St. Pete non-profit hopes to address food desert

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — A non-profit is working to make sure everybody who needs fresh and healthy food in St. Petersburg has access to it.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 23.5 million Americans, or about one out of every 12 people, live in a food desert.

A food desert is when an area does not have access to fresh and healthy foods.

To become a food desert, an area has to meet two criteria:

• 33% of a community has to live a mile or more from a supermarket or grocery store

• 40% of that same community has to have income equal, or less than, twice the federal poverty level.

One of those food deserts is in St. Petersburg, and Positive Impact is trying to make a difference to help get food on every family’s table.

700 families every week are coming to get food from the non-profit.

“Every Saturday I come here and say hello to people, we just can’t wait to get some food, we’re so excited,” Angela Sheats said.

Whether it’s a household of one or 7 people, residents near Tangerine Plaza said it’s a food desert. They have no grocery stores next to them, and ones in the area are too expensive.

“I could go to the grocery store and try to spend $200-$300, but then you got light and water and everything else, it’s not easy,” Amanda Quintero said.

“I’m on disability, so I don’t get that much, and I go to the grocery store, and I look at the prices of it and I say, ‘oh, I can only get the bare minimum,'” Sheats said.

Positive Impact has been serving the community for years and said the need is only increasing.

“The need continues to rise due to inflation,” said Karen Rae, executive director. “We have working class families who just cannot make all of their ends meet.”

They need more hands on deck to keep up with all the families who show up.

“It just continues to grow,” said Heather Bay, a volunteer and program director. “Every single week, we just have more and more families that come through the line, so we need people that will be with us.”

Some people who come pick up food every Saturday continue to spread the kindness.

“Every Saturday night we make a meal and pass it out to 20 or 30 people in the park,” Nicole Boisclair said.

“I give a lot of food away out,” Ronald Reed said. “I live by myself, but I got grandchildren too. I give my daughter and my three grandsons food and all of that, and it works out perfect.”

Everyone is thankful for this non-profit with a heart for the hungry.

“Positive Impact has a positive impact on me,” Reed said.

“It’s a blessing,” Quintero said. “It’s a blessing that they’re here and it’s a blessing to come get help.”

The grocery distribution events are every Saturday at the Tangerine Plaza from 9:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.

Positive Impact runs off of donations, to see how you can help or volunteer, click here.

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