Hearts United Community Day: FFTP Volunteers to Pack Women’s Care Kits for Disaster Response
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (March 28, 2023) Volunteers will spring into action on Saturday, April 15, to help Food For The Poor (FFTP) pack 2,000 women’s care kits that are a key part of the charity’s disaster response each year.
The first Hearts United Community Day of 2023 will bring together volunteers from churches, schools, businesses and community groups for this important endeavor.
FFTP prepositions relief kits every year to help countries and in-country partners rapidly respond to disasters such as hurricanes or earthquakes. This year, kits will be sent to the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as kept on hand in case a disaster hits the United States.
Women’s care kits contain such essentials as wash cloths, shampoo and feminine hygiene products.
“The items packed by volunteers will be such a blessing to the women and families we serve, especially in times of disaster,” FFTP President/CEO Ed Raine said. “Hearts United shows South Florida and the world how people can come together, work alongside each other to achieve a common goal and to do something meaningful for families who will desperately need our help after a hurricane or other natural disaster.”
Up to 140 volunteers are needed and so far, more than 70 have signed up. Among the volunteers expected to attend will be Oliver Mair, Consul General of Jamaica based in Miami, and Miramar City Commissioner Maxwell B. Chambers, both of whom participated in Hearts United events last year.
The packing sessions will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the charity’s Coconut Creek warehouse, 6401 Lyons Road.
To sign up for one of the sessions, please go to: www.FoodForThePoor.org/heartsunited
Cash donations, which will help replenish items for the kits, also are welcome. To donate, text HEARTS1 to 51555 or go to www.FoodForThePoor.org/heartsunited.
Hearts United Community Day will kick off FFTP’s celebration of National Volunteer Week which runs from April 16 to 23. Now organized by the nonprofit Points of Light, National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 and features thousands of volunteer projects and special events.
Throughout the year, FFTP invites volunteers to pack food and hygiene kits, sort donations and assist with clerical duties at the charity’s Coconut Creek headquarters. Events such as Hearts United Community Day satisfy volunteers’ desire to do something hands-on on a much bigger scale.
“Our volunteers are passionate about giving back and are excited to help in such an impactful way,” said Pennie Stagnitta, FFTP’s Volunteer Coordinator.
Food For The Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the nation, does much more than feed millions of hungry children and families living in poverty in 21 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, water, medicine, educational materials, homes, support for vulnerable children, care for the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.
Michael Turnbell
Communications
954-471-0928
[email protected]
