Goodwill team members open The Corner at Deb’s Store in Jacksonville, a first of its kind Goodwill food market in Florida. Goodwill Industries in Florida includes nine multi-county regions with nine independent, nonprofit operations. ‘We can adapt to each community’s needs that way,’ said Donn Gethin, chair of the Florida Goodwill Association. A model of such adaptation is the new food and services market in Jacksonville, a first of its kind effort. David Rey, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of North Florida, shares the story with Florida Weekly readers here. ‘In North Florida, we have opened a local grocery store in a food desert. In Sept. 2024, (we) expanded Goodwill’s traditional focus on employment, training and education to address one of the major challenges facing some Jacksonville residents: a lack of access to healthy, nutritious foods. The Corner at Debs Store, on the corner of Florida Avenue and 5th Street, brings fresh produce and groceries to Jacksonville’s Historic Eastside residents and surrounding neighborhoods, filling a void created by the 2011 closing of the original Debs Store.’ With a number of community partners and donors, he said, ‘they seek to create a vibrant community space where residents can build healthier, more prosperous lives. The place is more than food, however. In addition, The Corner at Debs Store is also working to close the wealth gap by providing career and financial wellness services on the grocery store’s second floor. The top floor contains a free, full-service career center that allows anyone looking for work to access resources and learn skills for conducting an independent job search. Also upstairs is a VyStar Credit Union ‘Financial Fitness’ Center, where VyStar specialists are available to assist members with accessing online services, opening accounts, and providing financial counseling. There’s also a community space with flexible seating, a projector, and a screen available for reservation — at no cost.’ Which raises a question, Rey suggested. ‘Why is this initiative so important?’ There’s an answer, one that other organizations might embrace someday, too, he said. ‘Because access to healthy, fresh food is not a luxury; it’s a necessity.’

Goodwill’s Jacksonville grocery store sets a new standard for community support

Goodwill Industries of North Florida opened 'The Corner at Deb’s Store' in Jacksonville, Florida, in September 2024, addressing the challenge of food insecurity and lack of access to healthy, nutritious foods in the area. This initiative also includes financial wellness services and a career center, aiming to close the wealth gap and provide resources for job seekers.