Update from Dan Short

Ballenlsles Trucks have widened their routes. They now collect from 8 Broward Publix stores Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and get about 2 tons or meat and fish a day. Starting June 30, Feed the Hungry Pantry is open Monday-Friday 8:30-4:30 for hungry families to pick up meat, produce, bread, and canned and dry goods. One of our partner agencies lost funding for its pantry worker and was faced with closing. Our staff now manages the pantry and assists both our partner’s clients and ours.
When we register a family we walk them through choices regarding receiving food from the pantry or delivery routes. In emergencies where no food is available to a family they are invited to the food pantry the same day or food is delivered by staff or food app within hours. Sometimes these emergencies arise on an average of once or twice a day. For the first time in 39 years, I had a lady introduce herself by texting me with a picture of her empty refrigerator.

We are excited to share the latest on our refrigerated containers:

• Power was turned on last Thursday evening. The refrigeration units are all working and cooling at acceptable levels (20° below zero).
• The security cameras are up and running.
• Solar panel installation is expected to be complete by the end of July.