Our Mission
“To provide a hand up for those in need, helping them to break free from poverty by offering hunger relief, crisis care, transformative education, and employment training opportunities.”
Our Vision, is to see…
Every need met
Every spirit lifted
Every stomach filled
Every broken heart comforted
Every child’s dream realized
Our History
Harvest Food & Outreach Center was founded in 2003 by Austin and Ginny Hunt. Ginny and Austin grew up on the Treasure Coast and both experienced the realities of growing up in homes that struggled financially. It was this journey of faith through life’s challenges that gave them the passion to help those in need with basic necessities by lending an outstretched hand during times of crisis, as well as compassionate navigation towards a bright future of hope and stability. Austin, Ginny and the Harvest Food & Outreach team implemented an innovative food assistance program to financially assist the working poor on the Treasure Coast.
Since 2003, thousands of families have received help at the campus located in South Vero Beach. Each family has gotten emergency food in times of crisis or has taken part in our long term food subsidy program which gives them access to high quality foods available on a regular basis at a fraction of the regular price. The benefactors of this program invest their ‘sweat equity’ into reducing the burden of their monthly budget. The contribution our members make towards their groceries affords them their dignity at the same time maintaining the integrity of the program.
In 2006 Harvest Food & Outreach opened an additional 18,000 square foot facility in St. Lucie County which is currently serving over 500 families per day.
This campus had the facilities needed to further develop the organization’s programs aimed at helping those facing homelessness stay off the streets, those needing crisis intervention get with their basic needs met and get back on their feet, help children and families who are uninsured and get families the skills and information they need to find employment opportunities, and most importantly give people hope to break free from the crisis of poverty. This campus now houses the St. Lucie County Department of Children and Families as well as offering a unique one-stop program for families in need.
October 2009 brought new challenges for Harvest Food & Outreach Center. With the economic downturn and more children and families in crisis, Phase I of a new site in North Vero Beach was opened, housing the Access Florida Program and a new Crisis Compassion Center staffed with case workers who assist families with emergency food boxes and crisis counseling and intervention. Phase II, which includes the Hunger Relief Program opened in January 2011.
In May of 2011, Harvest Food and Outreach Center partnered with Workforce Solutions, Inc. to offer the “Passport to Prosperity” Program, which combines Life Skills Education with On-the-Job Training for families receiving Public Assistance Benefits.
