Press releases

County hosts food drive for
House of Hope

PRESS RELEASE DATE: MARCH 25, 2009

Martin County employees are sponsoring a food drive on behalf of House of Hope through April 17.

Members of the public are invited to join in the drive by bringing nonperishable food to bins located in government office offices throughout the county, such as the administration building, the Sheriff’s Office, Clerk of Courts, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector and Supervisor of Elections.

The drive was launched March 17 with a proclamation by the Board of County Commissioners. The proclamation congratulated House of Hope on its 25th year of service to Martin County residents in need. Nicki van Vonno, director of the county’s Growth Management Department, followed the proclamation by announcing the county’s food drive, which she has spearheaded.

House of Hope is the largest provider of food to the hungry in Martin County. In 2008 the agency gave out more than 126 tons of food – the equivalent of more than 296,000 meals. One-third of this amount feeds hungry children.

The county employee drive comes in response to a huge increase in need: Calls for food assistance at House of Hope in the first two months of 2009 are double the requests in January and February of 2008.

Basic non-perishable items are needed: canned vegetables, soups, beans, fruit, fish, meat, chili, as well as pasta, rice, potatoes and macaroni and cheese.

For more information about House of Hope, call (772) 286-4673, or visit www.hohmartin.org.