Neighbors 4 Neighbors

NORTH MIAMI (CBS4) ― With so many hungry families in South Florida, the need to provide assistance can be difficult for non-profit agencies, struggling to provide food and assistance.

Tuesday, Publix's Miami Division announced a significant donation of over $780,000 to 44 non-profits through the "Food For All" campaign. Down slightly from 2008, where nearly a million was raised.

Agencies in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties were presented with checks, including $5,000 to Manna Share-A-Meal. CBS4's charitable arm, Neighbors 4 Neighbors, received $15,000, and Homestead based Farm Share got a check for $68,000.

Farm Share helps put produce that doesn't make it to store shelves, into the hands of hungry families. Yvette Rodriguez, with the non-profit, told CBS4 Mobile Journalist Jim Robinson, "Maybe the produce is a little bit to big or too small or they're not perfect, but they're good enough to eat".

During the holidays you may remember seeing those orange signs near the check-outs at Publix stores. For six weeks during the holidays cashiers helped customers give back by adding a $1, $3, or $5 donation to their grocery bill.

Rodriguez with Farm Share says donations are fading. "It's gone down drastically, while the demand from the families needing help is going up" she said.

Toby Bonanno with Manna Share-A-Meal says everything helps. She told CBS4 News, "Some people hesitate to give a dollar or two dollars, and they don't realize that does multiply so we're so grateful".

Publix spokesperson, Kim Jaeger says, even when the economy is down, people are still digging deep and giving big. "South Florida is such a giving community, and they know that although we're all struggling, they need to help their neighbors in need".

If you would like to help with a donation or are in need yourself, contact Neighbors for Neighbors at 305-597-4404.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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