Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Food Drive a huge success

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The San Pedro Red Cross (SPBRC), along with the 26-person vacation volunteer group from Toronto, Canada called “Sperro”, and the San Pedro Food Bank joined together to do an island food drive on Saturday, June 6th. This was was in order to gain stock for the San Pedro Food Bank and raise funds for the two organizations. The drive was a grand success, surpassing the goal of $2,000, and collecting enough food for the participating families.Food Drive (10)
The San Pedro Food Bank was formed by a group of community members in 2014, for the purpose of helping feed struggling families on the island. Currently, the food bank supports 22 families (120 people) with a waiting list of 40 families (200 people). The San Pedro Food Bank appreciates that the SPBRC reached out to work together and help benefit those that need it most.Food Drive (1)
Sperro is a non-profit organization made up of 18-35 year old young adults who share a desire to serve the community and meet other young adults. Sperros’ leader contacted www.tacogirl.com, Laurie Norton of SPBRC, after coming off a volunteer stint in Orange Walk. They wanted to further expand their community work in the country and chose to work with the Red Cross in San Pedro.Food Drive (14)
The drive started at 10AM and went through until around 2PM. Volunteers made their way to various participating stores and businesses where the collection took place. The participating establishments were: Super Buy, Rocks Grocery Store, Paradise Market, Almaza, Reef Radio and TV. Caye Mart, Ritchie’s and Mark’s, Island City, Super Buy South, Marina’s and Mermaid Store. Both cash and food items were collected, including pet food for Saga Humane Society. “Feeding the hungry means feeding our island animals as well, so it was a natural decision to include Saga Humane Society, the island’s only non profit full service veterinary clinic, in the event. Founded in 1999 SAGA Humane Society serves to improve the general health and well being of the domestic and wild animals of the island. Community means all of us, and that includes our animals. A community is often judged by how it cares for those in need and Saga Humane Society is committed to the entire community of San Pedro. We are thankful to the San Pedro Food Bank and the San Pedro Red Cross for allowing us to be a part of the community food drive and for their generosity in donating all Pedigree dog and cat food that was collected for our Fort Dog Shelter,” said Norton.Food Drive (12)
According Norton, the drive added three weeks’ worth of food for the San Pedro Food Bank, while both Saga Humane Society and the San Pedro Red Cross received a good amount of cash donations to assist their operations. “We are over the top excited with the success of the drive, which not only gathered enough food for the needy families, but also a lot of food for the animals. However, we need to get the forty working families (200 people) off the waiting list and keep serving the 22 families (120) who need food weekly.”Food Drive (2)
Organizers would like to give a big thank you to the following: Ultimate Cart Rentals and Ocean Breeze Cart Rentals. They also thank the tourists and residents who jumped to contribute towards the event,” ended Norton.


Please continue to support the San Pedro Food Bank by making food donations anytime at Caye Mart and both Super Buy locations. Cash donations can be made at Sandbar Hostel or contact Brittney at [email protected]. If you would like more info on, and on San Pedro Belize Red Cross contact [email protected], Saga Humane Society contact www.sagahumanesociety.org or Sperro at www.sperro.org

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