Latest news with #MannaFoodPantry
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Elk Tip Toppers 4-H members volunteer at Manna Food Pantry
Jun. 5—WORTHINGTON — For 58 years, the Manna Food Pantry has been in business in the lower hall of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Worthington. The pantry has helped people get access to not just food, but personal hygiene products as well. While the food pantry serves Nobles County, some Nobles County kids are returning the favor. Three sisters — Emma, 15, Clara, 11, and Raeya Hietbrink, 8 — are volunteering with Manna and giving back to their community. The Hietbrink sisters are members of the Elk Tip Toppers 4-H Club in Nobles County. The group had previously raised money and participated in food drives for Manna, but this time the girls got to see what things look like on the other end. Linda Sanchez, the coordinator for Manna, has worked at the food pantry for 13 years. She said the pantry is feeding an increasing number of people each day, and expressed concerns about the growing number of people who struggle with food insecurity. "A lot of that is due to the rising cost of groceries," she said. "Our costs go up just as much as everybody else that goes to the grocery store. So, our fundraisers are really important to us." While the cost of groceries has increased, so have the donations the food pantry has received. Their largest fundraiser of the year, the March Food Campaign, met and surpassed the pantry's goal. "That was a real blessing to the community," Sanchez said. She explained while they only have one food campaign a year, the pantry accepts donations throughout the entire year, whether it be monetary or product donations. Right now, a necessity is fresh produce. "If anybody wants to donate fresh produce, we would love it," Sanchez said. "We always like to have fresh produce on hand." The pantry focuses on keeping healthy items stocked. Sanchez shared they don't carry a lot of less healthy foods such as Hamburger Helper or sweetened cereals, unless they are donated. The pantry is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and is always looking for volunteers to help. Once a month members of the Trojan football team come in and help unload the supply truck. The Hietbrink sisters volunteered at Manna last year and found it to be a fun experience. "So we came back," Emma, who has been involved in 4-H since she was in kindergarten, said. She also shared that their club raised and donated $500 to Manna last year. "Some people donate food, but you can also donate money," Emma said. "Part of 4-H is helping people." Being a member of the 4-H club comes with responsibilities and expectations to give back to the community. Emma explained, "There's four H's. Head, heart, hands and health. And this is the part of our hands. We help people in our community." When community members walk through the pantry, the girls tell them how many items they can receive and help them as though it were a little grocery store. Emma said it is easier for the younger kids to do this type of community service work, rather some of their other projects, such as landscaping. "It's a more funner experience to help other people," Clara said. Emma works with livestock all summer showing her sheep, goats and cattle. She wants to be a veterinarian one day. Her sisters also work with livestock, but create a lot of crafts as well. Clara said she wants to be a farmer when she grows up and Raeya has plans to follow her oldest sister's goal to become a veterinarian.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gulf Winds Foundation raises over $78,000 with Chip in Fore Charity golf tournament
Gulf Winds Foundation recently hosted its second annual charitable golf tournament, Chip in Fore Charity, at Stonebrook Golf Course in Pace. The day brought the credit union community together for a fun-filled experience of golfing, networking, and giving, raising over $78,000 for the Gulf Winds Foundation and its charitable activities. A full roster of teams competed in a classic four-player scramble featuring a $10,000 hole-in-one challenge and several on-course games. Among the participants, Clay Mallard, Billy Burch, Dale Wright, and Louie Roberson claimed the first-place title, followed by David Feliciano, Colby Scruggs and Kyle Mitchell in second place, and Tony Silva, Chris Munro, Jonathan Smith, and Bryon Cobb in third. Funds raised from the tournament will support Gulf Winds' annual scholarship program and several local non-profit partners including Manna Food Pantry, Council on Aging of West Florida, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, Rally Foundation, and other organizations that create sustainable change in the region. Visit for details. Santa Rosa County Animal Services is hosting a Community Cats Day for Santa Rosa County residents June 5 at the Santa Rosa County Animal Shelter, 4451 Pine Forest Road in Milton. The shelter will only accept 45 stray/feral cats for free spaying and neutering. Participants must be Santa Rosa County residents and are required to show proof of residency in Santa Rosa County. Participants can bring up to three community cats per participant, first come, first served. Cats must be at least three months of age and over three pounds, outdoor, unowned, and free-roaming to be eligible for the program. In addition to neutering/spaying, cats will receive a rabies vaccination and ear tip. A tipped ear indicates that a community cat has been altered. Residents are responsible for trapping and transporting cats to and from the shelter. Cats must be dropped off at the shelter at 8 a.m. June 5 and picked up from 9 to 10 a.m. the following day after drop off. Cats must be secured in a humane trap that they can stand comfortably in and only one cat per trap. A limited number of traps are available to rent from SRCAS. Visit for details. Lighthouse Private Christian Academy recently announced the expansion of its Milton campus, made possible through the generosity of Mike Papantonio, a senior partner at Levin Papantonio law firm, and other community donors. The new building, located at 6225 Dixie Road, will accommodate middle and high school students, helping meet the overwhelming demand for quality Christian education in the area. Since its founding over two decades ago, LPCA has been committed to providing a Christ-centered education to students in need. The school's rapid growth in Milton, where enrollment quickly reached capacity, underscored the urgent need for expansion. Until now, LPCA has operated out of a leased church space, with limited room for growth. With the new building, the school will separate its K-5 students, who will remain at the church, and move its 6-12th grade students into a dedicated campus. LPCA campuses have always had a math and science focus. The new Milton campus will feature not only traditional academic programs but also a unique agricultural component. The school will leverage the property's five acres, blueberry fields, and greenhouses to provide students with hands-on learning experiences in both STEM and agricultural commerce. LPCA invites the community to celebrate this expansion and learn more about its mission to provide high-quality Christian education. For more information about enrollment, donations, or upcoming developments, visit For Escambia County District 5 resident Luverne Bonner, the dream of having a brand-new home to call her own once seemed out of reach. Now, that dream is a reality thanks to Escambia County assistance programs, which provided Bonner with a new home that she and her family can enjoy for years to come. After living in her previous home for over 25 years, Bonner said she experienced numerous issues with the house that became unmanageable and overwhelming, including electrical problems, major leaks, roof and flooring issues, and more. In need of help, she applied for the Escambia County Neighborhood and Human Services Department's Housing Demo and Replacement Program, which demolishes deteriorating houses and replaces them with brand-new houses for income-eligible residents in need. The program is funded through a grant from the State Housing Initiatives Partnership, or SHIP, program. Bonner said the new home is lifechanging for her, especially since she will now have a clean, safe space to host her children, grandchildren, and other family members. For information about eligibility requirements and assistance programs for Escambia County homeowners, contact the Neighborhood Enterprise Division at ned@ or 850-595-1642. Take part: To make a Causes submission, email giving@ Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Pensacola News Journal using the link at the bottom of the page under Stay Connected. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Gulf Winds raises over $78K with Chip in Fore Charity golf tournament
