By Matt Donegan

Staff writer

FORT PIERCE - In an area of town plagued by poverty, a nonprofit grocery store has opened its doors with the sole purpose of offering a helping hand.

Kingdom Harvest, located on Orange Avenue, caters to people who receive government assistance, meet income-based requirements, or who simply can't afford to pay high prices for groceries.

"We're here to help people," said operations manager David Flynt. "Need is need."

The store, which is run by a Vero Beach-based ministry with the same name, gets its name-brand merchandise from a variety of sources, including overstock from other stores, or directly from salvage agencies. This allows Kingdom Harvest to cut 50 percent or more off traditional store prices.

"Our goal is to provide our members with the lowest possible price," said Mr. Flynt, who formerly managed a grocery store in Vero Beach for six years before leaving for a year of missionary work.

To fund its grocery assistance program, the store also sells everything from furniture and home accessories to video games, all of which are also available at a highly reduced rate.

So far, Mr. Flynt said the response from the community has been good, and that he feels Kingdom Harvest is a good fit in the area.

"There's not a lot of surplus in this neighborhood," he said. "People don't have a lot of disposable income."

Up until last week, the store only offered dry goods, but now offers refrigerated items and produce.

Kingdom Harvest, located in the former Winn-Dixie store at 2520 Orange Avenue, about 100 yards north of the 25th Street intersection, is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and is closed Sunday. Food stamps are accepted.

For more information, call Kingdom Harvest at (772) 618-2897, or send an e-mail to info@kingdomharvestonline.org.