BUSINESS NEWS

Jack Rabbit employees offer food and more in downtown Ocala. [Submitted photo]

Company donates food and more

Jack Rabbit Air, Plumbing and Electric hosted a food and clothing drive for more than 80 unhoused individuals and others in need over Thanksgiving weekend.

Eight volunteers, including four Jack Rabbit employees who donated their Sunday afternoon on Thanksgiving weekend, served a hot meal to attendees while distributing winter coats, hats, pants and bathing essentials.

“The response from the community was overwhelming and deeply moving,” said Rob Chism, with Jack Rabbit, in the news release. “Many recipients returned for seconds and expressed their gratitude with tears in their eyes. Though we’re relatively new to Ocala, we’re committed to supporting our most vulnerable neighbors, especially during these cold winter months.”

The company also recently surprised veteran Pasquale Burgese with a free air conditioning unit to honor his service. Local technicians chose Burgese for the unit and installation, valued at $10,000, as part of their Thanksgiving Service Initiative.

Burgese, a disabled U.S. Marine Corps veteran, served from 1981 to 1985 as a wireman with Lima Company during deployment in Beirut. He earned a Presidential Commendation while holding the rank of lance corporal. In honor of Marines lost in the Beirut barracks bombing, he built a replica of the Jacksonville, North Carolina, Beirut Memorial & Grove in his backyard. The commemorative wall lists 273 fallen marines and the words “They Came in Peace.” It measures six feet high and 16 feet wide, with benches and a flagpole. Burgese volunteers with veteran organizations and led the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Beverly Hills, Florida, as commander in 2021 after serving as service officer. He lives with his service dog, Sgt. Blackjack, and stays close with family, the news release noted.

MCPS earns 25^th honor

For the 25th consecutive year, Marion County Public Schools’ Finance Department has earned the highest honor for public accountability and transparency.

The Chicago-based Government Finance Officers Association recently awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the MCPS Finance Department. The award is based on the school district’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for fiscal year 2024, which earned “proficient” ratings in 19 categories.

The Finance Department oversees the school district’s $1.3 billion budget and implements financial changes based on current law.

MCPS is one of 15 school districts in Florida and 426 nationwide this year to receive the honor, placing it in the top 1 percent.

Hospitals organize food drive

HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital recently supported College Park Elementary, a United Way Community Partnership School, with 716 pounds of food collected by colleagues.

As part of HCA Healthcare’s fifth annual Healthy Food for Healthier Tomorrows Food & Nutrition Drive, the HCA Healthcare Foundation and hospital colleagues throughout the state provide thousands of meals to community organizations by donating food and making financial contributions to help purchase perishable items such as milk, fruit and vegetables.

“At a time of increasing need for many families, HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital colleagues are grateful for the opportunity to contribute toward a healthier tomorrow for our neighbors,” said Alan Keesee, chief executive officer of HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, in the press release. “These donations were transformed into a ‘Give S’more Back’ food structure, symbolizing the gathering of a community around a campfire.”

As part of the drive, hospital teams are encouraged to construct sculptures with the donated food. Photos of the sculptures are submitted and a winner is selected in each HCA Healthcare division to receive a $10,000 grant for a food bank serving its community.

Nurse managers from HCA Florida Ocala Hospital pose with the “campfire” structure they built with donations from colleagues to support families at College Park Elementary School in Ocala. [Submitted photo]