Food Drives
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Saturday, Jan 9, Rotary Club of The Villages held their 3rd Rotary Food Drive at 3 locations to serve 4 food pantries.
While the refrigerators and pantries of Village residents have seen little change, they are aware of the level of food insufficiency in the communities around The Villages and are looking for ways to help. The Rotary Club of The Villages Evening offered an opportunity Saturday Jan 9 and residents responded at three locations. The Everglades Recreation Center location collected approximately 1500 pounds of food and diapers. At 11 AM the Villages Mercedes Benz Club cruised in with each car donating food. According to Jim Bodenner “Club members, led by Mike Roth, then continued to help us at this site until the bus was full at 1:30pm." Rotarian Karl Keri had visited Hope Ministries food pantry last month to learn about the need in southern Sumter County. Keri was “thrilled to see the steady stream of cars donating" at the Everglades Recreation Center, 6020 Warm Springs Ave. Paul Quinn and Vicky Wynns of Langley Health Services, Sumterville, brought the Langley Medical Bus to transport donations to both Hope Ministries and Lake Panasoffkee United Methodist food pantries. "Both of these pantries will be helped with today's donations. The community has been very generous. Lots of food but also high demand items like diapers, feminine hygiene products and laundry detergent." observed Quinn. "We have been partnering with the Evening Rotary Club for a few years on a dental care initiative for low income veterans. So when they asked if Langley would help today, being aware of the growing need, it was easy to say 'yes'," according to Wynns, COO of Langley Health Services, which serves low income persons needing medical, dental and psychiatric services. Meanwhile, at the north end of The Villages in Spanish Springs, Winn Dixie customers were also generous in food donations as well as cash. Cars and golf carts made a steady stream into the car wash location to drop off donations. “All we could say was WOW, when we saw the St Theresa's food pantry van fill up TWICE” says manager, Victor Lopez. Curtis Love added “our customers and the people that live here are truly generous. We’re glad we could be a part of this.” The Evening Rotary Club has collaborated 3 times with Village Car Wash & Hungry Howies Pizza and “each time it gets better,” says Sandra Ricciardi, co-chair or the Rotary Food Drive. Approximately 4000 pounds of food, diapers & other products were collected at the Spanish Springs locations for St Theresa's and Hope Food Pantry of Weirsdale. Also, Bella Hair Studio collected feminine hygiene products. Donor Ruth Hunter was surprised to get Thank You coupons from the car wash, Bella’s Hair Studio & Hungry Howies Pizza. “I’m in line to get my car wash now” laughed Hunter. Another car drove in and handed the Rotarians. a $100 bill saying “I got my stimulus check and thought this would be a great way to use some of it” and drove off barely hearing Rotarians' shouts of Thank you! Nearly $800 cash was collected. "This is a forward thinking club. They have been creative and helpful to our organization in a variety of ways," stated Jack Nettis, director of St Theresa's Social Services serving Summerfield and Marion County residents in need. Rotarians, Cindy & Marvin Ivy pulled into Village Car Wash to drop off a truckload of canned items and cash contributions from their neighbors on Van Buren Way in The Village of Poinciana. Julie Schmied, President Elect, and other Rotarians also delivered collections from their neighbors. According to Rotary Club President, Gay Ratcliff Seamens, "since last March we have seen the rising need for food assistance. We are greatly encouraged by the community recognizing this need and being so generous today. Our members have committed to quarterly food drives and financial support to several local food pantries.' Food Donations are being accepted during January at Village Car Wash, Everglades, Savannah, LaHacienda, Mulberry, Paradise and Santiago Recreation Centers. The next food drive is planned for March. For more information sbodenner@gmail.comand www.rotaryvillagesevening.com. |
Phote 2 Village Car Wash: R-L Edna Deleon, VCW, Jack Nettis, St Theresas Food Pantry, Curtis Love & Victor Lopez VCW & Rotarians Gay Davidson, Sue Bodenner & Gay Ratcliff Seamens
Spanish Springs
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Everglades
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Neighborhood CollectionsRotarians offer their homes as drop spots ahead of the Food Drive date. Marvin Ivy brings a truckload from his neighborhood.
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