Jul 12, 2008 10:04 pm US/Eastern
Hundreds Help Food 4 South Florida Drive
Donations Made Across Broward, Miami-Dade County
Thousands Of Pounds Of Food Donated To Help Those In Need
WEST KENDALL (CBS4) ―
Needy families will be eating better in South Florida after hundreds of people opened their hearts and their pantries Saturday to donate food to a two-county food drive organized by CBS4, Neighbors 4 Neighbors, and Bank United.
CBS4 viewers were invited to drop of food at Bank United locations in Miami-Dade and Broward County from 9-1 Saturday, and all morning long a steady stream of people arrived and dropped off what was estimated to be thousands of pounds of food. The drive was called "Food 4 South Florida", and it was intended to allow those in the community who are surviving the economy to help those who are having trouble.
"At the Neighbors 4 Neighbors phone bank, we're getting more and more calls a day from people who've never had to look for food before," said Lynn Cameron, Executive director of Neighbors 4 Neighbors.
There's a whole new group of people out there who need food."
The need has been met by charitable organizations until now, but some, like Farm Share, are beginning to have trouble meeting the demand. As people lose jobs, see their homes in danger of foreclosure, and find themselves squeezed by high food and gasoline prices, they begin to consider seeking help.
CBS4 personalities and other volunteers were at the locations accepting the donations, and people responded to the call for help.
"I wish I could do more," said Julio Montenegro, who dropped off his donation at the bank's West Kendall location. "We need to help the community."
Despite the large amount of food donated Saturday, Patricia Robbins of Farm Share said there is still a need to be met.
"There is still a shortage on the canned goods side," she said, "and on the fresh produce side because of the price and because houses are being built on the land that was being farmed in Homestead,"
Like many of the organizations that will share in the food donations made Saturday, Farm Share also accepts cash donations. Most organizations also encourage direct donations, though larger donations from companies or organizations are often easier for them to process.
Many food organizations have also begun accepting donations of pet food, as families find that in addition to feeding themselves they are having a hard time feeding the non-human members of the family.
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