WHAT: The holiday season is a time for gatherings with family and friends, but it is also a time to be thankful for what we have and to give back. To encourage residents to volunteer this holiday season, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer is leading the effort by launching the City’s Holiday Food Drive.
Mayor Dyer will kick off the food drive by “working along” with staff at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida’s “Food Rescue Center” warehouse and volunteers from the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Orange County. The “work along” is an effort to create awareness about the need for food donations year round, but especially during the holidays.
The City of Orlando’s Holiday Food Drive, benefiting the Second Harvest Food Bank, will commence November 17 and run through December 1st 2009. Critical need items (non-perishable) include:
Meals in a Can Non-fat Dry Milk Oatmeal
Canned Meats/Poultry Evaporated Milk Drinks
Canned Tuna Peanut Butter Rice
Dry Beans Canned Veggies Canned Soup
Pasta/Macaroni Canned Fruit Diapers
Nutritional Drinks Beef Stew Baby Food
Collection sites can be found at the following locations:
· City Hall (rotunda)
· Downtown Orlando Information Center
· All Orlando Fire Department Firehouses
· All Families, Parks & Recreation Community Centers
HOLIDAY DAY
LIGHTS ORLANDO: Throughout the remainder of the year, the City of Orlando will host numerous holiday events and volunteer opportunities that residents can participate in. For a full listing of holiday volunteer opportunities and events including the City’s Holiday Food Drive, Orlando Main Street events and Ice Skating at Lake Eola Park please visit, www.cityoforlando.net/holiday.
WHERE: Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
“Food Rescue Center”
1918 W. Princeton Street
Orlando, FL 32804
WHEN: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Second
Harvest Food
Bank of Central
Florida: Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida (SHFBCF) is a member of Feeding America – the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. SHFBCF secures and distributes food and grocery products to approximately 500 agencies that feed the hungry throughout Central Florida. Last year, with the help of numerous donors, volunteers and a caring, committed community, the food bank distributed more than 21 million pounds of grocery products – the equivalent of more than 14 million meals – to partner agencies such as food pantries, soup kitchens, women’s shelters, senior centers, day care centers and Kids Cafes. On average, more than 54,000 different people receive assistance from SHFBCF each week. For additional information, visit feedhopenow.org
RSVP of
Orange County: For more than 36 years, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Orange County has been the premier organization for seniors 55 and better who wish to volunteer in our community. RSVP works with over 120 nonprofit and governmental agencies in our community that meet critical needs such as Coalition for the Homeless, Second Harvest Food Bank, Adult Literacy League, and Habitat for Humanity. They also help deliver Meals on Wheels, visit the elderly, read to children, rock babies at the hospital, mediate at the courthouse, patrol their neighborhoods through the COP program, and so much more. Last year, nearly 1,300 volunteers gave over 235,000 hours of their time and talent to help others. In doing so, RSVP volunteers contributed over $4,000,000 in services to the City of Orlando and Orange County. For additional information, visit rsvporangecountyfl.com
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