Dunedin Cares' Annual Turkey Drive Begins Oct. 1

Dunedin FL

29 September, 2021

10:51 AM

Description

From the City of Dunedin: September 29, 2021 Get the Annual Turkey Drive Wish List and Information Since opening in 2015, Dunedin Cares Food Pantry has come a long way. It all started with one man's vision with just a few jars of peanut butter in a one-room set up in the back of a church hall to a free-standing building today. The pantry service provides groceries to anyone in need. Pinellas County has always had a high rate of food insecurity – in some towns as high as 40% – but the increase at the pantry rose dramatically when the pandemic hit. Joe Mackin, President of Dunedin Cares, commented that "our parking lot became commonplace to see lines of cars in the summer heat, and some days volunteers served 100 families or more." For example, he said, "On the Thursday before Thanksgiving in 2020, we served 170 families while their cars lined up on the street. Straight through 2020, and well past the Holidays, "Our wonderful volunteers stepped up with creative ideas in adopting a drive-through curbside service." 2021 has not yet shown much relief. As families face summertime without their needed school-supplied meals, rent relief and stimulus checks have run out. As a result, pantry numbers have risen an additional 40% over last year. Annual fundraisers like the Peanut Butter & Jelly Challenge and the Holiday Turkey & Toy Drive are instrumental in the pantry's ability to stay ahead of the need. "Without the support of our local schools, churches, civic groups, corporations, and many, many, individuals, we would not have been able to sustain," said Mr. Mackin. This press release was produced by the City of Dunedin. The views expressed here are the author's own.