by Deanna L. Rivera
Hundreds of family members have depended on our food box deliveries in order to meet their basic needs. Delivering food boxes throughout this pandemic has been both heartbreaking and heartwarming. On the one hand, we have come face to face with families, including children, who had gone hungry for days. But when they open their door to a delivery of fifty-plus pounds of fresh, nutritiously balanced food, it’s clear that this is what community is all about.
Over a 12-month period, we delivered nearly 50 tons of food! They open their doors to a community member who cares about them! These families recommended by our community partners also experience emergencies and have needs for cleaning, sanitizing, and sometimes diapers and wipes. Our food boxes and our programs expand to meet these ongoing emergencies.
Meanwhile, the number of homeless youth and adults in our town is staggering. Our Southtowne Rotary Club rolls up its sleeves to support the Youth House, Hosea Youth Services, the Mission, 15th Night, 4J’s McKinney-Vento program, and other partnerships with St. Vincent de Paul. Our club volunteers work for free, of course, but these programs all require financial support as well.
We are stretching every dollar to the max…but we NEED YOUR HELP. Our Fall Fundraising Campaign goal is to raise at least $15,000, which would fund most of these program costs. Please consider making a donation today at https://donorbox.org/southtownefoundation
Learn more: https://southtownerotary.org/project/food-boxes-program/