Postive Developments in Destin

At Newman-Dailey, we enjoy making a difference and supporting our local community in order to make Destin a better place to live, work and play. So when our CEO Jeanne Dailey was approached by City Manager Greg Kisela to discuss plans for the rundown building on Airport Road, Newman-Dailey was immediately on board to help turn the dilapidated building into a place of nourishment for our community. 

The building is now being renovated with the help of members of Destin Area Chamber of Commerce’s Destin Forward Class, Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, and the Rotary Club of Destin among other volunteers. The building is being transformed into the new home of Food for Thought. Food for Thought Outreach is a local non-profit that provides backpacks filled with healthy, easy-to-prepare food for students who are dependent on free and reduced lunch.

Jeanne is also the current president of the Rotary Club of Destin, whose mission is to eradicate hunger in our community, so the project was a natural fit for the Rotary Club. Jeanne then took it a step further and issued a challenge to fellow community organizations asking them to rally behind the Food For Thought project. One of the first to join the effort was Newman-Dailey team member Betty Kazek’s son, Jon Kazek. Kazek is with DKM Custom Homes and is serving as the general contractor overseeing the renovations. In addition, long-term Newman-Dailey vendor Murphy’s Heating and Air Conditioning has come aboard to provide climate control for the building.

The goal is to have work completed by March 15, 2016 when Food for Thought begins its 3-year lease to use the building as a central location for gathering food and filling backpacks to serve schools in Okaloosa County. The new location, which is anticipated to distribute more than 600 backpacks this year, will complement Food For Thought’s existing warehouse and headquarters in Santa Rosa Beach.

We invite you to learn more about Newman-Dailey’s community involvement on our company website, NewmanDailey.com. Or learn more about the Food for Thought project by reading the full story in the Northwest Florida Daily News.

* Photo courtesty of TARA ROBERTS | TL Roberts Photography

Published by Tracy Louthain
Monday, January 11, 2016