Escambia County residents recovering from recent storm damage have a new opportunity to receive free food and essential supplies on Wednesday, Oct. 14. A coalition of local charities and churches has set up a series of distribution sites throughout the county, each operating on a first‑come, first‑served basis while supplies last.

Distribution schedule and locations

The Salvation Army will serve boxed lunches around noon and hot dinners at approximately 5:30 p.m. at its Pensacola location (1501 North Q St.). In Cantonment, the Carver Park Resource Center (208 Webb St.) will host a midday distribution, while the Century Community Shelter (720 Hecker Road) in Century will also provide meals.

Pensacola residents can visit several venues:

• Brownsville Church, 3100 W. De Soto St., offering both lunch (11 a.m.–1 p.m.) and dinner (4 p.m.–6 p.m.)
• Olive Baptist Church (Warrington Campus), 103 W. Winthrop Ave.
• Central Church of Pensacola, 405 Beverly Parkway, serving lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Transformation Church, 6800 Mobile Highway, offering dinner from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Rise City Church, 1580 W. Cervantes St., Suite B, providing lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Charity Chapel, 5820 Montgomery Ave., running a drive‑through distribution from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with bottled water, food boxes (limited to one per family), protein shakes and cleaning supplies.

Operation Blessing will also be on site around noon, and Mercy Chefs will prepare hot meals throughout the day.

How the distribution works

All items are available on a first‑come, first‑served basis while supplies last. Organizers have warned that schedule times may shift due to road conditions or other unforeseen circumstances, so volunteers encourage families to arrive early and stay flexible.

Families in need are asked to bring a form of identification and, if possible, a proof of residence within Escambia County. Each household may receive one food box and a limited amount of supplies to ensure the greatest number of residents can be served.

Community response

Local leaders have praised the coordinated effort, noting that the combined resources of churches, charities and volunteer groups demonstrate the strength of the county’s faith‑based and community networks. “When disaster strikes, our neighbors step up,” said a spokesperson for the Salvation Army. “These distribution sites are a lifeline for families trying to rebuild their lives.”

Residents are encouraged to share the information with friends and neighbors who may need assistance. Additional distribution sites may be added later in the week if demand exceeds current supplies.

Additional resources

For updates on road conditions, shelter availability and other recovery services, Escambia County residents can call the county’s disaster hotline at 1‑800‑555‑HELP or visit the official county website.

Original reporting: FOX10 WALA Mobile (news) — read the source article.