News & Tips

Space Coast Credit Union (SCCU) proudly announced Hummingbird Pantry as the winner of its Small Business. Big Love. contest and the recipient of the $5,000 grand prize. Hummingbird Pantry, a non-profit organization and SCCU member since 2017, secured the top spot with over 11% of the total votes.

To celebrate the achievement, SCCU presented the check at Hummingbird Pantry’s distribution center on Friday, August 13, 2020. Following the presentation, volunteers got to work, packing thousands of pounds of fresh produce to support families in need.

“SCCU has supported us since day one, and we’re honored to have had this opportunity,” stated Gina Stanford, founder of Hummingbird Pantry. “We’re here to serve the entire Brevard County area with nutritional food, and this prize will help us cover the overhead and equipment maintenance costs to continue meeting the increase in demand.”

While 80% of the food is donated through various programs, the pantry still faces a 20% funding gap to fully operate. “This prize money will help us bridge that gap and keep us going strong,” Gina added.

 

Gina’s passion project began in 2012 when she was volunteering at Riverview-VPK. She was heartbroken to see children return to school after Thanksgiving break starving because they relied on school meals and had little to eat during the holiday. Determined to make a difference, Gina, with the help of friends, began serving 45 families that year.

Nine years later, thanks to countless volunteers and generous donations, Hummingbird Pantry has grown into a lifeline for the community, serving up to 6,000 families and distributing 180,000 pounds of food every week.

SCCU launched the Small Business. Big Love. contest in May 2020 to celebrate Small Business Month. The contest invited businesses with fewer than 50 employees to participate, regardless of credit union membership, and provided marketing materials to help them spread the word and encourage their customers and supporters to vote. Out of 596 participating businesses, Hummingbird Pantry received the highest number of votes—310 out of the 2,656 total.

“The contest was a great way for small businesses to expand their reach, but we loved that a non-profit won, especially one that does so much good for the community,” said Ernest Chevrette, SCCU’s Business Services Advisor for Hummingbird Pantry. The Business Services team at SCCU provides expert advice and consultations as a free service to their business members and anyone looking to start a small business.

As the community’s need for food continued to grow, so did Hummingbird Pantry’s need for a new site. The pantry moved its distribution site in 2018 to the kitchen and community rooms of the former Riverview Elementary School. The non-profit has outgrown the 7,300 square foot facility and has been raising funds for a new building to accommodate more food and parking.

Hummingbird Pantry is a vital resource in the community, serving as the largest food pantry in North Brevard County and the second largest in Central Florida. It’s also the only emergency food distribution site in North Brevard, offering critical support during weather emergencies, government shutdowns, and pandemics.

If you or someone you know needs food, or if you’re interested in volunteering, visit the Hummingbird Pantry Distribution Time Facebook for updates. The pantry also encourages the community to pick up extra bags for neighbors in need. Every contribution, big or small, helps Hummingbird Pantry continue its mission of feeding those in need.