Our Lady’s Pantry receives gift of $10,000 for food from the FMC Foundation of Caring!

 “The first essential component of social justice is adequate food for all mankind,” says biologist Norman Borlaug, who won the Peace Prize in 1970 for his efforts in feeding a hungry world.  “Food is the moral right of all who are born into this world.”

The Florida Medical Clinic (FMC) Foundation of Caring may well have taken Borlaug’s philosophy to heart with their mission to support individuals, children, and families in need and at risk in Hillsborough and Pasco Counties.  With these goals in mind, they are funding programs and services so deserving children and families have the opportunity to thrive.

A single example of supporting services that help children and families thrive is a recent donation for food for those who are food insecure.

“And so, it gives us tremendous pleasure to award Our Lady’s Pantry a grant in the amount of $10,000.00 to purchase food for their Project Hunger program,” says Angela Pottinger, executive director, FMC Foundation of Caring.  “We view our relationship with Our Lady’s Pantry as a collaborative endeavor and wish to be viewed by the community in this light.”

“We are so appreciative of this donation to help purchase food for our families,” says Tom Bullaro, co-director of Our Lady’s Pantry, along with his wife Anita.

According to Bullaro, this donation is especially important because we used to get most of our food from Feeding Tampa Bay at reduced prices.  Ever since food prices have been soaring, however, Feeding Tampa Bay has been distributing what food they have among hundreds of pantries, so there is less for each of us. And Feeding Tampa Bay prices are higher than ever too.

“This means we must purchase much of our food from local supermarkets at the high retail prices that everyone pays.  In fact, our food bill from January through December 2022 was $65,452.

“We also have more clients coming for food than we did in the past,” he says.  “We are now registering clients in seven towns, instead of three, and we serve veterans as well.  So this donation for food will be put to very good use.”

To learn more about the FMC Foundation of Caring, please visit: https://fmcfoundationofcaring.org

 To learn more about Our Lady’s Pantry, please visit:  https://www.ourladyspantry.com