BUILDING CAMPAIGN
EPIC-CURE®
Epic-Cure is building a permanent home for its mission: the Food Security Distribution Center, a purpose-built food-security hub at 450 S. Holmes Blvd. in St. Augustine. It will double the food we rescue and share every month, from 1 million to more than 2 million pounds.
WHY IT MATTERS
In Northeast Florida, more than 310,000 people, including about 95,000 children, do not know with any certainty where their next meal will come from. That is more than one in six of our neighbors. At the same time, perfectly good food is thrown away by the truckload. Epic-Cure lives in the space between surplus and scarcity: we rescue good food before it is wasted and give it, free of charge, to the neighbors who need it most.
OUR ONE REAL LIMIT IS ROOM
The food is out there to rescue, and 350 to 400 volunteers turn out every week. What we lack is room to receive, sort, store and move it all. In St. Augustine today, 200,000 pounds a month are crammed into just 2,000 square feet. The new Center's three dock-height bays let trucks, including semis with no lift gate, unload in a fraction of the time, while forklifts and pallet jacks carry the loads volunteers once lifted by hand. More food moves faster, and far more safely.
THE PLAN
10,880 sq ft purpose-built food-security hub
7,000+ sq ft of cold storage and food processing
3,000+ sq ft production and teaching kitchen
On land Epic-Cure owns free and clear, next to the new SR-312 connector
WHAT THE CENTER UNLOCKS
Monthly food distribution: from 1 million to 2 million+ pounds
Families served each week: from 2,200+ to 4,000+
Food shared with partner agencies: from 3.1 million to 6 million+ pounds a year
Weekly distributions: from 22+ to 30+
Counties served: from 4 to 8+
Commercial kitchen: from none to 3,000+ sq ft, for medically tailored meals and Sustain U. culinary training for veterans and Title-1 youth
Our 2030 goal: more than 22 million pounds of food accessible each year, and neighbors served more than 500,000 times annually.
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Conceptual renderings of the Food Security Distribution Center: aerial view, entrance, freight operations and teaching kitchen. Renderings by Form First Consulting.
WHERE WE ARE: 44% RAISED
The project is under way, and Epic-Cure owns the land free and clear. Early believers, including a $1.5 million State of Florida grant, $1.275 million from private foundations and $112,000 from other sources, including private donations, have brought the total raised to $2,887,000 of the $6,557,740 total cost. The final $3,671,000 will finish the Center. Zoning and permitting are in progress, and completion is expected in 2027.
LEAVE YOUR MARK: NAMING OPPORTUNITIES
Founding Benefactor, $3,000,000+: building and campus naming rights (1, reserved)
Legacy Partner, $500,000+: wing naming and dedication plaque (2 available)
Cold Chain Champion, $250,000+: walk-in cooler or freezer naming (3 available)
Kitchen Builder, $150,000+: production and teaching kitchen naming (4 available)
Distribution Leader, $50,000+: loading-bay naming (3 available, one per bay)
Community Champion, $10,000+: lobby recognition wall
Placements are illustrative and subject to the gift agreement.
WAYS TO GIVE
Give online today, or pledge a multi-year commitment. We also welcome gifts of stock, donor-advised fund grants (EIN 83-2912083), corporate sponsorships, in-kind donations and naming gifts. A 5% fee on gifts of $1,000 or more supports general operating expenses.
TALK WITH US, OR COME SEE THE SITE
To discuss a naming gift, a pledge, a foundation grant or a sponsorship, or to arrange a tour, contact our Building Campaign Co-Chairs: Elisabeth (Lisa) Chismark, PhD, lisachismark@epic-cure.org, and Wilson "Brad" Bradshaw, PhD, wilson.bradshaw@epic-cure.org. You can also reach us at support@epic-cure.org or (904) 458-7145.
