Our Village Okeechobee is continually expanding—in more ways than one. The nonprofit organization, which offers community members "a hand up, not a handout," has relocated the food pantry to a different building, is adding new programs, and is teaching kids how to grow food.
Executive Director Leah Suarez stated that the organization has received grants from Gilbert Chevrolet, General Motors Corp., Okeechobee Soil & Water Conservation District, Refuse to Sink, and Regions Bank. These grants will enable them to establish a Red Cross disaster assistance center and offer services through Mission United, a program designed to help veterans and their families.
To accommodate the new programs, Our Village has moved the food pantry into the old Joni's Exchange Building at 206 North Parrott Avenue. In addition to the food pantry, the building houses the hydroponics garden and emergency hurricane supplies.
Leah explained that the hydroponics garden serves multiple purposes. They will grow lettuce and herbs to be served at events such as fundraising dinners. Some fresh produce from the garden will be distributed through the pantry, and they will grow and give away seedlings for others to cultivate at home.
Read more at Lake Okeechobee News