Spotlight on Charity ~ The Mandarin Food Bank

Spotlight on Charity ~ The Mandarin Food Bank

May 22, 2023

The Mandarin Food Bank opened in April of 1991. The mission to provide emergency food, clothing and special assistance to local neighbors in need. This year is the community non-profit’s 32nd anniversary. The families that are served come from area churches, schools and word-of-mouth referrals. Mandarin Food Bank clients are not usually homeless, although there has been a great increase in this demographic recently. Most clients are one pay check away from being homeless. Single parents are the largest group of clients, followed by single elderly adults on a fixed income. Many of our elderly clients are primary caregivers of their grandchildren for various reasons.

While the main purpose of the Mandarin Food Bank is to provide food and clothing, the focus on helping clients holistically is the practice that leads day to day operations. Volunteers often help clients obtain appropriate referrals for rent, utilities and other needed services.

In 2022 the number of people needing assistance through the Food Bank soared once again. The Mandarin Food bank served over 29,078 people, comprising of 8,440 families compared to 5,777 families in 2021.

The Food Bank is open to serve clients Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 to 11:30 A.M. After hours and on Saturdays, the volunteers receive, pick up, re-stock shelves and clean. The organization is made up entirely of hardworking volunteers from civic groups, schools, churches, business, and caring individuals. The continued support of the Deercreek Women’s Alliance is vital and much appreciated by the Mandarin Food Bank.

Pace Center for Girls is a Florida-based, nationally recognized not-for-profit organization that provides non-residential, prevention, intervention and diversion services for girls and young women of middle and high school age. Pace provides free year-round schooling in academics, case management, counseling and life skills development in a trauma and gender free environment.

The DWA supports Pace at their Mrs. Mary’s Boutique. The Boutique, formally known as “The Clothes Closet”, was started by now 90-year-old Mary Warner. The Boutique provides a way for the girls to “buy” items with points they’ve earned through grades, good deeds, class attendance and participation. We support the Boutique with donations of clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry, and toiletries.

Mrs. Mary’s Boutique has its own permanent room. It’s decorated and set up just like a boutique in the mall. This makes the girls feel very special and gives them an opportunity to shop in a place that otherwise they cannot afford.

Thank you for all your support for Pace in the way of volunteering and donations. If you are interested in volunteering or have items to donate, please contact Vicki Khan at 904-923-3538 or [email protected]. Her address for drop off items is 10148 Deercreek Club Road.