August 16, 2016

Santa Rosa Beach, FL

By: Jessica Roberts

TICKETS ON SALE FOR 4TH ANNUAL ART OF GIVING BENEFIT

Kids Edition: Local Charity Highlights Young Artists

Tickets are on sale for Food For Thought Outreach’s 4th Annual Art of Giving presented by Porath & Associates to be held on Thursday, September 15th at 6:30pm at Churchill Oaks on the Choctawhatchee Bay. Lite bites will be provided by Brotula’s Seafood House and Steamer.

In previous years, the annual art auction has raised over $180,000 and featured local artists such as Justin Gaffrey, Allison Wickey, Justin Lyons, Chandler Williams, Matt Lyons, Marisol Gullo, and Velia Lala. This year the local nonprofit is switching it up and turning the event over to the kids for the Art of Giving - Kids Art Edition! Local schools have partnered with local artists and this year, the students will be auctioning off their pieces to help raise funds to fight child hunger!

Ohana Institute will be working with the Institute’s Director of Events, Julie Martin, as their Artist Partner as well as returning Art of Giving Artist, Allison Wickey. Cecilia Yglesias Haught has partnered with Noah’s Ark Preschool, Mya Schilder will be guiding the Northwest Florida Ballet, and Gulf Place Artist, Billie Gaffrey has partnered with the Seaside Neighborhood School. The students’ pieces along with their Artist Partners will be part of a silent auction alongside many other exciting packages and exclusive local items!

“We really wanted to bring the focus back to the kids. This is why we’re all here - to help fight child hunger, to fight food insecurity, and give our local students the best chance to succeed.,” says Tiffanie Nelson, Founder and Executive Director of Food For Thought Outreach. “We’re excited to be back at Churchill Oaks and we are excited to feature these young artists. Support from community partners like Churchill Oaks is so amazing - they’ve already committed to hosting next year’s event as well!”

In their sixth year, local charity Food For Thought Outreach has gone from serving 6 children at one school to over 1,500 children a week across 18 elementary, middle, and high schools in Okaloosa and Walton counties during the 2016-2017 school year and recently served record numbers of families through their summer outreach programs. Food For Thought Outreach provides backpacks filled with healthy, easy to prepare food for students who are dependent on free or reduced school meals to help bridge the gap between school meals during weekends.

To reserve your tickets online, please visit fftfl.org/products/art-of-giving-ticket

For more information, please email kevin@poortruman.com or visit www.fftfl.org

About Food For Thought Outreach

Food For Thought is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization based in Santa Rosa Beach, FL that provides backpacks filled with healthy, easy to prepare food for students who are dependent on free or reduced school meals. Our goal is to support a child’s development and educational experience by bridging the gap between school meals during weekends and holiday breaks. Food For Thought has been working to fight child hunger since 2010, and currently serves 20 schools in Walton and Okaloosa Counties, providing backpacks for 1,500 students each week. For more information, such as donation locations, pantry items needed, and opportunities to volunteer, please email info@fftfl.org.

About Churchill Oaks

Nestled on 40 acres in the bend of Churchill Bayou and Hogtown Bayou in the Choctawhatchee Bay, you’ll find Churchill Oaks, a new residential community designed to embrace all the beauty that nature has to offer. With over half a mile of common area access to South Walton’s ultimate playground, the Choctawhatchee Bay, Churchill Oaks offers a lifestyle like no other. All homesites feature amazing water views and are large enough to accommodate courtyards, outdoor kitchens, and gardens so each home connects with its natural setting. An environment well suited for the community’s Colonial and Low-Country architecture that accentuates the style and grandeur of the south. Churchill Oaks is thoughtfully designed around Southern magnolias, live oaks, and long-leaf pines, leaving 46% of the property untouched, timeless, and awe-inspiring.

Food insecurity is present in every county in the United States but not all families who worry about hunger qualify for government assistance. According to Feeding America, 12 million children in our country worry about where their next meal will come from.  27.1% of children in Walton County and 25.2% in Okaloosa County are food insecure.  About 6 children in your child's class are more worried about what they are going to eat next then what their teacher is saying.  

