Local community advocates and business owners Tyrone Bennett and his wife Lateefa have suffered a great tragedy recently. Their child, born in August, is suffering from a severe condition called HIE (Learn more here). This precious child has never left the hospital after 2 months and counting in the NICU and this has caused severe brain damage to their beautiful newborn child. As you know, hospitalization of a child or person does not stop bills. Right now, bills and vast medical expenses have exceeded available resources and expanded into areas of unbearable stress and anxiety. Once their daughter goes home, they will need services and medical equipment to stay alive and treat conditions.

They have traveled to Fort Myers during Hurricane Ian as well as Marshall NC and Waycross GA during Hurricane Helene and provided food during Nicole in St Augustine. Their nonprofit also has provided support to FEMA, St. John's County Sheriff Dept. and City of St. Augustine residents during Covid 19 shutdown. They also provided hot lunches during the summer for low income and families in need with children.

I have witnessed firsthand the Bennett family give selflessly to individuals and families in feeding, clothing and organizing community feeding programs. After Hurricane Helene, our town of Marshall NC was absolutely devastated by the wind and massive flooding caused by the unprecedented storm. The Bennett family made the 8-hour journey hauling what they call the “We Feed Mobile Command”, a large mobile kitchen they use to provide meals FOR FREE to areas after disasters. They paid to make the trip to Marshall NC and were feeding people within the first days after the waters receded. This was before there was water, power or even road access to rural communities. They made the drive twice more to go back to FL to get more supplies (there was no infrastructure here at all during this time) and immediately returned to continue to help us and we are forever grateful. They even came back in November of 2024 to cook a HUGE Thanksgiving meal for over 200 members of the community that lost their homes/businesses or were otherwise significantly affected by the storm. It was absolutely the best Thanksgiving ever.

Two years ago, their nonprofit We Feed St Augustine started a children's entrepreneurial indoor market that teaches children how to market, save and invest in themselves and host fall, spring and holiday markets to follow the mission of children learning about entrepreneurship through developing a product and strategies so they can sell to the public.

They walk the walk and consistently prioritize communities experiencing life-changing circumstances and are always ready to supply the support these communities so desperately need.

We are not alone in loving and appreciating this family for what they have done for us and so many other communities.

PLEASE help them by donating to this cause as it would greatly help them during an unimaginably tough time. Learn more about the work they do through their non-profit as well as all of their community outreach efforts here. We Feed St Augustine

They have been there for many people and NOW THEY NEED OUR HELP! Any and all donations of any amount will truly be appreciated, thank you in advance.