Make-A-Wish Veterans Combats Hunger for US Heroes and Families in South Florida

Make-A-Wish Veterans' Mission

• 💖 Make-A-Wish Veterans, a nonprofit in Opa-locka, has been dedicated to feeding American war veterans and struggling families since 2007.
• 🎯 The organization is experiencing a significant increase in demand, with weekly distributions tripling from last year.

Exacerbating Factors for Hunger

• 🏠 The housing crisis and cuts in federal funding, such as the loss of SNAP benefits for many veterans, have worsened the problem.
• 💸 Volunteers and the organization often rely on personal funds to cover operational overhead and keep the food pantry running.

Impact on Recipients

• 👴 For 82-year-old Elijah, Make-A-Wish provides a critical safety net as he lives on a fixed income.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Tashura Smith relies on the weekly distributions to feed her family, noting that the food lasts them for about a week.
• 🏥 Arley Khil found support from Make-A-Wish Veterans after falling on hard times due to illness, appreciating the quality and usefulness of the groceries provided.

Support Needed and How to Help

• 📦 Make-A-Wish Veterans receives food from large food banks and provides boxes with at least 4 days' worth of groceries.
• 🎄 The organization aims to supply at least 80-100 Thanksgiving baskets this year and is seeking much-needed support.
• 💻 Donations can be made online via a QR code or by visiting local10.com, with 100% of funds going directly to the nonprofit.
• 🤝 A public donation drive will be held on Friday, November 7th, from 2 PM to 7 PM at a public store at 9050 Biscayne Boulevard in Miami Shores.