CRESTVIEW — Many local needy families will have food on the table thanks to Dr. Jennifer Wayer and her patients, who are no strangers to community and world outreach.
When the Crestview dentist challenged her patients to bring nonperishable food and household supplies to her Fourth Avenue practice, not only was the response enthusiastic, one of them upped the ante.
Woodworker Larry Hunter donated a beautiful new, handcrafted hope chest made of aromatic cedar to the cause. Participants could “buy” a raffle ticket for the donation of five non-perishables or $5.
“I always like to work in wood,” Hunter said. “I had a dental appointment with Dr. Wayer and we put two and two together and I donated the chest.”
Wayer said from previous food and clothing drives she and her patients held, she knew that summer is a critical season for the local food bank.
“After learning that our local food pantry helps about 50 families every day, and that many of these families are bona fide homeless, we wanted to do something to help,” Wayer said.
Wayer’s patients filled Hunter’s chest to overflowing, and food started piling up around it. Additional cash donations totaled $1,000.
‘IMPRESSIVE’ RESPONSE
“The response was impressive,” Wayer said. “After two months of displaying the cedar chest and advertising within the office, we raised an impressive $1,000 and too many canned goods to even count!”
“We’re always excited when we get donations,” Sharing and Caring President Robin Marston said. “She’s helped us out before. Last winter we got coats and blankets for the homeless, and she always makes sure we have toothbrushes and toothpaste.”
Equally excited was Wendy Farmer, who won the hope chest.
“Actually, I always wanted a cedar chest,” Farmer said. “I was so excited. It’s absolutely beautiful.”
Wayer said her practice’s efforts toward winter relief will continue this year.
“In the coming months, we will continue to raise money, canned goods, and awareness for the needs of our local food pantry,” Wayer said. “Each Christmas we collect non-perishable food items and place them under the Christmas tree.
“This year, in addition to collecting food items we will be delivering warm winter jackets to the homeless and under-resourced through Sharing and Caring.”
WANT TO HELP?
Dr. Jennifer Wayer and Sharing and Caring welcome donations of non-perishable food, toiletries and household cleaning supplies. Donors may take their donations to Wayer’s practice, 101 E. Fourth Ave., on the corner of Industrial Drive, or to Sharing and Caring, 298 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., behind Senior Services.
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview dentist’s latest outreach helps Sharing and Caring