LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Food assistance programs serving South Lake County will receive more than $1.5 million in grants to purchase groceries, improve transportation and expand services.
The Live Well Foundation of South Lake announced eight awards Monday, including a three-year, $1,149,000 grant to Second Harvest Food Bank.
That grant will pay entirely for food purchases benefiting a network of more than 20 South Lake County community partners, according to the foundation.
Food purchases and expanded services
The Second Harvest initiative, Together for South Lake: Feeding Neighbors Facing Hunger, is intended to help participating organizations save on groceries and redirect resources toward strengthening their services.
The initiative also requires a plan to sustain services after the grant period ends.
“These grants address the practical needs behind food access, from purchasing groceries to maintaining reliable transportation and kitchen equipment,” foundation Vice Chair Linda Smith said.
Where the remaining grants will go
Seven organizations will share another $365,900:
- The Neighborhood Center of South Lake: $100,000 for a 26-foot refrigerated truck and building climate-control repairs through its Family Stability Program.
- Love Groveland: $75,000 for a refrigerated food recovery truck, supporting a goal of increasing access to fresh, nutritious food by 30% within a year.
- South Lake Cares: $60,900 for expanded food assistance, including summer feeding and a planned Lake-Sumter State College pantry. Goals include approximately 64,000 meals and a pantry serving about 600 students.
- Libby’s Legacy Breast Cancer Foundation: $35,000 to develop a food forest at its Water Well Way location with Waterwell Farms.
- Living Hope Church of Clermont: $35,000 for an electric steamer supporting meals for seniors, adults with developmental disabilities and children.
- Hands of Hope America: $30,000 for continued services to South Lake County residents in Four Corners.
- Word Keepers of Clermont FL: $30,000 for continued Well of Hope services in Four Corners.
Six of those organizations will also benefit from the separate Second Harvest initiative, the foundation said.
The Live Well Foundation of South Lake was established in 2019 to support health and wellness initiatives throughout South Lake County.
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