This project will provide much-needed disaster relief aid to the Ft. Myers, FL area in the form of fresh healthy meals including fresh leafy greens from our aquaponics farm in Southeast, FL. We are partnering with area soup kitchens and other community groups to help distribute salads and other greens based meals. Post-storm, many individuals are forced to eat unhealthy canned goods and for many especially with health issues this can be very damaging.
Southwest Florida is in need of disaster relief following the devastation of Hurricane Ian, one of the strongest storms to hit Florida. The storm has destroyed and damaged homes, caused injuries, and created a state of emergency in the area. Many families are being supporting through community organizations like soup kitchens and most are eating highly salted food items like canned goods that are damaging to their health.
We will be harvesting the leafy greens growing in our Aquaponics Farm in Boca Raton, FL while also seeking donations of fresh greens. We will be packaging and distributing meals such as high-protein salads through our community partners in the Ft. Myers area. Funds donated will be used to purchase other necessary healthy foods for the meals. We will rely on the local network of volunteers of our partners to disburse the meals and provide further aid in the area.
This project has the potential to assist those impacted by Hurricane Ian with a fresh, nutritious meal not often provided during disaster relief efforts. Our produce is sustainably grown and pesticide free. This project has the potential to scale to more than just a one-time food drive. We hope to build another aquaponics center in the Southwest Florida area to continue providing fresh meals to local soup kitchens to fight food insecurity and provide additional STEM education opportunities.
