The Rotary Clubs of Gainesville Foundation (RCGF) is investing in expanded cold storage capacity at the Gainesville Community Ministry food pantry to help increase access to nutritious food for families experiencing food insecurity throughout Alachua County.
The project is being funded through a matching grant from Rotary District 6970, combined with proceeds from the Butler Town Center International Car Show and the Gainesville Harley-Davidson Chili Cook-Off, according to an RCGF release.
The improvements will transform the food pantry’s existing cold storage space, allowing Gainesville Community Ministry to store and distribute more perishable foods to people in need.
“We are grateful to Butler Enterprises and Gainesville Harley-Davidson for choosing the Rotary Clubs of Gainesville Foundation as their charity of choice to receive the proceeds of their events in the past couple of years,” said Lynda Reinhart, 2027 president of the Rotary Clubs of Gainesville Foundation, in the release. “We wanted to make a bigger impact with these funds and decided to apply for a Rotary International District Grant to further stretch those donations — double them, in fact. This funding will help the Gainesville Community Ministry Food Pantry address a critical community need in Alachua County.”
The project was originally presented to the Foundation’s Board of Directors through the application process for the 2025 Wild Game Feast. Although the project was not among the three projects selected for funding that year, board members recognized its potential community impact and continued to support its goals.
Rotary International provides District Designated Funds that local Rotary districts may use for matching grants. By combining proceeds from community fundraising events with a district grant, the Rotary Clubs of Gainesville Foundation significantly increased the funding available for the cold storage project.
Gainesville Community Ministry provides emergency assistance to elderly, disabled and low-income individuals and families throughout Gainesville and Alachua County. Food distribution is one of the organization’s largest services.
In 2025, GCM distributed nearly 10,000 pounds of food and served 4,872 families representing 6,455 individuals. GCM also serves as a U.S. Department of Agriculture food distribution site, receiving, repackaging and distributing food throughout the community.
“Expanding and improving our cold storage capacity will allow us to serve more families and provide much-needed support throughout Alachua County,” said Michael Wright, executive director of Gainesville Community Ministry, in the release. “This investment will help us meet growing community needs while increasing access to nutritious food.”
The cold storage project reflects the RCGF’s ongoing commitment to supporting organizations and initiatives that address critical needs in the local community.
By leveraging local fundraising efforts with Rotary grant funding, the foundation and its partners are helping strengthen the capacity of Gainesville Community Ministry to provide nutritious food to individuals and families throughout Alachua County.