Fill the Mayflower food drive raises 80,000 healthy meals for neighbors in need
The 15th annual Fill the Mayflower food and funds drive — presented by Coastal Moving and Storage and benefitting Manna Food Bank — was a success, raising the equivalent of 80,000 healthy meals for neighbors in need in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Food collected during Fill the Mayflower at Cordova Mall, Manna’s largest multi-day food drive of the year, will be distributed through Manna’s pantry and food security programs in the two-county area.
In the past 12 months, Manna distributed more than 554,000 pounds of food to 69,095 people, a 122% increase over the year prior. Record inflation, global conflict, and subsequent rises in food costs, housing costs and utility costs, as well as the lingering effects of the pandemic, have all contributed to a sharp increase in food requests. Food and funds collected at Fill the Mayflower will assist Manna in meeting the need.
Visit MannaHelps.org for details.
City hosts Magic of Christmas Drive-In Movie and Toy Drive
City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation is hosting the Magic of Christmas Drive-In Movie and Toy Drive at 3 p.m. Saturday at Community Maritime Park, 301. W. Main St.
More: Allstate Foundation presents $10K gift to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida
More: Stepping Out in Style raises over $130K for playground at new Baptist Hospital
Guests are invited to enjoy the magical feel of Christmas and help spread cheer within the community. There will be an opportunity to take free photos with Santa and the event will feature the New Line Cinema holiday film "Elf" (PG). The movie will be broadcasted on FM Radio at dusk.
Admission is free, but guests are encouraged to bring a new, packaged toy to donate. All toy proceeds will be donated to a service organization of the event sponsor's choice.
The event is sponsored by Cumulus Media stations Magic 106.1 FM and Soft Rock 94.1 and will be emceed by program director and media personality Linda "Sonshine" Moorer.
Call 850-436-5670 or visit playpensacola.com for details.
Volunteers needed to distribute coats and blankets to homeless
Pensacola Caring Hearts Inc. is looking for volunteers to help distribute items received during its Coats and Blankets Drive for the Homeless.
Pensacola Caring Hearts staff and volunteers will ride through Pensacola homeless camps from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 and give out the coats and blankets with hot food and drinks.
Anyone who wants to volunteer or drop off food items, a cup for warm drinks, plates, plastic dinnerware or napkins can meet at Pensacola Caring Hearts, located 2105 W. Gregory St., at 11 a.m.
For more information on volunteering or donating, call 850-977-1695 or email debbielewis@pensacolacaringhearts.org.
Pensacola Bay Center gives back through ASM Global Acts
As part of ASM Global Acts, the “Global Month of Giving” initiative, the Pensacola Bay Center is partnering with Ronald McDonald House and Manna Food Bank to collect donations at Bay Center events now through Dec. 17.
Guests can donate $1 to the Ronald McDonald House at all concession locations throughout the venue. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida serves the area to love and support families of children with medical needs by giving them a place to call home.
More: Big Brothers Big Sisters receives $30,000 grant from the Arby’s Foundation
More: Pen Air donates $100K to Naval Aviation Museum Foundation's STEM Center of Excellence
The venue will accept healthy, nonperishable food donations at the entry gates prior to entering the venue. All food donations will go to Manna Food Bank and guests who make food donations will receive one concessions voucher per party, good for one food or drink item on the day of the event. Manna Food Bank offers emergency food assistance, services the food-related needs of vulnerable populations, and engages the entire community in the fight against hunger.
The most-needed food items include canned fruit in 100% juice (20 oz. or less), canned vegetables (16 oz. or less), canned chicken and tuna (12 oz. or less, cans and pouches), oatmeal (boxes of individual packets), peanut butter (16 oz. or fewer jars and individual cups) and microwaveable meals (e.g., Hormel Compleats).
Visit pensacolabaycenter.com/center-info/community-involvement for details.
BISSELL Pet Foundation hosts ‘Empty the Shelters – Holiday Hope’ event
The BISSELL Pet Foundation is bringing hope to homeless pets this holiday season with its “Empty the Shelters – Holiday Hope” event now through Dec. 11. The Pensacola Humane Society is one of more than 275 participating shelters across the country joining in this lifesaving effort to take deserving pets from kennels to the couches of loving homes.
During Empty the Shelters, the Humane Society will be reducing adoption fees to $15 for any cat or dog younger than 8 years old. They will continue to waive fees for all senior pets age 8 and older. As the nation’s largest funded adoption event, Empty the Shelters has helped 117,615 pets find loving homes through sponsoring reduced adoption fees of $50 or less.
Visit pensacolahumane.org for details.
Take part: To make a Causes submission, email giving@pnj.com.
Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Pensacola News Journal using the link at the bottom of the page under Stay Connected.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Fill the Mayflower raises 80,000 healthy meals for neighbors in need
