A new hunger-fighting initiative is about to take off. Food distribution nonprofit Feeding Northeast Florida will kick off its first annual 500-thousand can challenge.
The group is asking members of the community to set up collection boxes at their homes and places of business between November 17 and December 17. Prizes will be awarded to the top-five businesses and individuals who gather the most canned foods.
Feeding Northeast Florida took shape last year after its parent organization Feeding America broke ties with local nonprofit Lutheran Social Services earlier last year.
The group’s head Bruce Ganger said because of the shakeup, he was not able to order enough turkeys for the annual Thanksgiving Dinner Giveaway. Last year, the event handed out the ready-to-prepare meals to 2,500 families in Everbank Field. This year, Ganger said the group will look to its partner agencies and businesses to help with holiday meal distribution.
“I can continue to look through and tap my network and resources to be able to get what I can available to people,” he said.
Earlier this week, the group received a big boost from another organization. The Red Coats, a group of past Players Championship chairmen, announced Thursday they will be awarding a $10,000 grant to the group.
The can challenge kicks off Monday. To find out more information, visit www.feedingnefl.org or visit the “500,000 Can Challenge” on Facebook or Twitter.
You can follow Rhema Thompson on Twitter @RhemaThompson.
