Pasco Sheriff's Office Announces Annual 'Feeding Pasco's Kids' Food Drive

From Pasco Sheriff's Office:

Sheriff Chris Nocco has announced the Pasco Sheriff's Office's annual Feeding Pasco's Kids food drive is accepting both monetary and food donations. Like last year's event in 2015, the proceeds from the Feeding Pasco's Kids food drive will be given directly to local organizations whose mission is to provide support for homeless children and students. This year, those recipients include the Pasco School system, the Salvation Army, Sunrise Domestic Violence Shelter in Dade City, God's Food 4 Life in Lacoochee and The Thomas Promise Foundation in Zephyrhills. We are grateful that several organizations are again joining the sheriff's food drive this year. This includes International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4420, Land O'Lakes and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 29, Land O' Lakes. According to the District School Board of Pasco County, there are more than 915 homeless children in Pasco County alone. This includes those that are"doubled up" or living in another's household; living in shelters or without shelter.

"Last year, with the assistance of our community partners, Pasco students,agency employees and Pasco citizens, we collected nearly 5,000 food items for needy Pasco children," Sheriff Nocco said.

The collection process to support this worthwhile endeavor will remain the same. Monetary donations are accepted, and we are also looking for non-perishable boxed or canned food items, such as instant potatoes and canned vegetables. Please do not donate any food in glass containers, which break easily. There will be donation boxes placed in the lobbies of Pasco Sheriff's Office buildings beginning Monday, Oct. 3. A number of area churches have also agreed to have boxes located in their buildings to assist in the collection of food. Monetary donations can be made by check or money order to Pasco Sheriff's Charities, with Food Drive in the "For" line. They can be mailed to Food Drive Donations, Pasco Sheriff's Charities, 8700 Citizen Drive, New Port Richey, FL 34654. All donations must be received by Friday, Dec. 9. If you would like to donate or have any questions about Feeding Pasco's Kids, please contact the Sheriff's Community Relations Office at 1-727-844-7759, Monday - Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock