Grassroots Keys Team Provides Hurricane Irma Relief with Beautiful Edibles

One day’s group of volunteers and some of the fruits of their efforts: sandwich boxes filled with an assortment of delicious, healthy, home-made foods, including sweets for dessert. Left to right: Wendy Meyer, Margit Bisztray, Kellee Bartley, Heather Egan, Layla Barr, and Erica Hawks. (Photo by Carol Tedesco)

On September 26, Sugarloaf Key resident Margit Bisztray posted a call on Facebook for supplies and volunteers to help make and deliver meals around Big Pine Key and surrounding areas, saying “…when your house has no roof, a can of corn is not much good.” She was immediately contacted by Stock Island resident and fellow pro-foodie Layla Barr, and before the two could spell “food is love,” they found themselves organizing a slew of donations and a dedicated team of volunteers who alternately prep and deliver meals, taking them not only to folks whose homes were impacted or destroyed by Irma, but to other relief teams as well.  Bisztray, Barr and company have prepared and delivered healthy, delicious foods including gourmet, made-from scratch sandwiches, homemade chicken salad, chicken noodle soup, corn chowder, fresh salads, enchiladas, lasagna, home-baked cookies and brownies, and vegetarian and vegan meals.

Layla Barr, center, delivers fresh food and cold water to residents busy clearing debris from a Big Pine Key property. (Photo by Margit Bisztray)

Those interested in helping fund Bisztray and Barr’s efforts can visit their GoFundMe site at gofundme.com/nourishflkeys. The team is also currently accepting donations of baked goods. Those who wish to donate baked goods can contact Bisztray at [email protected]. The Keys Vineyard Community Church, located at 100 County Road, Big Pine Key, has been serving as a relief organization base camp and distribution center since September. For more information about contributing and volunteering via the church, call 305-872-3404.

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