The Town of Palm Beach United Way collected hundreds of bags of groceries and $5,360 in cash during its annual food drive to benefit Palm Beach County residents struggling to make ends meet.
The 12th annual Empty Your Pantry Food Drive also collected dozens of bags of pet food to support the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League, according to the organization.
“We thank the Palm Beach community for participating in our annual Empty Your Pantry Food Drive,” Roberta and Paul Kozloff, the organization’s general campaign chairs, said in a release. “Access to food is more difficult in the summer, so we are grateful to our neighbors who have done their part to lessen the burden for struggling families in Palm Beach County.”
Corey Allen, from left, and Terrence Ditrick of CROS Ministries pack donations from the 12th Annual Empty Your Pantry Food Drive on April 24.
The cash and food items collected during the drive were split between the organization’s nonprofit partners, CROS Ministries and The Glades Initiative.
CROS Ministries runs five food pantries located throughout the county and one mobile food pantry. The nonprofit aids people of every stripe, including children, seniors, veterans, people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities and working families.
“CROS Ministries continues to be ‘boots on the ground,’ on the front lines, providing food to our brothers and sisters facing hunger and food insecurity,” Executive Director of CROS Ministries Ruth Mageria said in a release. “Thank you for cleaning out your pantry and donating to help stock our food pantries. Your generosity makes a meaningful difference.”
The Glades Initiative provides nutritious food to more than 3,000 people a month in Palm Beach County’s Glades agricultural region, aiming to help those with very low incomes and limited access to transportation and technology.
“On behalf of the thousands of residents who will benefit from your generosity, thank you for caring about hunger in our community,” Karis Engle, president and CEO of The Glades Initiative, said in a release. “We are grateful to be able to distribute the donated items to the hard-working families receiving food from our pantry each week.”
Pet food donations will help stock up Peggy Adams’ pet food pantries, which benefit families struggling to afford food for their companions.
“Thank you to everyone who has contributed by donating food, money or their time,” Peggy Adams CEO Sue Berry said in a release. “We rely on the community to donate food and supplies to help keep the pantry stocked. We partner with many local organizations to distribute the food to the people and communities who need it most.”
The drive ran from March 30 to April 20 in partnership with Field of Greens, Palm Beach Fire Rescue and Palm Beach Daily News.
Donors to the food drive
Margaret and Jay Axelrod, Thomas Barone and Terri Ruttle, Eileen Burns Elyse and Howard Butnick, Dona and Howard Cohen, Frank Coniglio, Kathy Delaney, Marjorie and Robert Emden, Marjorie and Stephen Fiverson, Margaret and Robert Galletta, Edith Gelfand, Arlette Gordon, Kiwi Hilliard, Susan and Bob Holuba, Roberta and Paul Kozloff, Eleanor La Gamba, Leigh and Chris Larmoyeux, Jean Meisenzahl, Danielle Hickox Moore, the Mary Alice Fortin Foundation, Bridget and Tim Moran, Heidi and John Niblack, Palm Beach Media Group, Daphne Nokolopoulos, Sandra Palmer, Michael and Debbie Pucillo, Todd and Allison Reckson, Joyce Reingold, The Rothschild Family, Patti Sans, J. David and Anita Seay, Bob and Mary Simses, Linda Siris, Linda Sosnowitz and Alex Gelinas, Ben Starling III, Norma and Bill Tiefel, Jim and Beth Walton, Richard Weber, David Weisman and Jacqui Michel, Howard S. Weiss, K. Whittemore, Sari Wilkey, David and Kayla Willson, Citizens’ Association of Palm Beach, J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Foundation, Field of Greens, First Horizon, Harbour House, The Frances G. Scaife Private Foundation, and La Palma Condominium.
Diego Diaz Lasa is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at dlasa@pbdailynews.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach food drive raises $5,360 to aid county residents in need