BEAM receives refrigerated box truck through Rotary partnership

Families served by BEAM (Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry) will see more fresh food on their tables thanks to a new refrigerated box truck made possible through a collaborative effort by the Rotary clubs of Ponte Vedra Beach, Jacksonville-Oceanside, local Interact clubs and a matching grant from Rotary District 6970.

The result of a two-year fundraising campaign, the $75,000 project represents one of the largest Rotary district grants completed in the Beaches area. The new truck is already in operation and significantly strengthens BEAM’s ability to transport fresh and perishable food safely throughout the Beaches community.

“This new refrigerated truck is truly a game changer for us,” said BEAM Executive Director Jeff Winkler. “It expands our capacity, strengthens our operations and allows us to safely deliver more fresh food to more families who rely on us. We are deeply grateful to the Ponte Vedra Beach Rotary Club, the Oceanside Rotary Club, Interact and Rotary District 6970 for their incredible partnership and generosity. This investment will impact families in the Beaches community for years to come.”

The truck substantially increases BEAM’s capacity to serve families, strengthens food safety standards, enhances operational efficiency and enables larger and more frequent food distributions across expanded delivery routes, Winkler added.

Billy Wagner, who chaired the Ponte Vedra Beach Rotary Foundation during the project, said the collaboration between local Rotary clubs and District 6970 highlights Rotary’s commitment to “Service Above Self” and making long-term investments to address community needs.

“This project represents what Rotary does best: identifying a need, building strong partnerships and staying committed until the work is done,” Wagner said. “Over the past two years, so many people gave their time, energy and resources to make this happen. Seeing the truck already on the road serving families is incredibly meaningful. It’s a reminder that when we unite for good, we create lasting impact in our community.”