by Marty Proctor
FAITH Neighborhood Center (FNC) is a food pantry serving south Lake County residents. Every year the Center provides hundreds of holiday meals to food insecure and other deserving families. FNC executive director Trish Kry says, “this year we have a problem sourcing hams and turkeys for the holiday meals. Our normal business and service partners cannot obtain the birds they usually donate for our distribution.”
Production of frozen turkeys is down compared to last year. The nationwide inventory in August was 24 percent lower than the three-year average, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Retailers and farmers say high demand and supply chain disruptions are what have truly pounded the turkey market.
The FNC team has come up with a solution. Trish continued, “we are asking for Publix gift cards or for cash to buy Publix gift cards. We need about $7,000 to actually buy these gift cards to distribute for Christmas or holiday meals to our clients.” Many of the local retail outlets have turkeys available but are limiting them to “one to a customer” which prevents the Center from buying bulk turkeys to meet this demand. Providing families with gift cards will allow them to purchase the turkey, ham, or other main dishes their families want. “The $7,000 will meet the demand if we again provided the 900 families that we fed last year. The Center is expecting there to be even more client requests this year. So appealing to our supporting groups, businesses, and individuals is what we’re going to do to make up for the shortage of hams and turkeys.”
If you have a couple of hours a week to volunteer or wish to make a cash donation, visit FNC-HELP NOW! and learn how you can help. Contact Scott Dau at 352-429-1200 for additional information or visit the Center located at 14727 Timber Village Road, Groveland FL 34736.
Those in need are welcome to visit the Center during operating hours. The enrollment process is quick and private. New clients receive fresh, healthy food immediately and are warmly welcomed to visit up to twice a month. Se habla espanol and a little kreyol too. All are welcome.
Learn more, visit FNC- LOOKING TO FEED 900 FAMILIES
