Local Rotary clubs join MANNA to fight hunger in Northwest Florida

All Rotary Clubs from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties will once again join together with Manna Food Bank to fight hunger in Northwest Florida.  The Fourth Annual Rotary Against Hunger service project will involve twelve Rotary Clubs that have committed over $25,000 to create 16,000+ food packets for those in need.  The result will be 97,000 meals that the Combined Rotary of Pensacola (CROP) will donate to Manna for distribution to in the two county area.  Over 300 Rotarians are expected to volunteer for the project.  This donation will benefit pantries that provide much needed food to those in need.  But according to MANNA Executive Director DeDe Flounlacker, the hungry in our area will benefit the most.

“The Rotary Against Hunger project has become a critical part of our ability to meet the needs of the hungry throughout the year in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties,” said Flounlacker. “This project provides much needed food during the Winter and early Spring when donations are always low, and need is always high.  Last year, MANNA provided assistance to 32,686 people, including 11,740 children.  These are your neighbors and mine – folks who are the working poor, grandparents raising their grandchildren, moms and dads who do not have enough money to pay their bills and buy food for their family.  Thanks to Rotary, thousands of people will be helped this year through this gift of nutritious food.”

“By teaming up with Manna, we can insure that these meals will be distributed in a manner that will serve the needs of many families in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties” said Ed Carson, Rotary Against Hunger Project chair. “Through this project, Rotary is striving to exemplify Service Above Self, the Rotary motto.”  Visit www.MannaFoodPantries.org to learn more about Manna or call 432-2053.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Local Rotary clubs join MANNA to fight hunger in Northwest Florida