OCALA, FL (352today.com) – “Bring the Harvest Home,” Marion County’s annual drive to stock food bank shelves during the holidays, culminated this past Friday, Dec. 5, at the Ocala Downtown Square, bringing in donations equating to more than 50,000 pounds of food to the community for the second year in a row!
For the past month, public agencies, businesses and individuals have teamed up to collect donations for Marion County families in need. This local push has become a tradition in Marion County due in large part to the help and guidance of Commissioner Kathy Bryant.
For more than 15 years, the Marion County community has come together every year to make “Bring the Harvest Home” a successful event with donations collected at local fire stations, law enforcement offices, government buildings and public libraries throughout the county.
This year’s event collected over 30,339 pounds of food, all of which was given to Marion County local pantries, along with more than $34,950 to be split between the benefitting nonprofits: Brother’s Keeper, Interfaith Emergency Services, The Salvation Army, and Veterans Helping Veterans. They’ll benefit people in need during the holidays and into the new year.
The Marion County Board of County Commissioners wishes to thank all of those who helped with the event and/or donated their time, including our Marion County departments, as well as the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Ocala, the Ocala Police Department, Marion County Fire Rescue, Ocala Fire Rescue, Florida Highway Patrol, Marion County Clerk of Court and Comptroller, Marion County Supervisor of Elections, Marion County Animal Services, and many more.