North Miami Launches Website to Garner Support for the NoMi Food Pantry and Its COVID-19 Relief Efforts
July 10, 2020
In response to increased demand due to COVID-19, The NoMi Food Pantry, formally known as The NoMi Food Market, launched a new website to receive public support for emergency food assistance provided at the facility. The site, www.NoMiCares.org provides resources to members of the public needing assistance from the pantry, along with individuals interested in donating money, groceries and volunteer hours.
Located at the City of North Miami’s Sunkist Grove Community Center, The NoMi Food Pantry provides nutritional food options to thousands of North Miami households each month to address local food insecurity. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pantry experienced a spike in demand of more than one hundred percent. Public requests for pantry food services continue to increase weekly. With social distancing in mind, bi-weekly curbside food pick-up and home delivery services are offered in lieu of public entry to the facility.
"Our main goal is to help build up our food inventory for our residents,” said Dr. Alix Desulme, the City of North Miami’s Vice Mayor and NoMi Food Pantry visionary. “This is especially beneficial to our seniors, who we still urge to stay at home. We are very sensitive to their need for healthy food during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other vulnerable populations in our community.”
Administrative adjustments at the NoMi Food Pantry in response to COVID-19 include the introduction of www.NoMiCares.org, a one-stop-shop for city of North Miami food assistance resources; adding additional pantry operations staff; and establishment of three non-perishable food drop-off sites citywide, including: North Miami City Hall, the NoMi Customer Service Center and Sunkist Grove Community Center.
In October 2019, the City of North Miami partnered with Feeding South Florida and the Florida Blue Foundation to launch the NoMi Food Market, which was the first municipality sponsored food pantry in the state of Florida. Relaunched as The NoMi Food Pantry, the new website details North Miami’s additional food assistance options created in response to COVID-19.
“Since opening The NoMi Food Market last October, with support from our partnering organizations, a great job has been done to fight food insecurity in our community,” said Philippe Bien-Aime, North Miami’s Mayor. “This March, the unfortunate effects of COVID-19 created a greater need to further our response to local food insecurity. The new NoMi Food Pantry website is being launched with perfect timing to help make the need for donations and volunteer support known to the community. We want to help as many people as possible.”
“The launch of this website is fantastic,” said North Miami Councilman Scott Galvin. “Residents who are in need can now easily find information about the pantry without needing to leave their homes. It strengthens North Miami’s commitment to social distancing, but still allows us to provide help.”
Carol Keys, Esq., the City of North Miami’s District 2 Councilwoman stated, "I am very grateful that the city of North Miami has the NoMi Food Pantry to be able to assist so many families in our community. This initiative is a great step forward in our outreach and is helping to ensure no one goes hungry, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic."
“As a public servant, it is always projects like this that bring excitement,” said Mary Estime-Irvin, North Miami’s District 3 Councilwoman. “The launch of The NoMi Food Pantry website will not only make it more possible to have more community involvement, but to also help us serve more people within our community. This is what makes our City so great.”
The NoMi Food Pantry primarily serves North Miami residents; but all households in need may sign-up for pantry assistance at any time. Applications to apply for food assistance through the NoMi Food Pantry, along with donation and volunteer resources are available at www.NoMiCares.org.