Lori Joyner, executive director of Harvest House, received the Destin Chamber’s Business Person of the Quarter Award during the chamber’s July 15 Great American Cookout.
- The award, presented directly from the chamber’s Board of Directors, recognizes a Destin area businessperson showing vision for their business and leadership in the community.
“I have always admired Lori and the work she does. She’s a special person. People forget about the work that the non-profits in the community do,” said Shane A. Moody, CCE, FCCP. “All you have to do is look at how many families Harvest House has assisted during the years and the amount of food they’ve provided to those families. It truly is one of those organizations that is vital to our community. And it’s all due to Lori and the amazing skill level and heart with which she does her work.”
Since its founding, Harvest House has distributed more than 400,000 bags of groceries to more than 115,000 working families and individuals in the Destin area. The vast majority of that work has been accomplished during Joyner’s 15 years as executive director.
Harvest House is the oldest, continuously operating community nonprofit in the Destin area. Recently, Joyner’s leadership was displayed as Harvest House faced its greatest threat in its 37 years of existence with the closing of its long-time facility housing its thrift store and food pantry.
Joyner was able to distribute more than $200,000 of donated store items and another $20,000 in shelving, refrigerators, freezers and other hardware to other community service organizations.
She then secured and moved the food pantry operations to a new location at 114 Palmetto St. in Destin.
