Who Are We? 

DUO is a transparent non-profit organization, which focuses on the needs of our neighbors in the surrounding area, especially Poinciana and nearby Kissimmee, in the area of food insecurity.  All Solivita residents are de facto members, simply by virtue of living in this community. There are no dues or meetings.  We energize around an annual fund raiser for the St. Rose of Lima Food Pantry by running a Big Band Charity Event of the Year each fall.  This event raises most of the needed funds for the operating budget of the pantry. 100% of proceeds go to the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, which is a 501c3 not for profit organization.  Those funds are directed to the pantry’s annual budget.  

We also encourage interested people to volunteer for the food pantry, which encompasses everything from unloading the food trucks;  working on the Big Gala Event; assisting clients of all races and faiths who come to the pantry for help each year; and helping with food drives. 

 

Our Name:  Do Unto Others as you would have them do unto you – DUO 

This motivates everyone who participates in the DUO initiative, including over 100 St. Rose of Lima Food Pantry volunteers, many from Solivita, who work for the pantry.  These generous volunteers help grandparents raising grandchildren; working families who can’t stretch low wages; Hurricane Maria evacuees; fellow seniors who can’t stretch their SS; and anyone who is food insecure.  They also work in behind the scenes jobs like fund raising, computer work, record keeping, etc. that are needed for such a huge undertaking. 

 

Why do we do this work?   

• Poinciana’s poverty rate is 9.2% higher than the US poverty rate
• 100% of children in Chestnut, Deerwood & Koa schools and 70% of students at Bellalago Academy qualify for the USDA free & reduced lunch program.

 

What is actually done each year? 

• 2019:  Over 29,000 people received: 252,000 lbs./126 tons/210,000 meals/$282,000 of food
• DUO raised over $260,000 in 11 years to support the work of the pantry
• 2020: 66,614 people received 617,197 lbs./309 tons/514,330 meals/$713,584 of food, an increase of  230% over 2019

 

Want to help?   

• Send a check to St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church/attn: pantry, 3860 Pleasant Hill Rd, Kissimmee FL
• Plan to buy raffle tickets: Farmers Market on October 23 to November 6, Monday & Friday 
  
• Fill the pantry truck with your staple food donations on Thursday 11/2/2023
• Volunteers: please e-mail  Jan Trapp @ trapperjan723@gmail.com