Hands On: Volunteers Pack Disaster Kits at FFTP’s Hearts United Community Day
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (April 27, 2022) Volunteers often look for a hands-on way to give back. This Saturday, they’ll be able to do just that at Food For The Poor’s first Hearts United Community Day.
Up to 150 volunteers are anticipated at FFTP’s Coconut Creek warehouse, 6401 Lyons Road, to pack hygiene items and sort donations as the charity gears up for the upcoming hurricane season.
The volunteers, representing businesses, churches, schools and other community groups, will gather in three packing sessions from 9 to 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Nova Southeastern University, the Coral Springs Democratic Club, Episcopal Church of Atonement and PopUp SOFLO are among the groups that will attend.
Volunteers in the warehouse must be 18 even if accompanied by a parent, but there are other ways for younger family members to help, either by hosting a collection drive or dropping off goods on the day of the event.
Hearts United Community Day coincides with the launch of the charity’s new volunteer program in conjunction with National Volunteer Week, which was April 17-23.
“We’re so grateful to our volunteers for donating their time. We could not do what we do without them,” said Pennie Stagnitta, FFTP’s Volunteer Coordinator. “We look forward to creating even more opportunities for people to get involved.”
In this podcast, Stagnitta and Jisabelle Garcia-Pedroso, FFTP’s Director of Programs and Operations, talk about how the volunteer program is instrumental in helping the charity prepare for hurricane season. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA9XyKr8O6E
Each spring, the charity pre-positions relief kits to help countries and in-country partners rapidly respond to disasters such as hurricanes or earthquakes. This year, kits will be sent to 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.
For FFTP’s Hearts United Community Day, groups also are encouraged to host their own collection drives and drop off their items on Saturday, April 30. Items needed include baby diapers, baby wipes, feminine hygiene pads, paper towels, toilet paper and trash bags.
Cash donations also are needed to furnish the items for the kits. To donate, text HEARTS1 to 51555 or go to www.FoodForThePoor.org/heartsunited.
Learn more about FFTP’s volunteer program:
https://youtu.be/dqKrg2bYK2U
For more information about Hearts United Community Day, visit the Hearts United Community Day event page on our website.
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 primarily in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean 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 Associate
954-471-0928 – mobile
[email protected]
