Food bank reports substantial increase in service
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the workload for the United Food Bank of Plant City to shoot way up from the same timeframe in 2019, according to a press release sent last week.
The UFBPC compared 2019 and 2020 data for households served, people served and pounds distributed for the months of March through July. It found that the number of people served at least doubled in four of the five months, that the number of households served at least tripled in four of the five months and that the pounds of food and items distributed at least doubled in three of the five months.
“We have more than experienced a doubling of those in need of assistance during this time,” director Mary Heysek said. “For example, when the shutdowns began in March, our food bank distributed 185,493 pounds of groceries and assisted 8,224 people vs. 2019, where we distributed 101,674 pounds of groceries to 3,996 people. Most recently, for the month of July, we distributed 481,964 pounds to 11,733 people vs 2019’s 161,110 to 5,743 people. Our daily average of people served from March to July has been 457 per day.”
By the numbers:
March 2019: 3,966 people served, 1,850 households served, 101,674 pounds distributed
April 2019: 4,591 people served, 2,407 households served, 143,932 pounds distributed
May 2019: 3,797 people served, 1,299 households served, 159,040 pounds distributed
June 2019: 5,548 people served, 2,921 households served, 129,250 pounds distributed
July 2019: 5,743 people served, 2,853 households served, 161,110 pounds distributed
March 2020: 8,224 people served (107.36% increase), 5,431 households served (193.57% increase), 185,493 pounds distributed (82.44% increase)
April 2020: 11,017 people served (139.97% increase), 8,505 households served (253.34% increase), 399,924 pounds distributed (177.86% increase)
May 2020: 7,851 people served (106.77% increase), 4,799 households served (269.44% increase), 232,946 pounds distributed (46.47% increase)
June 2020: 9,625 people served (73.49% increase), 5,865 households served (100.79% increase), 413,145 pounds distributed (219.65% increase)
July 2020: 11,733 people served (104.30% increase), 6,625 households served (132.21% increase), 481,964 pounds distributed (199.15% increase)
For more information about the United Food Bank of Plant City, call 813-764-0625.
Meals on Wheels seeking volunteers
Meals on Wheels of Plant City is looking for drivers to deliver food for two hours a day, five days a week.
Volunteers pick up the day’s meals from Winn-Dixie, 205 W. Alexander St., between 10 and 10:30 a.m. and deliver to clients along their route for the next two hours. The group covers seven specific areas of Plant City.
Anyone interested in volunteering can call the Meals on Wheels office at 813-754-9932. Office hours are between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Community input sought for bus service
Plant City residents are now being asked to share their thoughts on whether a bus service is needed in town.
Anyone interested in participating in the Plant City Transit Study Virtual Open House and Survey can view the program’s open house and provide comments online at tinyurl.com/PlantCityTransitStudy from now through Sept. 13.
For more information, contact Vishaka Shiva Raman at 813-273-3774 ext. 350. Call 813-273-3774 ext. 211 for Spanish.
Wooden Spoon reaches 2,000-meal mark
The Wooden Spoon Diner in Plant City has now donated more than 2,000 meals to essential workers in Plant City, Brandon and Polk County after visiting Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Winter Haven on Monday.
Owner Manny Roussos and staff served 350 meals to PCSO personnel that morning, bringing the count up to 2,060 since the COVD-19 shutdowns began in March
Protest at MADZone
A group of protestors gathered at MADZone Jumphouse on Sunday afternoon to raise awareness for a number of causes, ranging from police brutality to missing persons and domestic violence.
The protest doubled as a kids’ play day with a dunk tank outside, MADZone’s games and jumpies inside and vendors serving up snow cones, popcorn and other snacks. The party rooms were decorated with pictures of people who have been affected or victimized in incidents the group came to protest.
Unity donates to Boys and Girls Club
Unity in the Community presented the Boys and Girls Club of Plant City with a $10,000 check on Aug. 21.