The Picnic Project

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The Picnic Project

The Picnic Project is a standing invitation to big tables, open arms, hope and abundance.

Picnic Project believes in big tables and open arms, and we have been sharing food and hope with struggling neighbors in Sanford for over 14 years. The dignified outreach has steadily grown and earned the trust of the community and forged valuable partnerships. Today, programs include a weekly food share and resource hub, emergency food pantry, mobile pantry dates, food rescue, and community healt

h initiatives. Picnic Project positively impacts hundreds of people each week and last year we distributed over 50,000 pounds of fresh produce. Check out this episode of The New Activist podcast to learn more about us: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-new-activist/id1144659009?i=1000390104595

Also, here's one of us on the Lunch with Biggie podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lunchwithbiggie/episodes/Picnic-Project--Mark-Thompson-and-Ryan-Bozeman-started-a-nonprofit-because-of-the-simple-belief-that-there-is-enough-for-everyone-if-we-all-share--because-no-one-has-to-be-hungry-or-lonely-e2i5brp/a-ab5a3dm

NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT:https://www.picnicproject.org/_files/ugd/87c918_a07592c52a244234b10416bd0b671933.pdf

06/03/2026

With a little help from our friends, we were able to share butter with hundreds of households this past week!! After picking up a pallet of butter, we needed some help with refrigerator space (did you see all those eggs?) and the fine folks at Rescue Outreach Mission stepped up. Not only did they lend us freezer space for the night, they helped us load AND unload it! Cheers to them and our partner Second Harvest Food Bank!

06/01/2026

We were thrilled to be able to share eggs with our neighbors the last couple of weeks. Not just any eggs either - local, cage-free eggs!! Thank you to our partners Second Harvest Food Bank and all the volunteers who packed the cartons!

05/01/2026

For those of you who don't know him, know this - Eddie Willis is the embodiment of good-heartedness and determination. For eight years, he has worked for Aspire, and three of those with their Sanford Hope Team. He has been on the front lines working to find housing for our friends experiencing homelessness.

In his time with the Hope Team, Eddie has been able to place about 30 individuals and families into housing! That is no easy task either - working through the maze of providers, red tape, and numerous obstacles. Some of those cases he worked on for over a year! His dedication is unparalleled, and many have benefited.

Unfortunately for us here at Picnic Project, he is starting a new job with Seminole County soon, so he will not be a fixture at our weekly food shares any longer.

His new position is with the Shelter Plus Care Team, where he will be providing continuing care and case management for folks that have received housing placement. Like everything he has been doing for years, it is vital work for our neighbors. Read more at: https://www.picnicproject.org/post/we-ll-miss-you-eddie

04/11/2026

Just a reminder: our next Eat Well, Live Well lunch & learn is this coming Monday at 11 a.m.! We'll learn about an easy, healthy way to meal prep some chicken, share lunch and have complimentary produce.

More info and RSVP here: https://www.picnicproject.org/events-1/eat-well-live-well-lunch-series-2026-04-13-11-00

03/06/2026

This Monday is the next installment of our Eat Well, Live Well series! Dr. Cramer will be teaching us about Osteoporosis, we'll learn about food & recipes that promote bone health AND the 4Roots Mobile Market will be set up on-site immediately following!

More info on the lunch & learn here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1HwM1ShMk4/

The market will open from 1-2 p.m. They are the only provider in Seminole County that accepts Fresh Access Bucks - which means DOUBLE your purchasing power when using SNAP!

When you shop with your SNAP/EBT card, FAB matches your fruit and vegetable purchases. For every $1 you spend on SNAP-eligible foods, you earn $1 in Fresh Access Bucks to purchase fresh, Florida-grown fruits and vegetables. No sign up required!
The mobile market has fresh, local, competitively-priced produce available to purchase. If you have SNAP, it is effectively half-price! They also accept cash, debit and credit.

They will be at Picnic Project at the The Neighborhood Co-Op, 419 S. Park Ave.

02/19/2026

We provided another load of backpacks to our friends at John E. Polk Correctional Facility. We partner with them to ensure that folks being released who are unhoused don't leave completely empty-handed. Inside the new backpacks are supplies like hygiene products, snacks, hats and socks and more.

Once again our friends at Sanford Lake Mary Kiwanis provided the packs and most of the items, and packed them for us! We are so thankful for their support, and are positive they will be well received!

We believe everyone deserves hospitality and that each of is better than the worst thing we've ever done (h/t Bryan Stevenson)!

Seminole County Sheriff's Office

02/18/2026

We had such a good time at our Valentine's edition of our School Market Day! And it was even better thanks to the help from our friends from Phi Beta Sigma and their Sigma Beta Club. Seminole County Sigmas started the club to mentor young men and teach them values like service and community involvement. They practiced by cheerfully helping carry groceries, stocking tables and cleaning up at the end!

We were able to assist about 70 households thanks to their help, our volunteers, and also Unity Youth Association , Kerry S. Wiggins Sr., City of Sanford - Commissioner, True Health. We were also able to feature some fresh produce donated by Lettuce Bee Your Greenhouse and 4Roots! Thank you all!!

02/03/2026

Exciting news! This coming Monday, Feb. 9, will be the debut of the 4Roots Mobile Farmers Market at Picnic Project!

They are the only provider in Seminole County that accepts Fresh Access Bucks - which means DOUBLE your purchasing power when using SNAP!

When you shop with your SNAP/EBT card, FAB matches your fruit and vegetable purchases. For every $1 you spend on SNAP-eligible foods, you earn $1 in Fresh Access Bucks to purchase fresh, Florida-grown fruits and vegetables. No sign up required!

The mobile market has fresh, local, competitively-priced produce available to purchase. If you have SNAP, it is effectively half-price! They also accept cash, debit and credit.

They will be at Picnic Project at the The Neighborhood Co-Op, 419 S. Park Ave., from 1-2 p.m.

01/23/2026

How cool is this? The new Sanford Ford's Garage restaurant selected local leaders to spotlight on their burger menu and one of them is our very own Ryan Bozeman! And we got the Black-N-Bleu Burger! (Arguably the best one.) We were able to sample some of the food yesterday and it was delicious!

01/20/2026

With sadness, we share that our friend Sherman Smith passed away on December 23. Please join us in honoring his life at First United Methodist Church this Thursday, January 22 at 3:15 p.m.

Address

419 S Park Avenue
Sanford, FL
32771

Opening Hours

10am - 12pm

Telephone

+3212220995

Website

http://www.picnicproject.org/, http://picnicproject.start.page/

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