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Food Pantry says thank you

3 min read

To the editor:

This is to express the sincere thanks to all of the volunteers of the Pine Island Food Pantry, Inc,. for the tremendous support of the Winn-Dixie Third Annual Holiday Food Drive on Saturday, Nov. 13, by the people businesses and organizations of the island.

Each year the special Holiday Grocery Bags, assembled by Dan Loughren and his staff have helped the food Pantry through the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and this year was better than ever. Our thanks to everyone who supported the event by buying raffle tickets and the Food Bags Dan and his crew put together for the Pantry. A special thank you to non-pantry members who helped by selling tickets.

Special thanks to Dan and the wonderful staff at Winn-Dixie, who were at our beck and call all day.

Winn-Dixie vendors who donated and supported our efforts were, Miller Beer, Budweiser Beer, Pepsi and Coke.

Troop #20, Boy Scouts of America and their leaders and parents who gave up their Saturday to do a car wash, donating all the proceeds to the Food Pantry. These young men and their parents and leaders should be so proud of their accomplishment.

Marianne Paton, without whose help, none of us on the island would know what is going on. Marianne, a sincere thanks from all of us for your interesting, informative articles, which help our visitors and local residents find their way to all the great functions offered each week.

Thank you Southwest Capital Bank and TIB Bank for the use of their marquees to advertise our Food Drive.

Linda Leary, who designed our Holiday Raffle tickets with such short notice. Sincere thanks.

The businesses that donated to our Holiday Raffle:

Tarpon Lodge

Winn-Dixie

Malte and Chris Sallstrom

Island Cow Restaurant

St. James Automotive

Carl’s Service

Great Licks Ice Cream

Little Lilly’s Island Deli

Pine Island Growers

Pine Island family Hair Salon

Island Laundry and Dry Cleaning

Mel’s Diner

Gary Edwards

Four Winds Marina

Pine Island Cycles

Dr. Watson’s Liquor Store

Earth and Spirit Garden Gallery

Ragged Ass Saloon

Woody’s Waterside

The Island Grill

Sandy Hook Fish and Rib House

Pine Island Feed and Garden

And finally, our great team of volunteers from the Pine Island Food Pantry, Inc.

We are so proud of our organization and the wonderful people who are there for us week after week. Then, when we have a need of workers outside the Pantry hours, they step forward with no hesitation. You know who you are and please know how much you are appreciated.

Barbara La Plante

Pine Island Food Pantry Inc. Treasurer