As April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, Caring for Friends last week held a breakfast celebration at Parx for volunteers who deliver food and friendship to people in need in Philadelphia and the suburbs.
More than 200 food pantries join hundreds of volunteer groups in making meals and snack bags and distributing them. Volunteers include schools, faith-based groups, corporations, elected officials, individuals and families. They hold food drives and work in the kitchen, among other things.
The following individuals and teams were acknowledged at the breakfast:
• Rita Ungaro Schiavone Volunteer of the Year: Terri Mockaitis, St. Martin of Tours (New Hope)
• Caring Company of the Year: Toll Brothers
• Caring Community Organization of the Year: Friends And New Neighbors (FANN) Club
• Caring Snack Bag Team of the Year: Special People in Northeast Inc. (SPIN)
• Caring Faith-Based Organization of the Year: Shir Ami, in Newtown
• Caring Visitor of the Year: Tim Quense
• Caring Family of the Year: Flis Family, of Holmesburg
• Caring Office Volunteer of the Year: Helen Evans
• Caring School of the Year: Philadelphia Academy Charter High School
• Caring Kitchen Team of the Year: Ann’s Choice, in Warminster
The event also included door prizes and $25 in free slot play, courtesy of Parx. A moment of silence was observed in memory of Pope Francis and Caring for Friends volunteer Danny Drake.
Caring for Friends was founded by Rita Ungaro Schiavone in 1974 as Aid for Friends. The motto is, “No one should be hungry or alone,” with a heart logo.
For more information, go to www.caringforfriends.org ••
