They say good things come in small packages; but what “they” didn’t know was just how much of an impact big packages – or pallets – can have.
Recently, Loggerhead Marinelife Center staff completed a food drive for the Palm Beach County Food Bank (PBCFB), donating over 600 pounds of canned and packaged goods to the neighbor non-profit. With the support of community partners – including local farms and food pantries – the Food Bank works to fight hunger and food insecurity in the county.
“The Palm Beach County Food Bank relies primarily on food donations and helps our partnering agencies within the community,” said Caroline Pollifrone, PBCFB’s volunteer and programs coordinator. “We were so impressed that Loggerhead Marinelife Center was able to collect and donate over 600 pounds of food. We really enjoyed having the Loggerhead team come out and volunteer at our facility as well. The Palm Beach County Food Bank looks forward to continuing this partnership.”
According to the Food Bank, one in six individuals in Palm Beach County does not know where their next meal will come from. And although the organization is only a few years old, the Food Bank collaborates with 200 partner agencies to distribute its donations across the Palm Beach County to help people – especially families and children – in need.
After dropping off the food, several LMC team members spent an afternoon volunteering at the Food Bank, helping to mark and repackage several large pallets of boxed food, donated through the program Food4Sharing in partnership with Publix Super Markets.
In just three hours, LMC marked and re-boxed eight pallets, which stood nearly four feet high holding 72 boxes of fruit bars each.
“I really enjoyed volunteering at the Food Bank because it was a different way of giving back to the community,” said Amanda Moore, LMC’s marketing & communications coordinator. “At LMC, we help our coasts and marine life, and at the Food Bank we got to help the people in our community.”
Demi Fox, LMC’s outreach coordinator, agreed.
“Volunteering with the Palm Beach County Food Bank and learning about the incredible number of people suffering from hunger here at home inspired me to do more to help,” said Fox. “I will definitely be back to volunteer again. I was truly touched by the amount of food we collected and the time we could give together. I’m so proud to work with such generous, dedicated colleagues.”
This is the first year LMC has donated to and volunteered with the Food Bank. For more information about the organization, visit www.pbcfoodbank.org.