Farm Share Holiday Food Giveaway on Friday for needy families - St. Petersburg Times

If you are in (or can get to) the Trinity area on Friday, December 17, 2010, the annual Farm Share Holiday Food Giveaway is taking place at Generations Christian Church, located at 1540 Little Road. This event provides fresh food for a full holiday dinner for approximately 500 families in need. Sponsored in part by state Sen. Mike Fasano and state Reps John Legg and Richard Corcoran.

What: Holiday Food Giveaway
When: Friday, December 17, 2010 - 10 a.m. until 12 noon
Where: Generations Christian Church, 1540 Little Road, New Port Richey.
Click below or call Sen. Fasano's office at (727) 848-5885 for more details.

Farm Share Holiday Food Giveaway on Friday for needy families - St. Petersburg Times

Opportunities for Giving

A couple of Pasco County agencies have set up donation drives.  If you live or work near one of these locations, please consider donating.

Holiday Food Basket Drive/Toys for Tots Drive
Pasco County Sheriff Office
Locations throughout the county
Collecting nonperishable food items, such as instant potatoes and canned vegetables.  Also collecting new, unwrapped toys for the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots drive.
For more information on locations and dates, click here or call the Citizen Support Services Office at 1-800-854-2862, ext. 7736.

Nonperishable Food Drive
Hudson Regional Library
8012 Library Rd.
Hudson, FL 34667
(727) 861-3040
Ongoing food drive benefiting The Volunteer Way.  Nonperishable food item donations can be left in the bin in the library's lobby.

Cheap and Fresh!

One of the biggest complaints about healthy eating is that it costs too much. Here in Florida, we are fortunate to have fresh, local produce months before the rest of the country. Eating local fresh produce is not only healthy, but also cost-effective, since grocers don't have to pay a premium for shipping it in from far away.

For a list of what's in season now, visit the Fresh From Florida webpage and look for the "Fresh from Florida" label on produce in your local grocery store.

Low Cost Food in Your Neighborhood

Looking for ways to decrease your grocery bill? Check out Angel Food Ministries, a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing food relief and contributing to benevolent outreaches in communities throughout the United States.

Each month, a menu is released with the contents of the basic box. Each box, or "unit", is enough to feed a family of four for one week, or a single senior citizen for almost a month. A basic unit costs $30 and contains $40-$70 worth of name-brand grocery items. Specialty boxes, including steaks and fresh produce, are also available for an additional cost.

Angel Food Ministries does accept Food Stamps, but there are no qualifications, minimums, income restrictions, or applications to participate. Just contact your local host site for more information and to order.

In Pasco County the following are host sites for Angel Food Ministries:

HUDSON
Nature Coast Family Fellowship
Jacqueline Almond, Host Site Director
14832 US 19 North
Hudson, FL 34667
727-271-4662

New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
Maria Hightower, Host Site Director
14236 Countyline Road
Hudson, FL 34667
727-856-8336

NEW PORT RICHEY
Christ Fellowship, Inc.
Tracy Taylor, Host Site Director
5718 Grand Blvd.
New Port Richey, FL 34652
727-773-7943

TRINITY/TARPON SPRINGS
Lakeside Community Church
Toni Hutchison, Host Site Director
475 East Lake Rd. N.
Tarpon Springs, FL 34688
727-421-5942

U-Pick Produce

For those of you who enjoy really fresh and really local produce, Hudson Hydroponics has U-Pick hours. Their strawberry crop is ready now. As an added bonus, there is no stooping or squatting required!

They have limited u-pick hours, so check out their current schedule at hudsonhydroponics.com.