The annual "Rock the Pantries" food drive returns to the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall on Friday, Nov. 6, with organizers hoping to surpass last year's collection of 31,200 pounds of food for St. Johns County residents in need.

The drive will run from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at both the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall and the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Donations will benefit 15 local food pantries, according to the official event announcement.

Last year's drive collected 31,200 pounds of food in a single day, helping restock shelves at 13 pantries, according to a St. Johns County government podcast announcement.

"This year, we want to build on that momentum, collect even more, and make sure we are doing everything we can to help local families heading into the holidays," Gabe Pellicer, president and CEO of SJC Cultural Events Inc., told Action News Jax.

Food pantries report growing demand

The drive comes as local food assistance organizations report increased demand.

Sunny Mulford, executive director of Epic-Cure Inc., told Action News Jax that more than 3,700 families who had never previously sought assistance from the organization had done so in 2026.

Epic-Cure is among the beneficiaries of the drive, along with St. Johns Food Pantry, Pie in the Sky Community Alliance, Betty Griffin House and other organizations serving families, seniors and individuals throughout St. Johns County.

The one-day collection aims to replenish pantry shelves before the holiday season, when families may face additional financial pressures.

How to donate Nov. 6

Residents, businesses and community groups can drop off nonperishable food donations at the main parking lots of either venue between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. SJC Cultural Events staff will collect donated items.

Requested donations include peanut butter, canned soup or stew, canned beans and vegetables, canned tuna, salmon, ham or chicken, pasta, rice, instant potatoes, granola bars, nuts, crackers, boxed cereal or meals, cooking oils and canned, dried or plastic-packaged fruit or applesauce.

Organizers cannot accept refrigerated items, expired food, leftovers, baked goods, food with damaged or otherwise problematic packaging, or items in glass or cellophane packaging.

Donors can also enter to win a merchandise package featuring items from the St. Augustine Amphitheatre and Ponte Vedra Concert Hall.

SJC Cultural Events Inc., a nonprofit organization that operates both venues through a public-private partnership approved by the St. Johns County Commission in 2023, organizes the drive.

The Ponte Vedra Concert Hall is at 1050 A1A N. in Ponte Vedra Beach.

Additional information is available on the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall website.