The Pantry of Broward - Recent Events

October 14th, 2009:

More than 20 seniors from Pine Crest High School assisted The Pantry of Broward this morning in preparing for upcoming Thanksgiving food drives. November and December are the busiest times of year for food drives due to the holidays and a surge in both seniors and grandparents raising grandchildren who are seeking out assistance.

If your school or organization would like to arrange a food drive or volunteer at The Pantry of Broward, please call us at (954) 358-1481.

THANKS A TON ED MCKENZIE!
"Township" resident collects one ton of food for Broward's Seniors

Septuagenarian Ed McKenzie is a man on a mission: to help seniors in need on low, fixed incomes and grandparents raising their grandchildren throughout Broward County.

During each month when he does his shopping, McKenzie practices "Buy One, GIVE One Free" - every time he buys a special offer, the "free" food article he collects he gives to The Pantry of Broward, a unique charity focusing on helping seniors and grandparents raising their grandchildren.

"In the past six months, Mr. McKenzie has collected an amazing one TON of food for The Pantry's clients," explains Penny Loughan, CEO of The Pantry of Broward. "What an incredible man!"

McKenzie was a Manager at Sears Roebuck for 35 years before retiring to The Township development in Coconut Creek. He describes himself as "Just someone who wants to help."

"I like to give back. I am retired and instead of taking a bunch of friends to lunch I do this for seniors who are in a pinch," he explained. "I have several friends who are also helping with collecting food and transport, but we could always use more support!"

Sun Sentinel Presents Reading, Writing, Philanthropy:
Offering Parents a list of ways to introduce their children to a philanthropic concept

As a new school year begins with a multitude of lessons, schedules and homework assignments demanding most of our children's time, when and where do parents find the perfect moment to "teach" the concept of philanthropy? We'd like to hear your stories about how your family teaches the idea of "giving back" to the community. <Visit Blog Here>

In that vein, over the course of the next 6 weeks, this blog will follow two Broward County school classes: one Elementary School class grade and one High School Senior class as they put their special spin on a food drive for our featured non-profit, The Pantry of Broward.

Count on both classes of students to come up with unique philanthropic tips and create the "look" of the food drive at their respective school, with the ultimate delivery of grocery items to The Pantry of Broward.

Please visit the blog and give us your stories and thoughts about teaching the concept of philanthropy to children.

WHOLE FOODS MARKET CORAL SPRINGS MAKES $1,600 DONATION TO THE PANTRY OF BROWARD

On October 6th, Whole Foods Market in Coral Springs made a $1,644.10 donation to The Pantry of Broward, a lead agency in providing food and other services to seniors in need and grandparents raising their grandchildren.

On September 23rd, the natural and organic foods supermarket donated 5% of their net sales for the day to The Pantry of Broward to purchase food and provide other services for the county's seniors in need. In the photo, the Store Team Leader of Whole Foods Market Coral Springs, John Evans, presents The Pantry of Broward's Development Director, Bruce Harris, a check for the donation, along with Jonny Rose, the store's Marketing Director.

The generous Whole Foods Market customers also donated several boxes of dried goods for the seniors in need served by The Pantry of Broward. There are an estimated 30,000 seniors living in poverty in Broward County alone and one in 11 grandparents is now the principal caregiver for their grandchildren.

The Pantry of Broward serves more than 450 seniors in need each month who have outlived their savings and are suffering a lack of food. The agency is urgently seeking food donations for Thanksgiving.

FIRST ANNUAL KIDS HALLOWEEN PARTY

The Pantry's CEO, Penny, was working in her "lab" late one night. When she thought of a wonderful idea, to throw a Halloween party and invite the local children and families to attend. The party had plenty of treats, dancing and of course some spooky tricks! The Pantry was full of skeletons, ghouls, ghosts and even a princess or two that night.

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