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Natural Resources Board discusses mobile pantry, market bus with Treasure Coast Food Bank
Summary
Board members met with Treasure Coast Food Bank leadership and discussed short-term mobile distribution, a pilot locker program, potential monthly or quarterly schedule and site options in Sebastian, plus a new market bus operating twice monthly.
At its Nov. 4 meeting the Natural Resources Board reviewed food-security options after staff and board members met with Treasure Coast Food Bank chief strategy officer Krista Garfola.
Dan, a board member, said the food bank described multiple models: a mobile distribution unit that sets up pallets for drive-through distribution, a locker-based pilot in which households order online and collect food from a staffed locker, and a market bus that brings produce and refrigerated items.
"We met with, Treasure Coast Food Bank. October, we met, Krista Garfola. She's the chief strategy officer for the Treasure Coast Food Bank," Dan said, summarizing the meeting and noting Garfola is a Sebastian resident. Board members discussed possible short-term locations for a mobile distribution stop — the high school parking lot, a city parking lot near the civic center and, for logistical reasons, the group settled on a centrally located site that would allow traffic flow and volunteer staging.
The board discussed staffing and logistics. Garfola and staff told the board the locker model is being piloted elsewhere but would require ongoing staffing and may therefore be a longer-term option. Dan said Treasure Coast Food Bank will provide GIS data to help pinpoint areas of greatest need in the Sebastian city limits, and the board will continue to pursue school contacts and community partners for volunteer support.
Board members also reported the Treasure Coast market bus has begun visiting Sebastian on the second and fourth Thursday of the month, carrying produce and refrigerated items for purchase. The board said it will pursue workshops and SNAP/EBT outreach coordinated with recreation staff and will invite the food bank to present to the board with more detail.
What’s next: staff and board members will await GIS data from Treasure Coast Food Bank and continue discussions about a January pilot mobile distribution; logistics, volunteer staffing and site selection remain outstanding.
