The Door To Store program that delivers free rides from some Northwest Jacksonville neighborhoods to grocery stores is ready for expansion into the New Town neighborhood, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority said Thursday. We just need to flip the switch, Jessica Shepler, assistant vice president at JTA, told Jacksonville City Council members.
City Council voted unanimously Tuesday for using $50,000 to continue the Door to Store service as a pilot program for a second year.
But expanding the Door to Store service boundaries still might need another round of approval by City Council. Council member Ron Salem, who convened the meeting Thursday, was joined by Sam Newby and Ju Coby Pittman in voicing support for such legislation if needed.
He later had another outreach idea. Marcus woke up one morning and said, We need a grocery store, said Stephanie Burke, the nonprofit s executive director. It was that simple.
So on Feb. 6 a nonprofit grocery called Making Ends Meat opened on Moncrief Road with a wide variety of fresh meat, produce and other items. It was an oasis in a food desert, which is a community with limited access to affordable, healthful food.
The food comes from donations from the Feeding Northeast Florida food bank and purchases made by the alliance, which hired 10 people who live in the area to work there. Also supporting the store are area residents who pay $10 a year for shopping privileges. People who are registered in the alliance s other programs shop for free.