Movers for Meals program aids hundreds of St. Johns County seniors for Thanksgiving

Volunteers sort food donations collected as part of Two Men and a Truck's Movers for Meals program. More than 400 low-income seniors will receive a Thanksgiving meal through the program this season.
Volunteers sort food donations collected as part of Two Men and a Truck's Movers for Meals program. More than 400 low-income seniors will receive a Thanksgiving meal through the program this season.

Although Thanksgiving Day is intended to be a joyous occasion for families, hundreds of low-income seniors in St. Johns County would go hungry, as most support services would be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

To ensure seniors receive the love and appreciation they deserve this Thanksgiving holiday, Two Men and a Truck of Jacksonville and St. Augustine, in partnership with Winn Dixie, will donate the food from their monthly Movers for Meals campaign. The donation goes to help Pie in the Sky Community Alliance provide a holiday meal for more than 400 low-income seniors living in St. Johns County.

“We are so grateful to be the recipients of the Movers for Meals monthly Food donation from Two Men and a Truck and their partners at Winn-Dixie. It is paramount if we are to have an effect on senior hunger, that everyone needs to participate in whatever way they can,” said Malea Guiriba, founder and executive director, Pie in the Sky Community Alliance, Inc. “This generous gift for our special holiday meal for 457 seniors in all four corners of our county is truly compassion in action and we are humbled and honored for our seniors to be the recipients of this community outreach gift.

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“Combined with the extra special cards from local school children, this Thanksgiving promises to be one of true generosity and gratitude, the foundations upon which this time of the year should be built. Thank you, Two Men and a Truck and Winn-Dixie for doing more than your fair share to us fight senior hunger in our community,” she said.

Pie in the Sky delivers fresh produce, non-perishable food items and essential items to the underserved, vulnerable Senior population year-round, and with the help of Two Men and a Truck and Winn Dixie, they will providing food for a Thanksgiving meal.

Several St. Johns County students also created holiday cards that will accompany the meals delivered to seniors.
Several St. Johns County students also created holiday cards that will accompany the meals delivered to seniors.

Students from five St. Johns County School District are also doing their part in spreading joy and lifting spirits by creating handmade cards with heartfelt messages for each senior citizen.

Two Men and a Truck delivered the food donations to Pie in the Sky on Nov. 5. Volunteers spent the next three days packaging the items and initial deliveries took place earlier this week. Remaining deliveries will be made on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The company's monthly Movers for Meals initiative began in April, 2021. To date, they have donated more than 15,900 pounds of food to the local food pantries and shelters, which have provided 13,250 meals to families in the First Coast region facing food insecurity.

“One of our core values here at Two Men and a Truck is to give back to the community,” said Pete Ruffing, franchisee. “When we approached Winn-Dixie about partnering with us for our Movers for Meals campaign, we knew this partnership would make a difference for those people who face food insecurity daily.”

Ruffing added that he and his colleagues are “proud and humbled” by the experience, having met many of the people served at the various food pantries.

“Pie in the Sky is another wonderful organization making a positive difference in countless people’s lives," Ruffing said.

Headquartered in Michigan, Two Men and a Truck is the largest franchised moving company in North America. For franchising opportunities, visit franchise.twomenandatruck.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Movers for Meals program aids hundreds of seniors this holiday