Local Strawberry Grower Donates Over 2,700 Pounds of Fresh Berries To The Homeless - Wish Farms

Local Strawberry Grower Donates Over 2,700 Pounds of Fresh Berries To The Homeless

 

“He Got Up” an event hosted by Orlando Serve Foundation to benefit the homeless in Orlando, served over 25,000 people in need this Easter Sunday at the Citrus Bowl.

 

April 1st, 2016 (PLANT CITY, Fla.) – Wish Farms, grower-shipper and year round supplier of strawberries and blueberries, donated over 2,700 pounds of fresh strawberries to the Orlando Serve Foundation. The strawberries were served at the organization’s first annual He Got Up event held Easter Sunday, March 27th at the Orlando Citrus Bowl.

2,700 pounds of strawberries is equivalent to 250 flats or 2 full pallets; enough to feed over 25,000 people. The fresh strawberries were served at lunch and extra flats were given away as attendees left the event.

Wish Farms 3rd generation owner, Gary Wishnatzki, was inspired to offer support. “This [He Got Up] event was a huge undertaking for the Orlando Serve Foundation,” said Wishnatzki. “The planning and resources that went into coordinating an event of this magnitude was really impressive. We were happy to donate healthy nutritious produce to those in our community who need it most.”

Rev. Tim Johnson, a former NFL player turned pastor, created He Got Up Orlando – the county’s largest-ever homeless service event and resource fair, with the goal to serve the community by leveraging existing resources to assist those in need on a path towards self-sustainability. Over 2,000 volunteers gathered at the Citrus Bowl Easter Sunday to provide attendees with haircuts, hot showers, general health and wellness as well as optometry, dental, legal and job placement services. Local entertainment, a kid zone, food and beverages were offered throughout the day free of charge.

The event started with forty-four shuttle bus routes giving complimentary transportation to and from the Citrus Bowl, followed by an Easter Service led by Tim Johnson himself. The rest of the day attendees utilized the vast number of services offered.

 

About Wish Farms

Wish Farms, founded in 1922 and third-generation owned, is one of the largest shippers of strawberries in Florida and has been for over 80 years.  Nationally recognized for quality and innovation, Wish Farms is a year round supplier of strawberries, blueberries and seasonal in select vegetables.  Wish Farms utilizes How’s My Picking?™, a patented tool for traceability to ensure quality by tying consumer feedback to the harvest time, field location, picker, etc.

 

For more information about Wish Farms, please visit www.wishfarms.com or www.facebook.com/wishfarms.

 

About Orlando Serve Foundation

Orlando Serve Foundation is a 501c3 organization that exists to affirm and ignite partnerships to restore and strengthen individuals and families in need. Orlando Serve is committed to the vision of He Got Up. People and organizations interested in supporting the event can visit www.orlandoservefoundation.org/ to learn more.