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Press Releases
March 28, 2008
NEW AGENCY PLANNED TO SUPPORT BROWARD'S ELDERLY
As the economic curtain closes in on Broward's most vulnerable citizens, a new
agency is soon to start operations to assist the county's elderly poor and needy
grandparents taking care of their grandchildren. THE PANTRY OF BROWARD
will provide food aid, referrals, transportation, eye glasses, hearing aids and
other services as necessary to qualifying economically challenged seniors,
including those grandparents who are principal caregivers to their
grandchildren.
"We are anxious to get started and serve both the elderly in need as well as
needy grandparents who are taking care of their grandchildren here in Broward
County," explained Elizabeth "BJ" Buntrock, founder and Board Member of the new
social support organization.
There are an estimated quarter of a million grandparents who care for their
grandchildren in the State of Florida, with close to 5,000 in Broward County
alone. "The parents are not present because of family breakdown, addiction
issues or other reasons," explained Buntrock, a longtime social activist in
Broward County. "The grandparents are an asset that needs to be supported. Can
you imagine if thousands of children were added to the rosters of the already
overburdened foster care system?"
RENOVATION OF THE PANTRY OF BROWARD'S CENTER BEGINS
The first week of February saw the beginning of an estimated 16 week period of
renovations of The Pantry of Broward's new home at 610 NW 3rd Avenue in Fort
Lauderdale. Located just off Sistrunk Boulevard in the midtown development
district of Ft. Lauderdale, the 8,000 square foot warehouse is being gutted and
then rebuilt to house The Pantry of Broward's food warehouse, service center and
offices.
The completed center, designed by Wolff DeCamillo and Associates, will house the
agency's warehouse and food pantry, eleven offices and interview rooms as well
as a waiting area and administrative space.
"For the elderly poor trying to survive on a fixed-income, no-one needs to tell
them we are in a recession or that inflation is raising its ugly head," explains
Penny Loughan, the agency's new CEO. "As a community we all need to collaborate
to take care of our seniors."
For more information, please contact The Pantry of Broward at (954)
358-1481 and visit www.ThePantryOfBroward.org
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