Service clubs from Pine View School will distribute more than 40,000 pounds of fresh produce and other food to low-income families in Sarasota. Fresh produce often goes to waste as grocery stores leave up to 50 percent of it behind, even though it is perfectly edible. Farm Share, a Florida-based non-profit, takes this fresh produce and transports the food to organizations to give to low-income families throughout Florida. The Farm Share project in Sarasota is led by Pine View’s PeaceJam club and is supported by several other Pine View based service organizations, in collaboration with Gocio Elementary. PeaceJam is a service-learning, peace action-driven organization, which unites youth and Nobel Peace Laureates to create systematic, positive change. The organizations that will staff the event include Serteen, Key Club, Builders Club, Interact, Diversity Council, and NHS/NJHS, all of which are clubs based at Pine View, a public school in Osprey, serves intellectually gifted students in grades 2-12. While PeaceJam's partnership with Farm Share is a long-term relationship, the project aligns with Pine View's School history of service projects, such as #FeedingOurFuture—an effort to provide food security and literacy rich-home environments for Sarasota families in need.

“Imagine a semi-trailer filled with thousands of pounds of fresh produce. This is what Farm Share sends to us that we then have the privilege to distribute in our local community,” said Luis Guevara-Flores, Pine View PeaceJam Ambassador and one of the two project managers for Farm Share. “The distribution at Gocio Elementary was scheduled with the idea of providing food assistance to support families just coming off of spring break,” he said. In addition to promoting fresh locally grown foods, we arrange each food groups into original and easy recipes that are made directly for each family’s diverse needs,” said Odelia Tiutyama, PeaceJam Ambassador and co-manager of Farm Share. “Over the past 9 years, Pine View Peace Jam has coordinated 35 pounds of healthy and local food to more than 1,000 Sarasota-Bradenton families that are in need at each of our events. It is truly incredible to evidently know that we have made a real impact in our community."

The event will be held from 9 am to 12 pm, Saturday, March 14, at Gocio Elementary School, 3450 Gocio Rd Extension, Sarasota.