The extension office hosted a conference on Friday about feeding the hungry
By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor
Wakulla County Extension Office hosted a summit on Friday, March 1 on food insecurity in Wakulla.
Featured speaker was Libby Simmons, director of development for Second Harvest of the Big Bend, which covers 16 counties, including Wakulla.
Simmons shared statistics on Wakulla, noting as of 2021, there was a 7% poverty rate in Wakulla, below the state average of 12%. The rate for the Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) for Wakulla was 30%, the state average is around 33%. The ALICE figures basically represents the working poor – who earn pay above the poverty line but still face issues with costs for housing, child care, food, transportation, health care and other things.
As of 2021, Wakulla’s population was 33,144 with 11,266 households with a median household income of $72,941. (The state average household income is $63,062.)
Among those attending the event were several volunteers who oversee numerous local food drives who shared their concerns about local food insecurity – including that the working poor often are unable to attend the typical food distribution, which are often held on weekdays during working hours and have people lining up hours in advance.
Extension Director Samantha Kennedy had attendees break out into focus groups to discuss different scenarios related to food insecurity.
The biggest takeaway was the group wants to meet again for further discussion on the issue.
It was also noted that the Wakulla County Health Department is developing an Amazon-style locker system on its campus that, working with Second Harvest of the Big Bend, would be able to provide 24/7 food distribution.
The locker is expected to be open on May 31.
