HOLT, Fla., Nov. 28, 2023—Hundreds of residents who needed a little extra help this Thanksgiving were able to have a happy holiday thanks to several generous donations to the Holt pantry.

Tiffany Woodham State Farm and the Crestview Rotary Club donated 120 Winn-Dixie food vouchers to be used for turkey, ham and produce to the Holt Community Food Pantry.

These vouchers were distributed during normal pantry hours on the Wednesdays prior to Thanksgiving.

Two separate donations—$300 from Baker’s Mount Ewell Masonic Lodge No. 131 and a walk-in donation of $1,000 from Rapid Transit Trucking Co.—helped the pantry pay for an additional 60 $25 food vouchers from Walmart.

Overland Contracting Inc. donated a truckload of food to the Holt Pantry.

An additional surprise donation of $425 and a truckload of canned goods arrived the week of Nov. 13 from Overland Contracting Inc., the company building the Kayak Solar Energy Center in Holt just east of the county line.

According to Susan Officer, the senior human resources associate, they look forward to possible pantry assistance in the future.

Crestview High School (left) and Davidson Middle School (right) donated to the Holt Pantry in time for Thanksgiving.

Crestview High School leadership program’s annual food drive lined the halls of the high school with more than 50 boxes of canned and dried goods it turned over to the pantry Nov. 16. Davidson Middle School’s food drive provided additional canned and dried goods in time for Thanksgiving.

Holt Academy rounded out the donations with its annual holiday food drive by donating a pickup full of canned and dried goods as well.

“We’ve really been blessed this Thanksgiving,” said pantry director Donna Ash.

The Holt pantry is open every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon.

According to pantry manager Jackie Tyler, the pantry has assisted 217 families so far this month with one more Wednesday to go.

How to help

Those wishing to help support the Holt Community Food Pantry can drop off donations at the Holt Water Works office Tuesdays through Thursdays between 8 a.m. and noon.

Food and monetary donations can be dropped off at the First Baptist Church of Holt. Checks should be annotated that they’re specifically for the pantry.