Delray Beach Chamber groups unite to help food pantry

DELRAY BEACH — The Delray Business Partners and the PEP Club, two of the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Leads Groups, have joined forces to assist the Community Food Pantry and the Caring Kitchen in Delray Beach in their Food Drive.

“We could really use help stocking our pantry in August.  Our numbers are rising each week and donations are very low in summer,” said Juanita Bryant Goode, South County coordinator of the Caring Kitchen/Community Pantry.  “Right now I’m struggling with the possibility of having to close some days when we don’t have enough food to give out.”

Jennifer Aracri, owner of Curves in Delray Beach and a member of the Delray Business Partners says, “I know we are all struggling.  Summers are slow at our businesses; our kids are getting ready to go back to school so we're buying school supplies. Our fixed incomes are just that - fixed, but I think we can all admit that in many ways we are blessed.   We have homes and food on our tables.  Yet there are families, and for me the heartbreaking thing is — children — who are going hungry in our community.  Not in another area of Palm Beach County, not in another part of our state, or country, and not in another third world country. Right here in Delray Beach.” 

Some of the non-perishable food items needed include macaroni and cheese, pasta, peanut butter, rice, beans (dried or canned) and soup. Last year 49,572 people received emergency food, half of them children.

Anyone can drop off food donations at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 188 S. Swinton Avenue in Delray Beach between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Food may also be dropped off at Curves, 1316 N. Federal Highway in Delray Beach Monday through Friday 6:15 a.m. to noon and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Women may join Curves at 1316 N. Federal Highway for $0 Service Fee (normally $99) with a donation of $30 in groceries (receipt required) or a donation of $30 to the C.R.O.S. Ministries.

The Community Food Pantry is one of the programs of C.R.O.S. Ministries (Christians Reaching Out to Society).  The mission of C.R.O.S. is to enable people of all faiths to work together to identify unmet needs of the community and collaborate with community groups in creating solutions to meet those needs. For more information visit the C.R.O.S. website http://www.crosministries.org/pantries.htm or call 561-699-5113.