Reach St.Pete launches “Pop Up Pantry” to bring free groceries to food deserts and low-income areas in Pinellas County.

St.Petersburg, FL, Reach St.Pete hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to announce the launch of the “Pop Up Pantry” a decommissioned PSTA bus, transformed into a mobile grocery store. This initiative started from the Leadership PSTA Class of 2021 as they gifted a decommissioned bus to Reach St.Pete. Reach St.Pete has since carried out the logistics and construction to launch the program starting February 24th, 2022 directly following the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Pop Up Pantry will serve 5 locations throughout Pinellas County with fresh food at no cost. The mission is to bridge the gap between people and the food they need. This initiative was intended to be a grocery store on wheels committed to restoring access to food in food desserts, low-income areas, and anyone facing a financial difficulty who could use the food assistance.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony the announcement of the corporate sponsors were made including a check presentation from The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation, in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of Florida (“Molina”) for $30,000.

This initiative couldn’t have been made possible without the PSTA, Leadership PSTA Class of 2021, The Pop Up Pantry Committee, Molina Cares, Corporate sponsors, Reach St.Pete Board, volunteers, and staff.

“My hope for this initiative is that anyone who ever comes across a financial difficulty to where they have to question if they can afford to eat, that we meet their needs in an innovative and dignifying manner. There should be no shame in asking for help and we hope The Pop Up Pantry makes it easier to do so.” – Reach St.Pete President, Alexia Morrison

“At PSTA we continuously go above and beyond making a difference in our community. As a transportation agency, we pride ourselves by getting to know our riders and take them where they need to be,” said Brad Miller, Chief Executive Officer of PSTA. “We often hear and see their struggles firsthand and now with this great partnership with Reach St. Pete, this Pop-Up Pantry will be able to bring them a bus load of supplies that they may need.”

“Time, distance and transportation are all barriers to accessing nutritious food, particularly in areas known as food deserts,” said Mike Jones, plan president of Molina Healthcare of Florida. “We are proud to support this effort because it will directly help connect more Floridians to healthier outcomes.”