This holiday season, our energetic and dedicated FILL THE NEED volunteers carefully lined up the abundance of hams, fresh fruit, vegetables and loaves of bread last Thursday to humbly offer these food items to the many local workers who ride the Palmetto Breeze Transit buses to work in our local community. These pictures so perfectly demonstrate the love that goes into this two-year-old program carried out every Thursday by 30 +volunteers and staff from Second Helpings and Palmetto Breeze Transit, overseeing the program.
Those receiving food are so grateful for the bags provided by Sonesta Resorts that offers them a safe and convenient way to transport their groceries back to their homes. The hams were provided through a grant from Food Lion.
This past week the volunteers sported holiday headbands, red sweaters, and warm outerwear to brave the nip in the air. This operation has taken over one of the bus bays providing the volunteers and those receiving food with shelter from the cold during this winter season, and relief from the sun during the hotter months.
Palmetto Breeze staff contribute tender-loving care and dedication to this food distribution. They sort through food that has passed its prime and donates that food to one they refer to as the “chicken lady.”
The smiles were contagious between those volunteering and those receiving food. This program is a tribute to all who give and receive. Second Helpings thanks our food donors, our community partners, and our FILL THE NEED volunteers, especially Margie Tomczak, Second Helpings volunteer coordinator of this program.
Special red goodie bags with toiletries and treats were among the items distributed last Thursday. These bags were created by youth from Holy Family Catholic Church Seventh Grade Religious Education Class. We can’t wait to see what 202o brings.