Girl Scouts Turn the Table on Hunger by hosting Broward’s largest single-day food drive

     Date: 2/29/2008
     Press Contact: Lori Sullivan, 954-739-7660, ext. 219
     
     Oakland Park, FL --- By aiding in replenishing the local food pantries s, the Girl Scouts will make a difference in the number of people who will have food to put on their tables. Since 2004, the Girl Scout food drive has donated 80,000 pounds of food.
     For the past five years, in honor of the National Girl Scout Birthday, Girl Scouts of Broward County has hosted “Feeding Broward Together” – now the largest single-day food drive in our community. In response to the rising shortages and escalating demand for food at our community’s food pantries, the Girl Scouts are increasing this year’s goal to 35,000 pounds.
     To date, approximately 110 Girl Scout troops throughout Broward County have been busy for the last month conducting food drives. The non-perishable food items collected at their schools, places of worship, business locations and in their neighborhoods will be brought to the “weigh-in” celebration at the Girl Scout Leadership and Education Center (local Girl Scout headquarters). Last year more than 1,800 Girl Scouts participated in the food drive with one Brownie troop donating 1,502 pounds of food.
     The Coordinating Council of Broward’s Million Meals Committee will be the recipient of the “Feeding Broward Together” food donations. They will distribute the food to a countywide network of food pantries and community outreach programs, including the Hope Outreach Center, Kids in Distress, the Daily Food Bank and the Cooperative Feeding Program.
     After the Food Drive the fun will continue at Fort Lauderdale Stadium as Girl Scouts will continue the birthday celebration. The Baltimore Orioles are hosting all Broward Girl Scouts at 1:05 PM as they host the New York Mets. CEO Leslie Roth and a lucky Girl Scout will throw out the first ceremonial pitch.
     The Girl Scout Mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make this world a better place. Girl Scouts of Broward County, Inc. serves more than 9,000 girls and 4,500 adult volunteers. For more information about the “Feeding Broward Together” annual food drive contact Precious Gordon at 954-739-7660, ext. 239. To learn more about the Girl Scouts of Broward County, including information about registering your girl, adult volunteering or public support opportunities visit www.browardgirlscouts.org.
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