In the 2011 Rotary Food Drive to benefit Marion-Polk Food Share (MPFS), SSJH surpassed its collection goal for the third year in a row, donating just over a ton of food, a total of 2010 lbs. SSJH attorneys, professional staff, clients, and friends joined the month-long effort.
As the regional food bank, MPFS collects the bulk of emergency food that reaches hungry residents via a network of 95 charities that either give out food boxes or that prepare and serve on-site meals. On average, 6,500 families, including 10,500 children, are being served each month.
Last year, MPFS fed the network by delivering nearly 7 million pounds of food to member charities. The value of that food was more than $10 million. With that food, MPFS charities gave out 77,587 emergency food boxes and prepared and served 588,563 on-site meals.
Last year, the Rotary Food Drive brought in 106,126 pounds of food and $80,124. Twenty-two businesses and organizations were acknowledged for their outstanding participation, including eight organizations raising over five tons and seven organizations (including SSJH) raising over a ton.