1/14/2008
"I would like to thank you for the food box. It is a big help. I was paying all my bills first. Than
what was left I went shopping for food, sometimes I ran out 7-10 days before pay day s/s/d and the dog now eats better. Thank
you for the bag of dog food.
P.S. The lady and her son that delivered the box of food are very helpfull.
Thank you,
John L
10/15/2007
“With $105.00 a month coming from food stamps, The Volunteer Way enables me to feed my family. It’s
a great help, the biggest help I’ve received.”
Nancy A.
“We don’t qualify for food stamps, we are between poverty poor. My son is in the service.
The Volunteer Way store and food box we receive each month are tremendous help.”
Laethia E.
“The Volunteer Way, is a great help to my family during this difficult time.”
Juan C.
“I don’t know what we’d do if it weren’t for The Volunteer Way.”
Michael E.
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9/2/2007
Lester,
Last school year you were so gracious to provide food privileges to my classroom at Gulfside Elementary.
I wanted to tell you how much our ESE program benefited. The children were blessed to have full bellies with a daily
snack, as well as rewards for good behavior. In addition, we did a classroom Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter dinner,
all of which our students had not seen before. As a testament, we have improved testing scores and individual student
achievement! Your support was really helpful in providing for my students. Thank you!! I have praised your
program within the community and all the good work you do for those in need. It is programs such as yours that makes
a direct impact.
This year, I have taken a new position at Cottee River. I am the school social worker. I talked
with the behavior specialist at Gulfside and she will probably be in touch with you to see if they can continue to utilize
you as a resource from time to time.
In addition, I have a student who is in need of a case of diapers (size 5) and wipes. Would you by chance
have any diapers or wipes? This would only be a one time need. Id like to start this child off for the school year in the
right direction. Please let me know and I can come by to get them. I'd also love to get a chance to meet you!
Thanks for all your support,
Danica Steele
School Social Worker
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8/27/2007
Dear Lester,
I wanted to "Thank You" so much for your kindness with supplying us with diapers
and wipes for our needy Special Pre-K students at Cotee Elementary.
We truly appreciated your kindness and I know our families extend a "Thank You".
Sincerely,
Ms. Angie Morisi-SharpFish, Pre-K Teacher
Ms. Heather Cucchiara
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8/25/2006
To the wonderful people of The Volunteer Way,
I would like to thank you for your help with food today. I visited your food pantry and just want you to know
that the food you provided for me and my 3 children were very much appreciated.
May God Bless you each and everyone for your kindness.
You helped my 3 kids not go hungry today and for that I will be forever grateful.
Thank you again,
G.S.
____________________________________________________
The Volunteer Way is a faith based ministry that serves 15,000 families a month with food
and personal items that it receives, mostly from Operation Blessing. We have been partnering with Operation Blessing
for years and have been serving Florida for the past fifteen years.
It seems like the work is never done and I go to the warehouse every day, even on the weekends. Saturday
January 28, 2006 was no exception, I had to get gas in our car so I decided to go by The Volunteer Way Warehouse and make
sure everything was alright. When I went past the warehouse, I saw a van parked by our dumpster with a child standing up in
it. I made a u-turn and asked them what they were doing in our dumpster. The mother asked if it was alright to take the different
household items we had thrown away. I told them that there were many items in the back of the warehouse they were
welcome to take.
I went on my way and filled up my gas and went home. When I got home I told my wife and she asked me if I
offered them food and I said "No." She said we better go back and see if they needed food, so my wife and I went back to the
warehouse. They were still there. I went into the warehouse and made boxes of food for their family while my wife
talked to the mother.
The Mother (Lizzet) told my wife that she had come from the Bronx in New York. She was a drug addict
and her husband would beat her and the children. Lizzet left her husband four years ago for a better life for her children
and she was having a very hard time in Florida. Lizzet started to cry and said she has not met very many people that would
just help her and not expect something in return.
God had a plan, Normally I would have asked if they needed food but this time I did not. Lizzet was Spanish
and I am very limited in my Spanish, my wife talks Spanish fluently. Lizzet left blessing us and praising God for what he
has done. The Seed of Salvation was planted, Praise be to God.
Respectfully submitted,
Lester Cypher
