Join us December 15th at 7 pm as we team up with SweetWater Brewing Company and Destin Shines! for Mellow Trivia! All Sweetwater sales for the evening will go directly to Food For Thought Outreach Inc, an Emerald Coast based NPO that provides backpacks filled with healthy, easy to prepare food for students who are dependent on free or reduced school meals. Helping out is as simple as showing up, grabbing some beers, and playing Mellow Trivia!

The 15th also marks the halfway point for this year's Mellow Trivia League! Do you see that SweetWater Bote Paddleboard in the event photo? That's going to our league leaders at the end of the night! We can't wait to see everyone!

An opportunity to save on your car washes and give to the children in your community! Use the code in the coupon 24/7 to SAVE and automatically donate to a great cause! Use code 12340 to give a $1 back to Food For Thought Outreach. 

Bring the family out to enjoy "Every Christmas Story Ever Told" on December 5th with REP 

This annual event will help raise funds for FPRA's NWF Coast Chapter as well as this year's charity of choice, Food For Thought Outreach Inc.

The evening will feature heavy hors d’oeuvres by South Walton’s top restaurants: Signature Catering of 30A, The Hub 30A, The Beach House,Brotula's Seafood House & Steamer, Barbacoa Mexican Grill 30A and more. The evening will also feature an intimate performance by NBC's "The Voice" contestant Geoff McBride, silent auction, complimentary wine, champagne, beer and much more!

Purchase tickets online or RSVP for event at nwfcoastfpra.org/registration.
Pre-Event $30/person $25/members
Day of Event $35/person, $30/members

For sponsorship and donation opportunities, visit http://www.nwfcoastfpra.org/events-list/2015/12/4/holiday-toast-on-the-coast-a-taste-of-south-walton.

This year’s sponsors include V. LALA Galleries , Food For Thought Outreach Inc, Silver Sands Premium Outlets, Beachy Beach 30a,30Avenue, Visit South Walton, Grayton Beer Company, Seaside - New Town, Old Ways Wine, Modus Photography, Chaste 850 and more to come. Event attendees are encouraged to bring a $10 grocery gift card to support Food For Thought.

 

NON-PROFIT BECOMES DESTIN COMMUNITY’S NEWEST NEIGHBOR

Food For Thought Outreach Helps to Revitalize and Repurpose Neighborhood

The City of Destin, Florida has agreed to lease a long-standing vacant property to local nonprofit, Food For Thought Outreach. Food For Thought Outreach provides backpacks full of healthy, kid-friendly food items home with children over the weekend who receive free and reduced lunches during the week. Many of these children may otherwise not have a full meal from when they leave school on Friday until they return to school on Monday, and Food For Thought steps in to make sure these students receive the assistance they need.

Food For Thought Outreach has grown exponentially since its start in 2010. Tiffanie Nelson, Founder and Executive Director, started with six children at one Walton County school. By 2013, word had spread and schools in Okaloosa County began reaching out for help. Food For Thought began serving Destin Middle and Destin Elementary Schools and soon added Edge Elementary in Niceville. This year, the organization has spread further into Fort Walton Beach and currently helps feed over 600 students in 8 schools within the K-12 range across Okaloosa County.

With this expansion, Food For Thought Outreach quickly outgrew their work space, and then again, and again. The nonprofit has found a permanent headquarters in Santa Rosa Beach and now this new Destin Pantry will be home for at least the next three years.

“The added stability of a space we can grow with is priceless,” says Nelson. “We will be sending out over 600 backpacks from this location alone. We estimate that over the course of the year, we will send out over 1,000,000 food items across all of our programs. To have a safe, secure home base to do that from is amazing. We’re very grateful to the City for this opportunity.”

Several partners have stepped up already, including the Rotary Club of Destin, and the Project Team will continue to grow as more assistance is needed. The Rotary Club of Destin has agreed to make certain appropriations for expenses and capital improvements before the organization moves in March. Jon Kazek, co-owner of Dixon Kazek Morrison Custom Homes, will be donating his time and services to spearhead the project renovations. Some of the improvements will include new flooring, new A/C units, and several cosmetic changes in and around the property. Other leaders from across a variety of businesses are quickly coming together to join the team and help improve the building and their community.

“In keeping with The Rotary Club of Destin’s mission to eradicate hunger in our community, our club has maintained a long-standing annual commitment to support Crop Drop, Harvest House and Food For Thought.  It was only a natural decision for Destin Rotarians to embrace the Food For Thought Destin project with both a financial commitment and a commitment to help lead the renovation efforts occurring over the next few months,” stated Jeanne Dailey, President, Rotary Club of Destin. “We challenge our fellow community organizations, businesses and citizens to rally behind this humanitarian effort.  Rotary International’s motto this year is “Be a Gift to the World” and we continue to uphold that motto within our own neighborhood.”

If you or someone you know would like to donate time, funds, or services to the project please  email info@fftfl.org or visit fftfl.org/products/destin-pantry-project

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 15 schools in Walton and Okaloosa Counties, providing backpacks for 1,200 students each week. For more information, such as donation locations, pantry items needed, and opportunities to volunteer, please email info@fftfl.org.

About The City of Destin, FL

Our mission is to enhance the health, safety, welfare and quality of life of our residents, businesses, and visitors, preserve our heritage and environment for future generations, and provide service excellence.