Christ Church of Longboat Key hosts fourth food drive

As members and neighbors dropped off nonperishable foods on Feb. 4, a group of Christ Church of Longboat Key volunteers kept moving to stay warm.

The volunteers were there to accept and sort food donations for Our Daily Bread in Bradenton, a nonprofit that works with those at risk of homelessness. Since the pandemic began, Christ Church has hosted four food drives in their parking lot. 

A rush of donors came through around 10:30 a.m., filling the parking lot and bringing an influx of grocery bags and refilled Amazon boxes to the small team of sorters. At previous food drives, volunteers filled two or three cars with donations, but this time they had to stuff donations into every nook and cranny of four cars. 

"I think we're running out of cars," volunteer Marc Fors said. 

As the clock crept towards 11 a.m., volunteer Sue Wertman called Our Daily Bread to make sure they would have people available to accept the incoming donations, which included cash and checks as well.