MILTON — MANNA Food Pantries has concluded its 9th annual Fill the Mayflower food drive.
This year, Fill the Mayflower will help provide over 52,000 meals to the hungry. The food will be distributed through MANNA’s three pantries, the Santa Rosa Backpack4Teens Program, The Ministry Village at Olive, Gulf Coast Kid’s House and Santa Rosa Kid’s House, Lutheran Services Florida, the Tummy Bundles Program at Montclair Elementary, Escambia Community Clinics, Westminster Village, and the Monthly Healthy Senior Food Program in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
“This year, MANNA has provided food to 21,129 people, including nearly 8,000 children,” said DeDe Flounlacker, MANNA’s executive director. “This drive will provide the equivalent of 52,000-plus meals for families in need. The Northwest Florida community continues to show an amazing capacity to help those in need.”
Sponsored by Coastal Moving and Storage, the longtime event is the single most important food drive for MANNA and the hungry in the community.
“We’re so grateful to the community and our media partners…” Flounlacker said. “We’re also grateful for volunteers who gave 348 hours of service to make this event possible."
MANNA is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to alleviating hunger in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
MANNA’s mission is to offer emergency food assistance, service the food-related needs of vulnerable populations, and engage the entire community in the fight against hunger.
MANNA is designated a 501(c)(3) charitable organization by the federal government. Donations can be made at www.mannafoodpantries.org/donate.asp.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: MANNA food drive helps provide 52,000 meals