GOOD DEEDS: Collecting treats for the troops, delivering food to the hungry

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·2 min read
The candy collected was given to Soldiers’ Angels, a nonprofit that provides aid and comfort to the military, veterans and their families.
The candy collected was given to Soldiers’ Angels, a nonprofit that provides aid and comfort to the military, veterans and their families.

Everglades University Sarasota Campus recently donated more than 232 pounds of candy, valued at $1,864, to Treats for Troops, an initiative spearheaded by Soldiers’ Angels, a nonprofit organization that provides aid, comfort and resources to the military, veterans and their families.

Treats for Troops is an annual Halloween candy collection program in which local businesses accept excess candy to be donated to deployed service members and veterans.

EU Sarasota served as a candy collection site from Oct. 4 to Nov. 4.

In addition to the individuals who donated candy, second-graders at Rayma C. Page Elementary School, in Fort Myers, collected 130 pounds of candy on their own. They also included a handwritten/hand-drawn card personally thanking our troops for their service.

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Joe Tain and Pat Loftus, of SURE’s newly formed Florida Chapter, presented the group's donation to All Faiths Food Bank. Accepting the check is Rachel Bradley, left, director of philanthropy.
Joe Tain and Pat Loftus, of SURE’s newly formed Florida Chapter, presented the group's donation to All Faiths Food Bank. Accepting the check is Rachel Bradley, left, director of philanthropy.

Sarasota-based All Faiths Food Bank received a $1,500 donation from Westinghouse SURE (Service Uniting Retired Employees) as part of its Annual Feed the Hungry Program.

The donation will help those struggling with food insecurity who are recovering from Hurricane Ian’s devastating impacts.

Headquartered in Western Pennsylvania, Westinghouse SURE is one of the nation’s largest and most successful all-retiree volunteer groups, with nearly 800 members across the globe participating.

SURE’s signature Feed the Hungry program has increased its community support every year, donating a total of $38,400 in 2022 to support those in need.

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Volunteers pack up Thanksgiving meals to be delivered to hundreds of needy families.
Volunteers pack up Thanksgiving meals to be delivered to hundreds of needy families.
Michele Tanner has organized Tanner's Turkeys for 12 years, feeding a total of 3,300 families.
Michele Tanner has organized Tanner's Turkeys for 12 years, feeding a total of 3,300 families.

Michele Tanner and a team of volunteers distributed Thanksgiving meals and gift cards to 600 needy families this year across Sarasota and Manatee counties. Last year, she fed 500 families with her volunteers and dozens of donors.

Tanner is a team leader with the Tanner Group at Preferred Shore Real Estate.

She has been helping those less fortunate in her community for 12 years with Tanner’s Turkeys, a basket brigade event that delivers a traditional Thanksgiving meal, including a frozen turkey and all the fixings for a feast.

Tanner has fed 3,300 families in Sarasota and Manatee counties so far. This year, meal deliveries were extended to 25 families affected by Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers Beach.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Collecting treats for the troops, feeding the hungry