Town of Palm Beach United Way Empty Your Pantry Food Drive collects 1,500 pounds of food
The Town of Palm Beach United Way collected more than 1,500 pounds of food during its ninth annual Empty Your Pantry Food Drive.
The drive, which was held April 4 through April 15, also collected $2,000 in donations.
“We are thankful to the Palm Beach community for helping us collect so much food to distribute to families in need,” said outgoing board Chairman Mary Freitas. “During the summer, many children aren’t receiving meals from school and there are fewer donations to pantries, so the food drive items we received will certainly help our partners fill the gaps.”
Previously: Time to Empty Your Pantry: Palm Beach United Way's annual food drive runs through April 15
'Almost impossible': Food banks struggle to feed needy as pandemic keeps volunteers away
Boca Helping Hands and CROS Ministries will split the food and monetary donations. Staff from the agencies collected the food from Palm Beach’s central fire station on April 20.
“We are so grateful for our partners at the Town of Palm Beach United Way for organizing the recent food drive, and for the generosity of all the members of the Palm Beach community who participated,” said Greg Hazle, executive director of Boca Helping Hands. “These donations will make a big difference to so many of our clients throughout Palm Beach County.”
Boca Helping Hands provides food, medical and financial assistance, as well as education, job training and guidance to help individuals and families become self-sufficient.
“Your donations will go a long way in helping us serve our hungry neighbors not just today or tomorrow, but throughout the summer when our clients often need our assistance the most," said Ruth Mageria, executive director of CROS Ministries.
CROS Ministries operates seven community food pantries throughout Palm Beach County, a hot meal kitchen, and a gleaning program that recovers produce from local farms.
The Flagler Museum, Palm Beach Daily News and Palm Beach Fire Rescue partnered with the United Way in putting on the drive.
Palm Beach Fire Rescue stations served as drop-off locations for food items, while the Flagler Museum hosted a drive-thru collection on April 9.
“Town of Palm Beach Fire Rescue is honored to be part of such a great cause,” said Assistant Chief Sean Baker. “Our team enjoys seeing the fire station lobbies fill with food that we know will be donated to families in need. We thank the Palm Beach community for being so generous again this year.”
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Donors to the food drive
Suzanne and Michael Ainslie
Neil and Vicki Aronstam
Peggy Baseman
Cathie Black
Nancy Bruck
Elyse Bulnick
Lillian Carney
Arlene Cherner
Gail Coniglio
Carla Cove
Lisa Donna Cushman
Kathy Delaney
Employees of First Horizon
Gwen Fisher
Kristen Kelly Fisher
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Galletta
Sherri Gilbert
Kenn Karakul and James Held
Ana Inder
Carolyn and Peter Koslow
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony LaGamba, Jr.
Elli Laudicina
Kathleen Mara
Steve McDonald
Pamela and Brian McIver
Tim and Bridget Moran
James Murphy
Heidi and John Niblack
Palm Beach Flagler Rotary Club
Joyce Reingold
Connie and Paul Rosenberg
Barbara and Richard Rothschild
J. David and Anita Seay
Ben Starling, III
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard R. Stevens
Bruce J. Taylor
Susan Ticknor
Bill and Norma Tiefel
Suzanne Turner
Debra Vasilopoulos
Jim and Beth Walton
Skira Watson
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Weissman
Nancy F. Wheeler
Theresa Woody
There were two anonymous donations
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach food drive will aid Boca Helping Hands, CROS Ministries
