News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Dede Flounlacker, Executive Director, Manna

dede@mannahelps.org | (850) 432-2053

Fill the Mayflower 2019 provides 90,000 meals for neighbors in need

Pensacola, FL (November 27, 2019) – The Northwest Florida community generously donated food and funds during the 2019 Fill the Mayflower event. The area’s largest multi-day food drive, Fill the Mayflower supports the operations of Manna Food Pantries. Donations from Fill the Mayflower will provide 90,000 meals to neighbors in need in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The event is made possible by Coastal Moving and Storage, Cat Country 98.7, NewsRadio 92.3/AM 1620, and WEAR Ch. 3 News.

Food collected during Fill the Mayflower will be distributed through Manna’s three pantries and nine programs in partnership with 11 other community agencies including the School Resource Office Food Program with Pensacola Police Department and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Rosa County School District Backpacks4Teens Program, the Healthy Senior Food Program at Westminster Village, the Tender Hearts Caring Hands financial stability program at Ministry Village at Olive, and to children and families through Gulf Coast Kid’s House and Santa Rosa Kid’s House.

“Over the past year, Manna has provided food to 19,499 people, including 8,666 children,” said DeDe Flounlacker, Executive Director of Manna. “This event raised the much-needed food to help feed the hungry during the coming months. We’re so grateful to the Northwest Florida community for supporting this event and continuing to show an amazing capacity to help those in need.”

“Many thanks to Jay and Jennifer Bradshaw, owners of Coastal Moving and Storage, for sponsoring Fill the Mayflower, and to our media sponsors Cat Country 98.7, NewsRadio, and WEAR,” said Flounlacker. “We also couldn’t do this event without the support of the volunteers who donated more than 300 hours of service."

For more information, please visit mannahelps.org.

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About Manna

Manna’s mission is to offer emergency food assistance, service the food-related needs of vulnerable populations, and engage the entire community in the fight against hunger. A local grassroots organization with no national affiliation or government funding, Manna provided food to 19,499 people last year.  Manna operates a network of three emergency food distribution pantries and nine specialty programs and partnerships in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. For more information, please visit www.mannahelps.org.