Thanksgiving is nearly here and as we head into the holiday season NEFAR is offering two opportunities for its members to support Feeding Northeast Florida to help the less fortunate in our community.
Starting on Tuesday, November 1, the NEFAR Community Affairs Task Force will be organizing both a virtual food drive and an in-person food collection drive for the nonprofit, which, as one of the largest food distribution networks in the region, serves 325 social service agencies in Northeast Florida.
The virtual food fund drive will be held online allowing NEFAR members, their families, and friends as well as members of the public to give specific food items through their computers or mobile phones. Just click here to scan items as you would in the self-checkout line at the grocery store or donate money directly to Feeding Northeast Florida by selecting the gift card option for the greatest impact. Because Feeding Northeast Florida can purchase food at a much greater discount than the cost of individual items at the grocery store, the nonprofit suggests you make a monetary donation for the amount you might plan to spend at the store. Each $1 that is donated helps provide six meals to needy families.
In-person food collection
The task force would also like brokers to contact either Task Force Chairman Christina Welch at christina@welchteam.com or Marcia Hodgson, task force liaison at mhodgson@nefar.com if they would like to have a collection barrel placed in their offices. The task force hopes to collect canned goods, paper products, drinks, dry goods, and personal hygiene items to bring to the Feeding Northeast Florida warehouse in Jacksonville. Task force members will pick up the food items during the first week of December.
Acceptable items for donation:
- Bottled water
- Juice
- Sparkling water
- Sports drinks
- Cooking oils
- Canned vegetables
- Canned fruit
- Canned meat
- Canned soup
- Pasta
- Rice
- Beans
- Peanut Butter
- Jelly
- Cereals
- Boxed Macaroni
- Pasta Sauce
- Paper towels
- Paper plates
- Baby diapers and wipes
- Adult incontinence products
- Menstrual products
- Deodorant
- Hairbrushes
- Toothpaste and toothbrushes
- Body Wash
- Shampoo and Conditioner
- Razors, OTC medicines
- Snacks such as pudding
- Cereal
- Granola Bars
- Pop Tarts
- Fruit Cups
- Shelf-stable milk boxes
- Applesauce
- Animal crackers
- Dried Fruit
