VERO BEACH — The 6th Annual Hibiscus Festival Shopping Cart Parade, hosted by radio stations 93.7 The Breeze, 97.1 Ocean FM, 1490 WTTB News Radio, and 94.7 Hot Country, is slated for 3 p.m. at the Hibiscus Festival in historic downtown Vero Beach on April 18.
Businesses, organizations and circles of friends around Indian River County can sign up to participate in the Shopping Cart Parade by making a pledge to decorate a shopping cart donated by Publix and then conducting a food drive to fill it.
This is a simple and inexpensive way to have fun, build team morale, and participate in the Hibiscus Festival while helping others in the community. The carts will be delivered to parade participants prior to the event and can be displayed where patrons and employees can donate shelf stable food items. The carts, available for decoration after April 5, will remain with participants until the event. For details about how to participate and registration information visit www.thebreeze.com or email Miguel Santiesteban at [email protected].
“The Shopping Cart Parade is a great way for friends and business associates to get together and have fun, while helping to feed the hungry through Harvest’s Food Pantry during the long months of summer,” said Harvest board member Karen Franke, Treasure & Space Coast Radio Program Director. “Poverty certainly doesn’t take a vacation with over 55% of school age children qualifying for subsidized lunches in our community.”
Now in its 6th year, food gathered through this popular event will be donated to Harvest Food and Outreach Center’s Emergency Food Pantry in Indian River County, which is distributed to families in crisis and also provides a source of ongoing food assistance through the “Earn While You Learn” and “Give and Get” educational programs.
Harvest Food & Outreach Center, founded in 2003 by Austin and Ginny Hunt in Indian River County, provides a holistic, multi-component approach that provides a hand up to those living at or under the 200 percent federal poverty level. Harvest’s unique model is designed to inspire and empower men and women living in poverty to lift themselves and their families to economic self sufficiency. For more information about taking a tour of Harvest’s campus, donations or volunteering call (772) 770-0740 or visit www.harvestfoodoutreach.org.
