Coconut Grove, Florida — Behind the upscale homes and historic bayfront scenery of this Miami community, a decades-old food pantry continues working quietly to make sure local families have something to eat.
The Coconut Grove Crisis Food Pantry has been serving people in need since 1984, providing groceries to vulnerable residents in the 33133 ZIP code every Monday and Tuesday.
The pantry operates through Christ Episcopal Church, where volunteers gather each week to receive food deliveries, sort donations and prepare grocery bags for families who need assistance.
For the people involved, the work is about much more than handing out food. It has become a tradition passed from one generation to the next.
Pantry Has Served Coconut Grove Since 1984
The Coconut Grove Crisis Food Pantry was started by parishioners at Christ Episcopal Church more than four decades ago.
“The pantry has been here since 1984, so 42 years, and it was started by parishioners here at Christ Episcopal Church,” said director of outreach Deb Dolson.
The organization has remained focused on helping residents who might otherwise struggle to put food on the table.
According to the pantry, about 235 bags of groceries are distributed every week, with roughly 80% delivered directly to nearby homes. The remaining bags are picked up by families at the pantry.
To date, the organization has distributed more than 8,000 bags of groceries.
Volunteer Tradition Spans Generations
For some volunteers, helping at the pantry is a family tradition that stretches back decades.
Parnice Lee’s mother, Fredericka Simmons Brown, was one of the pantry’s founding members. Even at 94 years old, Brown continued volunteering every Tuesday.
“She was 94 years old and still working every Tuesday with the Pantry,” Lee said.
Lee, who grew up in west Coconut Grove, has continued her mother’s commitment. She has volunteered with the pantry for 13 years, showing up week after week to help neighbors in need.
“I have to come whether it’s raining or not because she would always tell me come serve the Lord,” said Lee.
Her dedication reflects the commitment of dozens of other volunteers who keep the operation running.
50 Volunteers Help Prepare Weekly Deliveries
Around 50 volunteers show up every week to receive deliveries and carefully sort the food before grocery bags are assembled.
The process requires organization and attention to individual needs. Volunteers pack the bags and label some of them with the names and special requirements of family members receiving assistance.
“We send out about 235 bags of groceries every week,” Lee said.
Most of those bags are delivered directly to homes throughout the community, allowing the pantry to reach residents who may have difficulty traveling to the church.
Publix Donation Brings Extra Support
The pantry recently received additional help through Local 10’s annual Food for Thought program.
As part of the effort, Publix donated volunteer hours and hundreds of pounds of food, providing the organization with additional resources to continue serving local families.
“Being part of Food for Thought program is so important to us at Publix, because we get a chance to bring a light to organizations that mean so much to these communities, and Coconut Grove Crisis Food Pantry is a great example of that,” said Publix Media Relations Manager Lindsey Willis.
The contribution comes as the pantry continues to rely heavily on community support.
Pantry Also Focuses on Sustainability
The organization’s work extends beyond providing food.
The nonprofit has also taken steps to reduce waste by composting more than three tons of organic material.
That effort allows food-related organic waste to be diverted from landfills while supporting the pantry’s broader commitment to serving the community responsibly. But keeping the pantry operating requires continued financial support.
The Coconut Grove Crisis Food Pantry relies on private donations to keep its doors open and maintain its weekly food distribution.
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A Mission That Continues
More than four decades after parishioners first created the pantry, volunteers are still showing up every week to serve their neighbors.
The work may happen quietly inside a church, but the numbers demonstrate its reach: hundreds of grocery bags distributed each month, thousands delivered over the years and dozens of volunteers continuing a tradition that began in 1984.
And as long as residents in the 33133 ZIP code continue to need assistance, the pantry plans to remain there.
Have you ever volunteered at a local food pantry or community organization? Share your experience in the comments and tell us how organizations in your community are helping neighbors in need.
