A former credit union branch on Jacksonville's Westside will be transformed into the headquarters of a nonprofit agency that helps people with food and housing.
VyStar Foundation donated the office at 3040 Edison Ave. to Three Grains of Rice Mission. The 2,556-square-foot headquarters, formerly a First Coast Federal Credit Union branch, should open to the public by mid-August.
Ed Perez founded Three Grains of Rice Missions in 2016 to provide resources for housing, food, clothing, medical care and educational programming to people and families struggling with food and housing instability. The agency also offers disaster relief and humanitarian aid, and Perez said he is grateful to VyStar Foundation for what he called "a center for hope and dignity" that will let his volunteer-run organization save lives.
“This new building will be a game-changer for our organization, allowing us to better serve the needs of our community,” Perez said in a news release. "We believe this partnership will be a powerful force for positive change, and we are excited to see the impact that Three Grains of Rice Missions will have in this new space.”
VyStar Foundation President Patricia McElroy said the building donation is a unique opportunity to support meaningful work being done by Three Grains of Rice Missions, which the foundation chose from numerous applicants for its support of the community.
Grants through VyStar Foundation are available to nonprofit organizations. Its next grant cycle this August will give funding priority to organizations that support underserved youth.
The youth grant cycle opens on Aug. 21, and closes Sept. 30. To learn more about the foundation, visit vystarfoundation.org.
