County Food Drive Nets More Than 26,000
Pounds of Food

Updated: December 21, 2012

Broward County’s 365 Food Drive has resulted in 26,695 pounds of food that has been donated to area food banks. The drive was launched in January 2010, and continues in 2012 due to the increase in demand for assistance caused by the economic downturn. All non-perishable food items, such as canned meat, vegetables and fruit, peanut butter, jelly or jam, soups, pasta and toiletries, are welcome at any time. Collection boxes are available at the Governmental Center, 115 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale; Government Center West, 1 N. University Drive, Plantation; all Broward County libraries, and the Main and regional County Courthouses. For a complete list of collection box locations and food items needed, visit broward.org/FoodDrive.

Volunteers Make Libraries’ Storybook Festival a “Winner”

Posted: February 10, 2012

The Storybook Festival, November 19, 2011, at Southwest Regional Library was a winner where 600 volunteer hours were contributed by 140 volunteers. The more than 700 festival attendees were guided through a “Fantasy Forest,” where volunteers dressed in costumes brought characters to life. Volunteer’s assisted festival attendees in helping Little Red Riding Hood find her grandmother, escaping Hansel and Gretel’s witch, calling Rapunzel down from her tower and tried to convince the Big Bad Wolf to try a carry-out meal instead of eating the Three Little Pigs. This wonderful program would not be a success without the generosity and hard work of our volunteers.

Coastal Cleanup Volunteers Remove 3 Tons of Trash from Broward County Beaches

Updated: Tuesday, October 23, 2012

The 27th Annual International Coastal Cleanup, sponsored by Ocean Conservancy and coordinated by Broward County Natural Resources Planning and Management Division, was successful in removing more than 7,100 pound of trash from Broward County beaches. More than 2,400 volunteers, which included school groups, local businesses, cities and Broward County employees, helped to remove trash from County beaches stretching from Deerfield Beach to Hallandale Beach. The International Coastal Cleanup is typically held on the third Saturday of September. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org.

Broward County 4-H Program Educates Volunteers

Posted: Tuesday, October 23, 2012

This summer, through extensive planning and research, a week-long professional development training for 4-H teachers and volunteers was held at Broward County Extension Education to train potential volunteers in how to use a 4-H curriculum in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Volunteers and teachers learned information that they could implement with the youth in their clubs and schools. Topics taught were determined by the level of youth interest and generated “buzz” among youth by making the volunteers feel that their work is worthwhile, hence recruiting and retaining more 4-H volunteers.

Topics covered included vegetable gardening, robotics and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), and financial literacy, as well as public speaking and Health Rocks, a substance abuse prevention program. Ten teachers and volunteers attended the Extension workshop, with each receiving individualized attention. The educational training was developed with hands-on components to encourage active participation. If volunteers are interested in what they are learning, they’ll be more excited about sharing the material with others. If you are interested in volunteer opportunities with Broward 4-H, call Broward County Extension Education at 954-357-5270.