MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Ahead of Thanksgiving, the South Florida community celebrated Local 10′s ninth Day of Giving on Friday with over 11,000 pounds of food donations for a group of six nonprofit organizations that also each received $1,200 checks.
The Local 10 Day of Giving initiative had already collected upwards of 83,000 pounds of food and incorporated secure online giving in 2020 in partnership with The Miami Foundation.
This year those donations come as food pantries face an increasing need with dwindling resources. Anchor Kristi Krueger and Jenise Fernandez started the collection early Friday morning at a Publix Supermarket in Pembroke Pines.
“Because you were so passionate about giving, I said, ‘I want to be a part of this, no matter what I have to do today, I am going to be a part of this,’” a Local 10 News viewer said before dropping off her donation.
MORNING REPORT: Manna-Share-A-Meal is a testament to what can be accomplished with faith, dedication
All of the donations in Pembroke Pines benefited Manna-Share-A-Meal, which for 32 years has been feeding Davie residents. The all-volunteer nonprofit doesn’t receive any government assistance and yet manages to feed more than 150 families on Thanksgiving.
Before 10 a.m., the donors in Pembroke Pines had contributed 39 boxes of food. The community’s support online moved Louise Gigliotti, Manna-Share-A-Meal’s lead volunteer, to tears.
“We are so blessed because we live in South Florida,” Gigliotti said. “You never let us down.”
Anchors Nicole Perez and Calvin Hughes later welcomed a driver who delivered a Goya truck with nearly 2,000 pounds of food for the homeless to the Publix Supermarket in Hollywood.
Anchor Louis Aguirre and Chief Meteorologist Betty Davis collected donations at the Publix Supermarket in Miami Shores to support the Make-A-Wish-Veterans.
“I have family members in the military ... It’s cool to help the community,” a woman said after making a donation.
Aside from Manna-Share-A-Meal and Make-A-Wish-Veterans, the gifts to the Local 10 Fund also benefitted The Caring Place, Harvest Drive, the Joshua’s Heart Foundation, and the Star of the Sea Foundation.
Afternoon with Make-A-Wish-Veterans
Watch the 3 p.m. report
Watch the 3:30 p.m. report
Watch the 4 p.m. report
Watch the 4:30 p.m. report
Watch the 5 p.m. report
Watch the 5:30 p.m. report
Watch the 6 p.m. report
There were also collections at these locations:
Miami-Dade
Kendall (Store 658)
9105 South Dadeland Blvd.
Broward
Fort Lauderdale (Store 70)
3400 North Federal Highway
Monroe
Key Largo (Store 376)
101437 Overseas Hwy. (Tradewinds Plaza)
Secure online donations
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