Volunteers are needed to help with this year’s Strike Out Hunger Food Giveaway sponsored by the Long Foundation and its partners.

The drive-thru giveaway, with no walk-ups allowed, will be held at 9 a.m. Nov. 16 at the Oaks Mall at 6419 Newberry Road.

“What we try to do for the holidays is provide food for families who are food insecure,” said Rodney Long, founder of The Long Foundation. “This is one of the largest food giveaways in North Central Florida. People call all the time about food and people are still struggling with food. We hope families can come.”

The annual giveaway will be sponsored by a collaboration between the Long Foundation, Farmshare USA, Alachua County Christian Pastors Association (ACCPA), Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Florida Inc., City of Gainesville, Prayers by Faith Ministries and Upper Room Ministries.

Thousands of pounds of food will be distributed to families on a first come, first served basis, Long said.

Volunteers are needed for the event and can sign up by following the steps at https://bit.ly/3QJmc1W.

Volunteers must arrive at 5 a.m. at the Oaks Mall parking lot.

Increasing awareness about food insecurity has been a mission of Long’s since 2008, when he created the Strike Out Hunger program that started out as an event focused on collecting food to fill the shelves of local food banks and pantries, Long said.

“It’s important for people to give back,” Long said. “It is beneficial because families are in need every single day. This can carry them through the holiday season. I’m thankful for everyone who partnered with the foundation to make it work.”

Karl Anderson, pastor of Upper Room Ministries and founding president of ACCPA, said the food giveaway model at the Oaks Mall has been so successful that other cities have adopted its example.

“It has been so successful that their (Oaks Mall) parent companies made it a paradigm to partner with local agencies to do food giveaways in their cities,” Anderson said.

He said this month’s food giveaway will again help families to prepare meals for the holiday season.

“It’s a blessing to be a partner and to operate something this massive,” Anderson said. “We will be giving away food that will bring them through November and part of December. Families come over and people are preparing big meals and people are out of school and wok for the holiday season. People need more food during the holiday season.”

Anderson said volunteers are needed to help make the distribution process go smoothly.

“It takes a lot of hands to make it light work,” Anderson said. “Our goal is to get many people out there.”

Holiday giveaway:$30 grocery cards are part of this year’s Strike Out Hunger Thanksgiving basket giveaway

The need for food is still great in the area, Anderson said, adding that from 9-11 a.m. on Tuesdays a line of cars is wrapped around the church to get free food at Upper Room at 3575 NE 15^th St.

“I’m proud evangelist Long continues to do the work and we’re able to achieve God’s purpose and that’s meeting the needs of the people,” Anderson said. “It’s imperative that we’re there for one another and that’s the essence of community.”

 For more information, call 352-371-4566.