Fisher Island Gives, Donates $1 Million to Feeding South Florida to Assist with Increased Need Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

By Sari Vatske

Posted on 06/24/2020

Fisher Island Gives, an Emergency Response Campaign, Donates $1 Million to
Feeding South Florida® to Assist with Increased Need Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
Funds to Support Miami Beach Food Distributions, Acquisition of Two Tractor-Trailers,
School Pantry Program for Miami-Dade County Public Schools

Pembroke Park, Fla. — June 24, 2020 — Fisher Island Gives, a COVID-19 emergency response campaign created by Fisher Island residents, has donated $1 million to Feeding South Florida® to help with the 600% increase in demand the organization has experienced since the COVID-19 crisis began.

The $1 million donation will support:

• Feeding South Florida’s Feeding Futures School Pantry Program in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, pending fall opening. The program reaches children (and their families) when school is not in session during the most critical times: after school, weekends, and holidays.

• The acquisition of two refrigerated tractor-trailers.

• Drive-thru food distributions for over 1,000 households weekly with the City of Miami Beach.

Thanks to Fisher Island Gives’ donation, Feeding South Florida can now add two additional refrigerated tractor-trailers to its fleet, which not only collect food from farms, retailers and manufcturers, they will also deliver fresh produce, protein, dairy and shelf-stable items to food distributions, partner agencies, and more.

Feeding South Florida’s City of Miami Beach’s County food distributions include:

• City of Miami Beach at 2100 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 33139 – Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

• Miami-Dade County at Greynolds Park, 17530 W. Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach, 33160 – Fridays, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

“We are incredibly grateful to Fisher Island Gives for its generous donation to help us continue to serve over 300,000 food insecure individuals in Miami-Dade County,” said Paco Vélez, president and CEO of Feeding South Florida. “This donation comes at a critical time, when the demand for food has increased significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Fisher Island Gives was founded as a grassroots campaign within the Fisher Island community to actively address the urgent needs of those in the the greater Miami area whose lives have been severely affected by the COVID-19 virus.  The campaign identified two local charities ― Feeding South Florida was one of them ― in desperate need of funds now. For more information, visit www.fisherisland.gives.

“When we realized the gravity of this pandemic, we quickly mobilized in an effort to help in a meaningful way.  Our residents were quick to offer their time and resources to make this donation possible in order to help our nearby neighbors during these difficult times” said Barbara Zweig of Fisher island Gives.

Since March 9 in Miami-Dade County alone, Feeding South Florida has distributed nearly 17 million pounds of food at more than 1,000 food distributions, almost double the same amount last year during these same 14 weeks.

Feeding South Florida has distributed over 58 million pounds of food (48.3 million meals) in the four counties it serves (Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties) in 14 weeks ― a pace that translates to about 156 million pounds (130 million meals) over a 12-month period. To put that in perspective, for the entire last fiscal year, Feeding South Florida distributed 62 million pounds (51.6 million meals).

Feeding South Florida’s food distributions are updated daily and available at https://feedingsouthflorida.org/covid19/.

Lotus House Women’s Shelter Receives Life Saving Donation From Fisher Island Gives

(June 29, 2020 – Miami, FL) In these unprecedented times, we are often reminded it is “safer at home.” But for women and children fleeing domestic violence or who have no place to call home, the Lotus House Women’s Shelter, located in Overtown, Miami, is the next best place, with doors wide open for those most in need, providing shelter, sanctuary and support. In the wake of the pandemic, the recent gift of $500,000 from Fisher Island Gives, a local giving group comprised of caring Fisher Island residents, is nothing short of life saving. Amidst growing concerns of the impact of the pandemic on the most vulnerable in our community, this gift supports the important work of Lotus House, where over 480+ women, youth and children are “sheltering in,” even and especially in these difficult times.

“Preparing for and responding to the threat of the coronavirus have presented challenges never before imagined in our work and to the health and safety of those we shelter and our dedicated team,” says Constance Collins, Lotus House’s Executive Director. “Thanks to Fisher Island Gives we are able not only to continue our essential services but expand our programming and advance the health and safety of those we serve. It is impossible to express in words how deeply meaningful this gift is to the precious children and families we shelter.” Collins advises that nearly every aspect of Lotus House operations and supportive services have been modified to protect the health and safety of those sheltered, with new operating and counseling protocols to help child and families cope safely in these stressful times.

