A SEASON OF GIVING

A Season of Giving by Ashley Wright

as the holiday season swiftly approaches, it’s easy to get swept up in the busyness of attending holiday parties, shopping for last minute gifts and creating grocery lists. Yet, for many Pensacola families, children and seniors, the approaching winter and holiday season brings about one of their biggest worries—food insecurity. One meaningful way to help spread cheer and give back to your community this holiday season is to lend a helping hand in support of one of the numerous organizations across Northwest Florida that are providing much-needed resources and meals to those in need. According to Kerri Smayda, Associate Executive Director at Manna Food Bank, of the 69,095 people they assisted with food last year, 66 percent of those were children. “With a challenging 2020 when COVID first hit and now with inflation, rising food costs, rising utility costs and everything that comes along with that, we have seen an increase in need in recent months and we don’t expect that to go away any time soon, unfortunately,” Smayda said. According to Feeding the Gulf Coast’s Community Engagement Coordinator, Anna Goretski, one in eight adults and one in six children in their Florida service area suffer from food insecurity. With children out of school for the holidays, they receive fewer meals from school, which equates to families having to carry the burden of extra grocery costs to make up the difference during the holiday season—a time of year that typically comes with more expenses (colder days means higher electric/gas bills, more gas due to traveling, buying presents, etc.). This time of year, at its best, represents spreading cheer and joy. We have gathered up the details on some ways you can help give back by feeding the bellies and hearts of those in need throughout our community.

Feeding the Gulf Coast

feedingthegulfcoast.org Feeding the Gulf Coast is the area's local Feeding America-affiliated food bank. This food bank serves 24 counties from Mississippi to Alabama to the Florida Panhandle. It provides emergency food assistance programs and other support to nonprofit and faith-based organizations. Last year, the food bank distributed more than 27.5 million meals to those in need along the central Gulf Coast. During the holidays, volunteers are needed to support the bank's numerous programs. Volunteers sort food, pack boxes offood for seniors living on fixed incomes andvolunteer at mobile pantry distributions." “Any one person can make a difference,” Goretski said. “Whether through $1, one donated item or one hour of time.” The food bank operates several programs to address hunger, including four child nutrition programs— a Backpack Program, School Pantry Program, After School Meals and Summer Meals Program. Those interested in getting involved, can visit feedingthegulfcoast.org for more information or to sign up to volunteer. Feeding the Gulf Coast is connected to 130 agency partners in Northwest Florida that your donations of time or funds can assist this holiday season.

mannahelps.org Coming into the month of December, Manna’s greatest need is your time and donations. This is largely due to the fact that Manna is a locally-based, grassroots organization with no national affiliation or government funding. That means they largely depend on the Pensacola community to complete their mission. “We are volunteer supported,” Smayda said, “We need it. We can’t do what we do without volunteers.” They are currently booking volunteer groups through the end of the year into January with groups ranging from churches and businesses to smaller friend groups or families. Volunteers can help sort and distribute food through their food pantry/warehouse or assist clients with gathering food items as they come in. “We welcome groups of all sizes,” Smayda said. “We’ve had groups of two and then other groups of 20.” She also said to keep an eye out around the community for ways to connect with Manna. Many faith-based organizations and local businesses host food drives that directly benefit Manna and its programs throughout the holiday season. For example, Ever’Man Cooperative Grocery and Cafe will be accepting food donations at their Pensacola locations through December 31. One of their biggest events in December will be “Pack the Pirate Ship” on December 16th hosted by the Krewe of Lafitte from 6 am to 7 pm at the Astro Lincoln dealership located at 6350 Pensacola Blvd. and Joe Patti’s Seafood at 524 South B Street. Non-perishable food donations will be accepted. Manna operates an emergency food assistance pantry and 17 specialty programs in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. For more information on volunteering or the most needed donation items, visit mannahelps.org.

