Pictured above: Image 1: Manatee Academy Students display the food collected during the school's food drive | Image 2: Volunteers John Bouris and Esteben Gomez Lopes help Sharon Savageaux donate a turkey at Tradition Square
Full Stomachs, Full Hearts;
Take Part in The Great Treasure Coast Holiday Food & Fund Drive
Nothing marks holidays like a bountiful meal with family and friends. But this most universal ritual of a shared holiday meal is out of reach for many families who struggle just to have enough food each month.
Treasure Coast Food Bank’s Great Holiday Food & Fund Drive will ensure that everyone can share in the joy of holiday meals, and with the community’s help, fill the Treasure Coast with full stomachs and full hearts. Treasure Coast Food Bank invites neighbors, civic organizations, and businesses to get involved in the Great Treasure Coast Holiday Food & Fund Drive that runs from October 15, 2019 to the end of the year.
“Sharing a bountiful meal with family and friends is one of our universal holiday traditions,” said Judith Cruz, President and CEO of Treasure Coast Food Bank. “During the holiday season, we love seeing the joy that spreads throughout the community as people volunteer or donate food. For every full stomach, there are a few full hearts in the people who helped make it possible.”
There are several ways to get involved: Organize a food drive with your neighbors or coworkers, participate in a virtual food drive with a cash donation, or plan to donate a turkey during Treasure Coast Food Bank’s annual Turkey Drop Nov. 16.
“The food drives that take place now help keep our shelves full not only during the holidays but for many months for families, children, veterans and seniors who struggle with hunger,” Cruz said. “We love holiday food, but we’re always in need of food for everyday meals.”
In addition to holiday favorites such as canned yams, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, Treasure Coast Food Bank always needs pantry staples such as peanut butter, pasta, low-sodium canned vegetables, shelf-stable milk, canned meats, beans, and low-sugar cereal.
Two special events are part of this year’s Great Holiday Food & Fund Drive. The 5th Annual Pack The House presented by Wells Fargo is a 24-hour packing event to prepare holiday meal boxes. Beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 25, friends, families, and coworkers will gather at Treasure Coast Food Bank’s warehouse with a goal of preparing 10,000 holiday boxes in 24 hours.
Turkey Drop Day is scheduled for Nov. 16. On that day, Treasure Coast Food Bank’s refrigerated trucks will be stationed a locations throughout the Treasure Coast where people can donate uncooked, frozen turkeys to be donated for holiday meals.
To learn more or to get involved, visit www.stophunger.org.
ABOUT TREASURE COAST FOOD BANK
Treasure Coast Food Bank is the only food bank and largest hunger relief organization on Florida’s Treasure Coast, providing the community each year with millions of meals valued at more than $50 million through robust programs and in partnership with 400 charitable organizations in Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Okeechobee counties. In addition to emergency food distribution, Treasure Coast Food Bank operates a full roster of direct service programs that not only solve the immediate problem of hunger, but help individuals and families gain long-term food security, better health outcomes, and self-sufficiency. Treasure Coast Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. For more information on Treasure Coast Food Bank, call 772-489-3034, log on to stophunger.org, visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/tcfoodbank, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/tcfoodbank.