About Lotus House

Last year, Lotus House sheltered over 1,000 women youth and children in their new facilities in Lotus Village, providing over 175,000 shelter bed nights, 10,000 counseling sessions and 2,500 healthcare appointments and/or referrals. More than 80% of those completing the program exited successfully outside the shelter system. If you want to help, visit the Lotus House website at www.lotushouse.org and join their COVID Relief Fund. Also check out the #WashYourHands PSA made by Lotus Kids. Follow Facebook at lotushouseshelter and Instagram at lotushouse1.

About Fisher Island Gives

Fisher Island Gives was founded as an emergency response grassroots campaign effort within the Fisher Island community to actively address the urgent needs of those in the greater Miami area whose lives have been so severely affected by the COVID-19 virus.  This campaign was separate from the yearly campaign drive by residents that support over 10 local charities in the Miami area.

“The residents of Fisher Island have long been noted for their individual and collective philanthropy; and, in this time of crisis for our neighbors, we wanted to provide immediate and direct support for those most vulnerable.  This $500,000 donation to Lotus House will allow them to continue to have an enormous impact in helping homeless women and their children with shelter, food, safety and education.  Lotus House is an amazing organization and we are thrilled that we are able to provide support for them.”  Says Michael Rabinowitz of Fisher Island Gives.

RCF sponsors Montefiore Hospital Healthcare Hero’s Supporting Local Business

RCF sponsors Montefiore Hospital Healthcare Hero’s Supporting Local Business during the COVID-19 pandemic

RCF Sponsoring Seniors in Helping Local Businesses

At the end of March 2020, RCF began a food campaign servicing the Sunrise Association of Marlboro, NJ by supporting local restaurants and providing daily meals to the staff and residents of the facility. These meals bring a little “sunshine” to the incredible and dedicated senior staff as well as the residents while providing much needed income to local small businesses navigating their way during this most challenging time. This programs further strengthens the community bond.

Mikey's Way Foundation Children's Hospital at Montefiore

Justin, Michelle, Stacey, and Michael joined the Mikeys Way Foundation and brought joy to 31 pediatric cancer patients.

To learn more about the Mikey’s Way Foundation please visit: https://www.mikeysway.org/

Mikey's Way Foundation

On July 11 2019, 23 children were visited during the Mikey's Way Day at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital. With the help of Michelle Rabinowitz from The Rabinowitz Charitable Foundation Mikey’s Way was able to brighten lives of children during a most difficult time in their lives.

About Mikey’s Way Foundation

Mikey’s Way Foundation received its vision from our founder, Michael “Mikey” Friedman—a way to help connect and enrich the lives of children suffering with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

The Foundation helps children cope with the isolation, boredom and fear associated with life-threatening illnesses. It is the goal of the foundation to be able to connect every child with their friends, family and school, enabling them to cope with the long hours, days and weeks of separation that they must endure. In creating a connection, we are in turn presenting the child with a form of diversion. This diversion is a necessary element to the Mind-Body connection, or Psychoneuroimmunology. Continued studies have shown that when the mind is stimulated and engaged, the body can respond in positive ways—more tolerable nausea, lower fever, higher blood counts and a more relaxed patient. This holds great importance for our seriously ill children.

Our “Mikey’s Way Connection Cart” circles the pediatric floors of the hospitals we serve, giving away all forms of electronics that permit the child to create their own diversion and thus allow for the Mind-Body connection. Every child is allowed to choose the item that they feel will work best for them.

Since our inception in late 2005, the foundation has been able to reach over 7,000 seriously ill children.

The children need to (in a word) ESCAPE…Mikey’s Way

To learn more about the Mikey’s Way Foundation please visit: https://www.mikeysway.org/

Charity Water - Official Water Project Sponsor

RCF donated 100% of the funds to support the Charity Water Organization’s water mission in Ethiopia.

11th ANNUAL COPS WHO CARE

Each year around Christmas, the Cops Who Care Holiday Turkey and Ham Giveaway is held in Suffolk County. The Troopers Memorial Fund partners with New York State Police and Suffolk County Police Department to raise money, which is used to purchase turkeys and hams. Troopers, Police Officers, Suffolk County Crime Stoppers personnel, Citizens Academy graduates and various community leaders then get together to hand out the turkeys and hams to needy families.

RCF will be Co-Sponsor for the 11th Annual Cops Who Care Food Drive, alongside 7-Eleven and Siler & Ingber, LLP.

HOLIDAY ANGEL PROJECT

Since 2016, RCF has donated gifts to shelters and families through the Holiday Angel Project, a mission to fulfill the holiday wishes of children in need across the Brooklyn, NY. - News12