Waterfront Rescue Mission

Waterfrontmission.org The Waterfront Rescue Mission serves Pensacola’s homeless community through numerous programs, including overnight shelters, meals, and resources for addiction recovery, work training and other daily needs. During the holiday season, community members can support Waterfront Rescue Mission by volunteering to serve meals or contribute financially to the mission. They are offering a meal on Christmas Eve at 11 am at their mission on Herman Street for men, women and children who are not only homeless but may find themselves hungry and alone and would like a warm meal and holiday joy, Waterfront Rescue Mission Vice President of Public Relations Angie Ishee said. Sometimes those who are served or serve at holiday meals include widows, widowers, or those who don’t have family here. “Sometimes it's even students who are out of town who might join us for a meal or volunteer with us,” Ishee explained. Ishee explained that during colder winter months, which also happen to be during the holidays, the mission sees a significant increase in the needs of the homeless individuals and families they serve. “They don’t want to be alone during the holidays and certainly cold weather brings people in off the street. The numbers here increase up to 10 to 15 percent typically when we have cold weather. As those numbers increase at the shelter and those seeking services and meals grow, the mission’s utilities increase, the food need increases…all the expenses rise,” Ishee said. To help, community members can drop off food, can make monetary donations online or drop off cold weather items (primarily for men) including jackets, hats, and gloves. These items will also be accepted if they are gently worn. Ishee said monetary donations allow them to help in the ways that are most needed. To donate or find ways you can volunteer, visit waterfrontmission.org/ways-to-give.

Waterfront Rescue Mission

Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen

loavesandfishesoupkitchen.com Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen serves approximately 4,600 warm meals to the city's homeless each month from their soup kitchen in downtown Pensacola. The organization also serves thefamilies currently residing in their emergency family shelter. According to Executive Director Heather Pabo, most of the food that is served at the soup kitchen and shelter are supported by community donations. The holiday season is a time when those who are facing hardships such as homelessness feel even more isolated. “The goal of our ministry is to provide a place for the community to gather in the name of Jesus to show love to those who may not be receiving it anywhere else, and to meet their basic needs so they know someone cares,” she added. In terms of what they need most during the holidays, donations of ham and turkey are at the top of the list. “Ham is great because if we receive an abundance, we can serve it in our breakfast meals Monday through Friday,” she said. “It will always get used in serving the public and our family shelter. It is also great when we can supply our transitional houses with meal boxes that include meat.”

Other donation items needed during the holiday season are gloves, socks, and beanies and pre-made Christmas stockings. Pre-made snack bags with packaged snacks like beef jerky, peanut butter crackers, and fruit cups with utensils are also needed to hand out to the food kitchen's breakfast guests so that they have an additional meal during the day. Currently, Loaves and Fishes has a two-week emergency family shelter for parents with minor children as well as seven transitional homes for families. They also have a home for single homeless individuals in need of affordable housing through their Simeon House Program. They offer a public breakfast served by volunteers Monday through Friday. For those interested in volunteering or donating, you can call their office at (850) 438-7616 Monday through Friday, 8 am to 12 pm to schedule donation drop offs. If you would like to volunteer, you can apply at loavesandfishesoupkitchen.com. Monetary contributions can also be made on their website, or by mail to 257 E. Lee St., Pensacola, FL 32503. Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen

Epps Christian Center

eppschristiancenter.org Epps Christian Center is led by Pastor Sylvia E. Tisdale and each week her center serves those in the community who are hungry by giving fresh and non-perishable food items through their outreach, Ecomfort, Inc., as well as providing other services such as applying for benefits and assisting the homeless with obtaining identification. The center provides farm share food distribution to the community as well. They receive and distribute over 60,000 pounds of food a month. This holiday season, Pastor Tisdale said that one of their greatest needs and opportunities for the community to support their work is by donating or volunteering for their Senior Citizen Christmas Gala at 6 pm on December 13. “We’re focusing on seniors because they normally get left out during the holiday time,” she said. “We would like our seniors to get in the spirit of Christmas as well, Tisdale said”She is hoping to feed between 100 to 150 seniors. Although Epps Christian Center may be a small ministry, they have been addressing food insecurity for years. “There is a lot of need in our community and since COVID, things have never been the same,” she explained. “There's been increase after increase in the prices for many basic needs and this year is getting harder for people, especially seniors, women and children.” The community can help with food sorting and distribution on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the center. They typically help between 200 to 400 families. Currently, some of their biggest needs are produce items, as well as canned meat, rice and grits - but any food or monetary donation can help, Pastor Tisdale said. To volunteer or donate, you can reach Pastor Tisdale directly at (850) 741-8567 or visit eppschristiancenter.org.

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