Have you ever seen a luxury car in line for a charity food giveaway – and done a double-take?
Stephen R. Shelley sure has. But, now, he knows better.
In 2016, he left his law practice to become COO of Farm Share, a Homestead nonprofit that teams with Florida farmers and community food distributors to provide produce to those in need.
The resident and mayor of Homestead practiced family law for a decade, so he’s no stranger to divorce, illness and other misfortunes that can lead people into financial straits. His awareness increased when, while working at Farm Share, he met individuals driving high-end cars who lined up 12 hours or more before food giveaways.
“What I tell people is that, if someone is going to wait all those hours in line, there clearly is some need,” says Shelley, who was appointed CEO in July. “What I also found by asking and talking to some people that have nicer vehicles is that the cars are all they have left from prior lives. In some cases, they were even sleeping in their cars.”
Since he joined Farm Share, the organization has gone from acquiring and distributing just over 33 million pounds of food to more than 88 million pounds. It has also doubled the number of households it serves to more than 20 million and the number of annual community food-distributions it hosts to more than 500.
Shelley credits Farm Share’s success to its community partners, 48 employees and hundreds of volunteers who contribute about 200,000 hours annually. On a personal level, his work with the group has helped him leave a legacy of service to his community, he says.
“Talking to [people who don’t fit the stereotype of someone in need] really reinforced to me the need that is out there,” he says. “It’s a truly great need.” O
For more information, call 305-246-3276 or visit farmshare.org.