Feed the Block Day brings warm meals, family activities to Duval

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) -A community event aimed at unity and service is set to bring warm meals and family-friendly activities to Duval.

The event, called Feed the Block Day, is led by the Women in Ministry Network, a group formed in 2018 made up of women pastors and church leaders from several local congregations. Organizers say the goal is to provide a welcoming space focused on fellowship, encouragement and meeting community needs.

Attendees can expect food, games, music and family activities, including a bounce house for kids, along with opportunities for prayer and encouragement.

“When they show up, we just want them to show up like they’re coming to a family reunion,” said Lashon Young, senior pastor of Fresh Start Ministries and president of the Women in Ministry Network. “We’ll have the food set up…and there’ll be music…[and] bounce house for the children…we want to have prayer with them…Words of encouragement, no big program or anything—just really people coming together.”

Another organizer, Marie Herring, senior pastor at Dayspring Missionary Church, said the summer months can be especially difficult for families who rely on school meals.

“Since this is the summertime…many of our neighborhoods have a food desert because they’re not in school,” Herring said. “So this would be a good thing for them to come together…the community to come together. And then we would serve them a dinner and get to talk with them, fellowship with them, pray.”

Organizers said the NAACP will also be on site with a tent offering voter registration for those who want to sign up.

The meal will include hot food options such as chicken and baked beans, according to event leaders.

Feed the Block Day begins at 4 p.m. at the Duval Early Learning Academy.

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