Fire damages semis at nonprofit
His Compassion did lose any food and continued to supply other pantries in the area.
This image shows the fire damaged semi-trailers at His Compassion Food Bank north of Ocala. [Photo by Andy Fillmore]
Volunteers with His Compassion Food Bank didn’t miss a beat in getting food to food pantries, churches or holding their weekly drive-thru distribution after a recent fire destroyed two semi-trailers and damaged another at the outreach’s campus north of Ocala.
The May 16 fire was in a central parking lot adjacent to the organization’s main food warehouse and refrigerated rooms. Some furniture and other hard goods in the two trailers were destroyed, according to volunteers. Officials at His Compassion did not report any food inventory lost and said they have no information about the cause of the fire.
A report provided by Marion County Fire Rescue indicates a call came in about the fire at 4:48 p.m. and multiple MCFR units responded to the incident, which lasted five hours.
His Compassion moved its weekly Tuesday drive-thru food distribution to Thursday, May 22. The organization’s website notes that the faith-based outreach nonprofit located on Jacksonville Road about a mile north of County Road 326 distributed “over 21 million pounds of food and other items” in seven counties in 2022. The weekly drive-thru food distribution typically sees about 250 vehicles visit the location for boxes of food.
His Compassion Warehouse Manager Robbie Johnson oversees the handling of incoming and outgoing materials. Johnson said some furniture was destroyed in the semi-trailer and “debris (was) everywhere.”
Other semi-trailers parked nearby were not damaged. [Photo by Andy Fillmore]
“Cars/families served in 2024, 160 to 200, to date 2025, we increased to 185 to 250. The need grows on, and the blessings continue to flow,” Silvestro wrote in a text.
“What a joy it is to volunteer at His Compassion food bank. The giving comes from the heart. Nothing can light up your life, put a smile on your face or warm your heart than the ‘Thank you’ that comes from the one in need,” she wrote.
His Compassion donor sources include the Southeastern Food Bank, Freedom Tour, Convoy of Hope, Feed the Children, Blooming Brands, KeHe and 49 other suppliers, according to an outreach official. Farm Share, a not-for-profit with facilities statewide, distributes food to multiple nonprofits in the Ocala area, including His Compassion.
“We shipped 49,259 pounds of food to His Compassion in April 2025,” said Nick Rodriguez, market director for Farm Share.
Rodriguez indicated amounts shipped this year have been consistent with last year. He said Farm Share works directly with the farming industry and hasn’t experienced cuts that may have occurred with some governmental programs.
Wings of Faith Fellowship at 5066 SE 64th Ave. Road in Silver Springs Shores operates a food pantry on Wednesdays in “partnership” with His Compassion. According to the church secretary, food distribution has greatly increased, and possibly doubled, since last year,
A large increase in need has been seen by Karla Greenway, CEO of Interfaith Emergency Services. IES maintains the Dr. Reuben Brawner Food Warehouse in downtown Ocala capable of handling 240,000 pounds of perishable and non-perishable foods and a nearby Engagement Center that offers a wide array of services to the homeless.
Greenway stated in an email that the need for help in 2025 is at the highest level she has seen. She said 1,725 individuals have been served this year by the Engagement Center and 394 new cases of homeless people have been entered into the Homeless Information Management System.
“In the 14 years I’ve been at Interfaith, I have never seen this many individuals experiencing homelessness, nor have I seen the range in ages, from toddlers to people in their 80’s,” Greenway wrote. “Between our pantry and our two satellite pantries in Dunnellon and Marion Oaks, we are assisting 1,700 households every month with grocery assistance.”
Jason Halstead, executive director of Brother Keeper, an outreach of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, provided 2025 year to date figures that indicate 2,081 people have been served by the outreach in 961 emergency assistance cases.
The outreach gave 695 people food and personal items, furniture, utilities and prescription medicine. Help was provided by 363 volunteers who donated 5,806 hours. Student and community service volunteers also contributed. Halstead said the figures are “roughly the same” as last year. He said the Brothers Keeper Soup Kitchen, operated by Sister Concepta Najjemba of BTCC, serves an average of 150 meals daily and has served 16,994 meals to date this year.
Cars regularly fill the driveway and often wind back out to the roadway at the entrance to the City of Refuge Church at 9495 SE Maricamp Road in Silver Springs Shores. His Compassion delivers to the City of Refuge on Thursdays for its weekly drive-thru food distribution.
“We’re feeding 200 plus families,” the Rev. Ruth Thomas said in a text.
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