ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Community members donated seven tons of food and supplies during the annual “Rock the Pantries” food drive held last Friday at The St. Augustine Amphitheatre and Ponte Vedra Concert Hall.
On Saturday, the collected donations were distributed to 17 local food pantries to support an estimated 6,700 families in St. Johns County ahead of the upcoming holiday season.
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SJC Cultural Events, Inc., the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates and manages both venue locations, organized the drive to keep local food pantries stocked and support neighbors facing food insecurity.
Pallets filled with donated items accumulated throughout the day as community members delivered supplies directly to the venues. Donated goods included dry goods, beans, canned vegetables, cooking oils and diapers.
This year marked the second consecutive year that SJC Cultural Events, Inc. has hosted holiday food drives at The St. Augustine Amphitheatre and Ponte Vedra Concert Hall.
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Gabe Pellicer serves as president and chief executive officer of SJC Cultural Events, Inc. Pellicer praised the public for participating in the food drive and assisting local families.
“Our community rallied and showed up for those in need this year,” Pellicer said. “Because people took the time to give, our local food pantries have more food to share with neighbors who are counting on them this holiday season. We’re grateful to everyone who donated and to the pantry teams who get these critical donations out to families.”
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The 17 pantries receiving donations include Apostolic Lighthouse Church, Betty Griffin House, Bible Baptist Church, Epic-Cure, Family Church, Flagler Estates Pentecostal, Home Again St. Johns, Homeless Coalition of St. Johns County, Mary H. Lewis Food Pantry, Pie in the Sky Community Alliance, SEA Community Center, St. Augustine Youth Services, St. Francis House, St. Johns Ecumenical Ministries, St. Johns Food Pantry, The Simon’s House and We Feed St. Augustine.
SJC Cultural Events, Inc. confirmed that the “Rock the Pantries” food drive will return in 2027.
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