Planting the Seeds to Ending Hunger in Osceola County and Beyond
Pantry Planters Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit that aims to end hunger in Osceola County and beyond by providing customized solutions to meet the unique needs of the communities it will serve.
Founded by former St. Cloud Community Pantry longtime volunteer & director Tammi Madison, Pantry Planters brings over 16 years of experience to empowering and educating community members to implement sustainable food distribution centers throughout Osceola County where there is the greatest need. In one and a half months, Pantry Planters has assisted with the establishment of three food pantries in Poinciana and Kissimmee, locations with great need for food distribution.
The process begins with a conversation with Tammi to understand the vision of the passionate individual or group who wishes to serve their neighbor, whether it is to serve hot meals, open a soup kitchen or food pantry, provide bag lunches to homeless or students, create a community host a regular food drop, or other ideas to make an impact.
Pantry Planters will then collaborate to provide tools and education to implement each vision of ending food insecurity in that area. Pantry Planters will connect community members with businesses and resources to see each vision come to life. Pantry Planters will advise the steps necessary to ensure the distribution centers meet federal, state, and local requirements.
To be successful, Pantry Planters looks to collaborate with community members interested in opening or hosting a food distribution in their community. Additionally, Pantry Planters looks to connect with passionate business members, individuals, and organizations looking to volunteer or support Pantry Planter’s mission through time, talents, treasure or fundraising efforts.
Please visit Pantry Planters at www.pantryplanters.org, follow on social media for updates, contact at pantryplanters@gmail.com or 407-986-7949 or support through PayPal.
Through the work of many dedicated individuals and organizations, we will end food insecurity, one seed at a time.
On Wednesday, March 8 our Hispanic Business Council held their annual Business Under the Stars event. 40 business vendors lined Ruby Plaza at Kissimmee Lakefront Park. Four food & beverage vendors, plus dozens of hungry attendees, gathered under the Heron Pavilion to snack on empanadas, Brazilian cheese bread, guava pastries, wine, beer, coffee, and much more while networking with fellow members of the Osceola business community. Atmospheric music, the setting sun, and perfect breezy weather completed the perfect atmosphere for this popular event.
The title sponsor for the evening was Travel & Leisure Co., who gave away their two booth spaces to members of the Latino Referral Group, one of the Chamber’s five Leads groups that meet weekly to share business. Jose Nido with Travel & Leisure was on hand to help kick off the evening with an event ribbon cutting, and at the end of the night he presented a lucky raffle winner with a 7-night stay at a choice of many hotel properties worldwide. HBC Chairwoman Bethzaida Garcia made the night of several other attendees with more fun raffle prizes provided by our sponsors.
HBC Chair Garcia recognized longtime HBC Board member Guillermo Hansen with El Osceola Star as well as the Business Under the Stars events committee members, with thank yous and awards at the start of the evening. This is the 12th year the HBC has hosted this event and the first year back at Kissimmee Lakefront Park since the City completed Lakefront improvement projects and installed atmospheric lighting after the event was moved inside the Civic Center last year.
Supporting sponsors for the evening were HCA Florida Healthcare, Kissimmee Utility Authority, Total Industrial Supplies, El Osceola Star, and Adjuster Groups. Food and beverage was provided by Tomato Express, Mr. Cappuccino, Florida Technical College, and Melao Bakery. Contributing sponsors were Experience Kissimmee, Florida Blue, the Orlando Magic, SouthState Bank, Gavasha Inc., Sustainable Workplace Alliance, and Century 21 Homs Realty.
Check out the gallery below for photos of our business vendors.
The Osceola Chamber convenes a Non-Profit Coalition focused on empowering and increasing the capacity of our nonprofit organizations. Through networking and continuing education, the coalition provides the tools to help strengthen our nonprofit community to better serve Osceola residents.
Concerned with increased demands for services vs. available resources, the coalition recently held a Roundtable breakfast to learn about provided services, client needs, and resource gaps. Additionally, representatives from key partners JP Morgan Chase & Co., Florida Blue, AdventHealth, and Osceola County Housing and Community Services shared their funding initiatives and priorities. The information garnered from the event will be utilized to identify opportunities for collaboration and resource sharing.
We are grateful to JP Morgan Chase & Co. for their support of the Non-Profit Coalition Roundtable event, and Hart Memorial Library for hosting us. See photos below from the event.
The Non-Profit Coalition is one of four Chamber Coalitions that bring together like-minded business representatives on a bi-monthly schedule. The Non-Profit Coalition meets on the third Thursday of every other month at 3:00 pm at The Osceola Chamber offices at 1425 E. Vine. As with all Chamber Coalitions, attendees at this meeting do not need to represent a member business.
The Chamber’s other demographic-based Coalitions currently include the Warrior Coalition (for military Veterans in business), the Black Business Coalition, and the Pride Coalition (for the LGBTQ+ business community).
