it and it will always be paid forward in some way,” Hovancik said.

You can also drop off nonperishable items. Volunteers with Feeding Northeast Florida as well as our radio partners will be at both locations until 6 p.m. Friday night.

If you can’t make it out in person to either location, you can also donate online here: feedingnefl.org/cox

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