HELPING THE HUNGRY
Volunteers sort the food that has been donated.
WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE ORIOLES, THE MAYORS FEED THE HUNGRY
PROGRAM BEATS ITS 2012 MARK IN THE TONS OF FOOD COLLECTED
DURING ITS ANNUAL PRE-THANKSGIVING INITIATIVE
By Rachel Brown Hackney
Editor
Three days before Thanksgiving, the vice
chairman of the Mayors' Feed the Hungry
Program was filled with gratitude for the generosity of people in Sarasota and Manatee
counties. This year a community food drive
brought in 50 tons, seven more than the organization collected in 2012, Scott Biehl told
The Sarasota News Leader.
companies matched employee donations,
Biehl said, and student groups even took part
by going door-to-door in neighborhoods to
ask for contributions.
About 200 volunteers gathered at Ed Smith
Stadium in Sarasota on Nov. 22 to sort all the
items for distribution to about 20 food pantries — all 501(c)(3) organizations — located
"It was a huge increase," Biehl pointed out.
from Palmetto to North Port, Biehl said.
This year, 265 locations participated in Along with the food, the program welcomed
the collection of non-perishable items, he the 2,300 frozen turkeys donated to it, Biehl
noted, also an increase. Additionally, some added. Further, public support has enabled