Compassionate St. Augustine and EPIC-CURE Team Up to Address Food Insecurity in St. Johns and Putnam Counties
On October 14, EPIC-CURE and Compassionate St. Augustine hosted their inaugural Bowls Dinner to raise awareness about food waste and sustainable solutions for creating food security.
ST. AUGUSTINE, FL, USA, October 24, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ — Compassionate St. Augustine (CSA), whose mission is to influence and grow a culture of compassion through advocacy, awareness, and action, is excited to grow its partnership with EPIC-CURE to combat the prevalence of food insecurity within our communities. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately one tenth of the population which equates to 26 million people do not have enough to eat, and approximately 40% of all food produced ends up in U.S. landfills.
Co-hosted by CSA and EPIC-CURE, the inaugural Bowls Dinner to build awareness around food insecurity was held at the Voorhees Mission House in St. Augustine, FL. The event which is slated to occur on a semi-annual basis brought together individuals from all spheres of influence, and included those from the medical, government, non-profit, education, religious, and law enforcement sectors. Not only did the event address the stigma around reclaimed food, 90% of the food served at the dinner was rescued, and the meal was prepared by middle school children that participate in EPIC-CURE’s SustainU culinary classes.
“Compassion is at the heart of our mission to eliminate hunger and food waste,” says Sunny Mulford, Executive Director for EPIC-CURE. “Through our relationship with Compassionate St. Augustine, we are able to supplement our food collection efforts as a result of their Gift Gardens, and jointly lobby for increased community support to address this growing epidemic.”
Since its inception, EPIC-CURE has rescued and distributed over 19 million pounds food and provides groceries to approximately 2200 families each week. This translates to 500,000-600,000 pounds a month and 23 distributions a week. The organization relies heavily on donations and volunteers to support its efforts.
Compassionate St. Augustine has four Gift Gardens throughout St. Augustine, one at the Webster School in West Augustine, one at Ketterlinus Elementary School, beds at Lincolnville Community Garden, and a private garden donated by Mindful Solutions marketing agency.
“The relationship that Compassionate St. Augustine has with EPIC-CURE is truly special,” says CSA Executive Director, Arthur Culbert. “Our joint goal is not only to minimize food insecurity, but to mentor at-risk youth and teach them the skills and confidence to help break the cycle of poverty. We are also looking to expand our Gift Garden program and are currently seeking donation of additional garden spaces.”
About Compassionate St. Augustine
Compassionate St. Augustine is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in St. Augustine Florida. Our vision is to inspire others to make a positive impact by fostering a culture of compassion. The organization calls on individuals, communities, and organizations to promote compassion in all aspects of life. It seeks to foster a global movement of individuals dedicated to living by the principles of compassion, empathy, and the Golden Rule. For more information about our Gift Garden and other initiatives, visit https://www.compassionstaugustine.org.
About EPIC-CURE
EPIC-CURE is a nonprofit that was founded in 2018. There are four pillars in the organization’s mission which include: eliminating food insecurity, ending food waste, cutting greenhouse gases, and providing cooking classes to veterans and Title-1 school children. EPIC-CURE is 100% volunteer driven and relies heavily on the support of its partners and donors. For more information, visit www.epic-cure.org.
Media Contact:
Arthur Culbert, PhD
Executive Director
Compassionate St. Augustine
[email protected]
(314) 249-8500