By Abigail Haddock
Keys Area Interdenominational Resources (KAIR), an organization built to help Keys individuals and families through times of crisis, will be distributing its annual Thanksgiving food baskets on Saturday, Nov. 19 at Marathon Community Park. Three hundred families will receive a Thanksgiving meal basket of fresh food.
KAIR has been serving the Florida Keys community since 1998 as a non-profit helping Keys residents in need get back on their feet and back to self-sufficiency. In addition to the holiday baskets, KAIR is a certified food pantry that distributes 500,000 pounds of food every year and helps between 30 and 40 families every day.
“People don’t realize how much food is needed,” said Marj Roberts, KAIR’s director since 2005. “We count on a variety of sources to get food. We’re members of the food bank, we get donations from Publix and Winn-Dixie, we have food drives, individual people give us food, and it all comes together.” In addition to food, KAIR offers assistance with health care, school supplies, rent and many other services.
Roberts also runs Independence Cay, a soup kitchen open seven days a week that also offers transitional housing for men, as well as laundry services, showers, job advice and more for anyone in need of assistance.
“It’s really geared towards people getting a job, and getting obstacles in their life taken care of,” said Marj. “Sometimes it’s just a blip in their life, like they’ve worked steadily their whole life in Marathon and then they break their ankle. And so many people who we’ve helped over the years have come back and helped us. It’s so rewarding to see people go on to succeed in a major way.”
For Roberts, KAIR and Independence Cay are far from the first service organizations she’s been involved with. “I’ve been doing this sort of work my whole life, but not just in Marathon,” she said. “I grew up in New York state and spent 20 years in Delaware and did this kind of work. We came down here on our honeymoon and said this is the place for us! We ended up moving here in 2004.
“I’m lucky to have the Keys community, because people are always saying, ‘How can I help? What do you need? What can I do?’ There are a lot of caring people in Marathon. It is amazing that we have people come and sort clothes and arrange furniture and stock shelves. And we’re always looking for more volunteers. Don’t be shy – come see what we do!”
Those interested in volunteering for or donating to KAIR or Independence Cay can check out kaironline.org and indycay.org, or call the KAIR office number at 305-743-4582. KAIR is located behind the church at 3010 Overseas Highway in Marathon, and Marj encourages all to come stop by and learn more. Another food basket distribution is planned for Saturday, Dec. 17 for the Christmas holidays, and more assistance could always help provide a festive meal for a family in need.
