With his work cut back to 25 hours a week, Chip has been struggling to make ends meet.

"We went to the class Tuesday night on spending habits, and it taught me to save money and be more responsible," said Chip. "I am thankful Harvest Food is here, because I have never had to ask for help before and did not know where to turn."
Barbara is 61 years old, lives alone, and has a limited monthly income. She sometimes doesn't eat meat in order to save money.
"I live on $650 a month. I've been coming to Harvest Food since it opened in 2003. Thanks for all you've done," writes Barbara in a note to the nonprofit organization.

Chip and Barbara are typical of the hundreds of people a day that shop at Harvest Food & Outreach Center (HFOC). In addition to the food subsidy program that allows those whose income is at 200% of the poverty level and below a place to buy groceries for thirty cents on the dollar, HFOC also provides crisis services, emergency food boxes and cash assistance, Medicaid advocacy and job skills training and job placement assistance.

"If we are unable to meet a particular need, then we strive to refer the individual somewhere else, so they can get assistance," explained Austin Hunt, founder of this six-year-old nonprofit.

Because the holidays are especially difficult for families and individuals who are already struggling to make ends meet, Harvest Food & Outreach Center is planning a series of Fall Harvest Events. The first event is their 2009 Thanksgiving Food Drive which runs October 26 th through November 13 th. With a goal of feeding 2,000 families, the food drive is targeting the collection of "Thanksgiving-type" food items such as canned ham, cranberry sauce, pumpkin and yams. The Thanksgiving food boxes will be distributed to needy families between November 20 th and 25 th. For a list of the specific items being collected, visit their website at www.harvestfoodoutreach.org.

Collection sites for the Thanksgiving Food Drive include their newest campus at 1360 28 th Street in Vero Beach and their Ft. Pierce campus at 2520 Orange Avenue. Additional collection sites are needed, and businesses, churches and even neighborhoods are encouraged to participate.

In addition, Treasure & Space Coast Radio has partnered with HFOC to host a radiothon on November 12 th. Monies donated during the "Hunger Free Holidays" radiothon will be used throughout the fall to help feed local residents during the holidays. The event will be conducted simultaneously on 93.7 The Breeze, 97.1 Ocean and on Newsradio 1490 AM. Title sponsor for the event is Frosting, and other sponsors include Wallace Auto Group.

The Fall Harvest Events will culminate with the Second Annual Turkey Trot Against Hunger to be held on Thanksgiving Day. With over 800 runners during its inaugural year last year, this event promises to be the largest 5K run in the area. The run begins at 7:30 a.m. at Riverside Park in Vero Beach. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. Cost is $20 in advance or $25 the day of the event. Sponsors for this event include Glendale Properties, Marine Bank & Trust Company, PD-Go! Website Design, and The Crockett Group. Gould Cooksey Fennell, P.A. are providing water for the water stations. Additional sponsorships are available. For more information about the Turkey Trot or to register online, visit www.trotagainsthunger.org.

While Harvest Food & Outreach Center focuses on the physical needs of individuals, there is a more intangible need that they offer: hope.

"More than food, we offer hope," commented Hunt. "And during these hard economic times, people need to know there's hope."

Upcoming fall tour dates of the new campus are Thursday, October 29, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.; Tuesday, November 17, noon to 1 p.m.; and Thursday, December 3, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. To schedule a free tour or learn more about HFOC, please call 772-770-2665. To request information on services offered, please call 772-564-9365.