Feeding South Florida to Distribute 17,280 Units of Mosquito Repellent
OFF!® Personal Repellent Distribution to Protect South Florida Residents
PEMBROKE PARK, FL (June 20, 2017) – Feeding South Florida, a member of Feeding Florida’s statewide network of Feeding America food banks providing a healthy, adequate and consistent food supply, will distribute 17,280 units of OFF!® mosquito repellant to individuals in need throughout the South Florida area. The mosquito repellent donation from SC Johnson will help combat and prevent Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases.
“Feeding America food banks serve as the backbone of our community, working to identify solutions to ensure a healthy quality of life for our residents,” said Paco Vélez, CEO of Feeding South Florida. “Feeding South Florida’s service area is ground zero for the Zika virus, so we look forward to providing our community with the necessary resources to prevent this and other mosquito-borne diseases.”
The local effort is a part of a statewide network of Feeding Florida’s member food banks. The network will receive and distribute 540,000 units of OFF!® mosquito repellent statewide to assist in reducing the possibility of Zika transmission for families at risk. With South Florida entering the peak mosquito season and ongoing concerns over Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases, the donation from SC Johnson will provide families throughout Florida protection from the mosquitoes that may carry disease.
“The Feeding Florida statewide network of food banks are critical in mobilizing the necessary resources tailored to meet the needs of each community,” said Robin Safley, Executive Director of Feeding Florida. “We are excited to partner with SC Johnson to provide our communities with the education and prevention tools necessary to protect families from mosquitoes and reduce the spread of Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases.”
In 2016, the total number of Zika cases reported in Palm Beach County was 65, Broward County was 182, Miami-Dade County was 350, and Monroe was 11. The total number of locally acquired Zika cases reported in Florida for 2017 thus far is 4, according to The Florida Department of Health.
Upcoming local distributions include:
Palm Beach County Distribution
Wednesday, June 28, 2017 | between 10:00am and 1:00pm
United Haitian Church
2015 Parker Ave
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Distributing: Fresh produce, non-perishable items, and 2 pallets of OFF! Bug Spray (8,640 units)
Miami-Dade County
Thursday, June 29, 2017 | 3:00PM
Glory Temple Ministry
7950 NW 22nd Ave
Miami, FL 33147
Distributing: Fresh produce, non-perishable items, and 2 pallets of OFF! Bug Spray (8,640 units)
If you don’t see an upcoming distribution in your area, please contact Feeding South Florida as additional distributions are being coordinated throughout the mosquito season.
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About Feeding South Florida®
Feeding South Florida® is a member of the Feeding America® network of food banks and the leading domestic hunger-relief organization serving Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties. Our mission is to end hunger in South Florida by providing immediate access to nutritious food, leading hunger and poverty advocacy efforts, and transforming lives through innovative programming and education. Feeding South Florida rescues 44 million pounds of food annually, serving 784,110 individuals in need of food assistance – 264,280 of whom are children and 130,000 are older adults. Feeding South Florida is the largest and most efficient food bank in each county it serves, providing for 25% of the state’s food insecure population, through a local network of more than 400 nonprofit partner agencies and direct service programs. For more information, visit www.feedingsouthflorida.org or call 954.518.1818.
About Feeding Florida
Feeding Florida is the state’s lead organization in the fight to end hunger. Our statewide network unites 14-member food banks to provide a healthy, adequate, and consistent food supply to every community every day. Feeding Florida member food banks support more than 2,600 local charitable agencies, which provide food directly to individuals and families in need to ensure a hunger-free Florida. Each year, the Feeding Florida network provides food to the 3.3 million Floridians facing hunger, including 1.1 million children and 700,000 seniors. Feeding Florida is a unified voice regarding hunger and food insecurity by focusing on each community’s needs. To learn more about Feeding Florida, visit www.FeedingFlorida.org.
About SC Johnson
SC Johnson is a family company dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, pest control and shoe care, as well as professional products. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, KIWI®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, TANA®, BAMA®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, MR MUSCLE® and RIDSECT®. The 131-year-old company, which generates $10 billion in sales, employs approximately 13,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com