When a child is food insecure their ability to focus in school severely decreases. They have increased anxiety and aggression and often miss school due to chronic illness.  

Food For Thought is working in Walton and Okaloosa Counties to make sure food isn't something our children have to worry about.  This school year we will deliver backpacks full of healthy, easy to prepare food to 20 different schools and reach 1500 students a week.  In addition to our weekly backpack program, Food For Thought has holiday and summer services and provides all teachers in the schools we serve with a monthly supply of snacks for their classroom.  

With your help Food For Thought is removing the negative impacts of hunger for children in our community so they can get the most out of their education and development.   

 *Thank you note from a teacher in one of the local schools that Food For Thought serves.  

 July 21, 2016

Santa Rosa Beach, FL

SAVE THE DATE FOR 3RD ANNUAL STOCK THE PANTRY PARTY

Back-to-School Food Drive Kicks Off 2016-2017 School Year

The 3rd Annual Stock the Pantry Party will take place on Thursday, August 25th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the Food For Thought Santa Rosa Beach Pantry at 132 Market Street off Hwy 393 North. Food For Thought’s Stock the Pantry Party is a family-friendly event focused on raising funds and food items to fight local food insecurity. By joining the Stock the Pantry Party, guests are helping local students in need.

 Food For Thought Outreach has rapidly grown over the last six years, growing from providing backpacks of healthy, easy to prepare food items to six students a week in 2010, to serving over 1,200 students during the 2015-2016 school year with over 1,000,000 food items distributed to children in need in both Okaloosa and Walton counties. This summer, Food For Thought distributed over 800 bags of food to local families in need, add in serving an anticipated 1,500 students a week this upcoming school year, and their pantry shelves will be bare all too soon.

 With a growing number of students in need and a rapid increase in providing food over summer break, a nearly empty warehouse is all that is left before the beginning of the school year.

 Tiffanie Nelson, founder and Executive Director, has found a way to restock her organization’s supplies in time for the fast approaching school year while bringing the community together in a family-friendly environment. The event was such a success in its first year that the organization has continued the annual fundraiser and loves the annual food drive competition.

 This year 15 area schools, businesses, and churches will compete to collect the most food for Food For Thought Outreach services. Last year, Ohana Institute took first place by a landslide with over 11,300 items. Sandestin Real Estate and Wells Fargo had a tight race for second with Sandestin Real Estate ultimately taking second with 2,931 food items, and Wells Fargo with 2,372 food items.

 There are three categories for donations. Food Drive Sponsors will be competing against one another to see who can collect the most food items. Food For Thought expects this year to be another spirited competition and awards will be given for First, Second, and Third place. For those businesses who may not be able to collect over 200 items to enter the Food Drive competition, Business Backpack Sponsorships will also be available. This year, Food For Thought is also adding a Personal Backpack Sponsorship category for individuals and families that would like to donate directly. A $500 donation is requested and the individual, group, or business will be recognized at the event.

 Guests are asked to bring 5 food items (suggested items include plastic jars of peanut butter, plastic jars of jelly, granola bars, fruit cups, snack crackers, and/or breakfast bars) or $5 for entry into the event.

 “Last year, the friendly competition from the Food Drive Sponsors and record breaking amount of Backpack Sponsors helped collect over 33,000 food items and $9,400 in sponsorships and donations to kick off the year. We expect to see all our Sponsors to continue to challenge themselves in their collection efforts.,” says Nelson. “We hope to collect enough food items and donations to serve students for at least 6 weeks which is about 90,000 food items. We know our community is up to the challenge!”

 The event will feature the Mellow Mushroom Bake Bus, treats from Pop Stop, drinks from Grayton Beer Company, new Food For Thought t-shirts, a raffle with great prizes, and fun activities for the entire family!

 Contact Tiffanie Nelson at info@fftfl.org if you are interested in one of the remaining sponsorship opportunities for the 3rd Annual Stock the Pantry Party or visit www.fftfl.org for more information.