Miami MAY 7, 2021 – As part of Ford’s commitment to strengthen local communities, the company is joining forces with Health in the Hood and World Central Kitchen to deliver 5,000 fresh, healthy, pre-prepared meals to families in Miami-Dade County. The mobilized #delivery service will run for eight weeks and complement Health in the Hood’s existing distribution program, with #Ford delivering meals via #Ford Transit Connect vans to over 60 families weekly who are living in #food deserts.
“Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen an increase in #food insecurity in #miami due to job loss,” said Asha Walker, Founder and CEO, #healthinthehood. “By teaming up with #corporate community partners like #Ford, we are able to mobilize our #food pantry and provide additional access to families who might have otherwise not have been able to receive the meals.”
Administered by #Ford Fund – the automaker’s philanthropic arm – #Ford is contributing $25,000 to kick off the effort led by #healthinthehood, a nonprofit whose mission is to fight #food insecurity. #worldcentralkitchen, a nonprofit organization that uses the power of #food to nourish communities and strengthen economies in times of crisis and beyond, is providing the pre-prepared, fresh meals in addition to their ongoing #miami efforts. Ford’s mobility team is also providing support via its Transportation-as-a-Service (TaaS) software platform to help manage the #delivery vehicles and notify recipients when their #food is on the way.
The #Ford Volunteer Corps will set the stage for meal #delivery with a day of service at #healthinthehood. As part of the day of service, local employees across Ford’s mobility business and Ford’s micromobility unit Spin, will help harvest and plant vegetables at its urban gardens. Spin is operating a fleet of dockless scooters in the City of #miami and City of Coral Gables and #Ford, in #partnership with Argo AI, is currently building an autonomous vehicle service in #miami Dade.
“This program builds on #Ford and #Ford Fund’s long-term commitment to the #miami community,” said Joe Avila, manager, U.S. & Latin America, #Ford Motor Company Fund. “Using our collective resources and expertise, we are able to provide a much-needed service for local families, who now have access to quality meals provided by #healthinthehood and #worldcentralkitchen.”
Ford Fund and local #Ford dealers have invested more than $8 million in Miami-Dade County and the #miami area to boost education, provide disaster relief and advance social entrepreneurship. More recently, 1 million masks were donated to local nonprofits, first responders and the public as part of #Ford and #Ford Fund’s effort to donate 120 million masks to communities across the U.S.
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