Programs

Contact us to get more info about our programs

Community Garden

Community Garden at Pine Manor Improvement Association

Embracing the belief that fresh, nourishing food is a cornerstone of any thriving community, the Pine Manor Improvement Association passionately dedicates itself to ensuring that the residents of our community have access to wholesome sustenance through the Pine Manor Community Garden. Our garden offers plots to families and individuals residing in the Pine Manor area, cultivating not just vegetables but a sense of communal well-being.

Community gardens serve as vibrant canvases where families can nurture their own individual, shared, or mixed gardening havens, allowing the cultivation of an array of fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs tailored to their preferences. Beyond the bounty of produce, these green spaces become catalysts for healthier eating habits, enhanced overall well-being, and a significant reduction in food waste.

As we embark on this green journey, we extend an invitation to volunteers who can lend their green thumbs to tend to the beds and nurture the soil. Additionally, we are in search of those who could contribute donated tools, soil, seeds, and various other materials. Together, let’s sow the seeds of a healthier, more vibrant community.

Food Forest

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Since 2016, Pine Manor Improvement Association has transformed an unruly plot of land, overrun with invasive trees and bushes, into a flourishing food forest. A collaborative effort led by dedicated volunteers saw the clearing of the land, the installation of a protective wall, and the erection of a fence. The Sunrise Rotary and Boy Scouts joined forces to plant a vibrant array of new trees and bushes along the property border, creating a harmonious and inviting landscape.

Our food forest collaborates seamlessly with the FGCU Food Forest, working in tandem to cultivate a diverse range of fruits, vegetables, medicinal herbs, and flowers that attract the buzzing symphony of bees and graceful fluttering butterflies. A winding path meanders through the heart of the forest, connecting with neighboring Hunter Park.

In our commitment to community education, we offer culinary classes aimed at teaching cooking basics to local teens and instilling the significance of sustainable farming practices. These classes not only nurture culinary skills but also cultivate an understanding of the interconnectedness between food, nature, and a sustainable future

Culinary Training

Cooks

Pine Manor’s quarterly culinary kitchen program gives residents all the skills needed for immediate employment in the food industry. If you are seeking a career in catering or the restaurant industry, this is the place to start! Our comprehensive training equips participants with essential tools and skills for their culinary journey.

Students in the two-week, 40-hour class will learn about safe food handling procedures before testing for the Florida Department of Health Food Handler Certificate. This includes instruction on food storage, knife skills, temperature control and cleanup.  Upon graduation, you are qualified to work in a commercial kitchen. Our instructor provides an overview of preparation techniques that include chopping meat and vegetables, creating sauces and cooking Latin and Asian dishes. Participants will steam, bake sauté and fry entrees. Lastly, participants will learn proper interview techniques and go over commonly asked questions. Our partner Goodwill offers a Microenterprise Class to empower graduates who may wish to start a catering business or operate a food truck.

Pine Manor also offers Teen Boot Camps on summer and winter breaks for youth ages 13-17 who want to learn how to make some of their favorite meals while learning the art of meal preparation.

Commercial Kitchen

Food van truck. Stylish black mobile food truck with burgers and asian food at street food festival. Summer eating market in the city. Space for text, menu

Pine Manor has a fully licensed commercial kitchen that may be rented and reserved either for one-time use or recurring use. Cooking kitchen rentals include use of workspace, food preparation and cooking equipment, while wash-pack kitchen rental includes use of workspace for washing & packaging of food and food products. Limited cutlery and cookware is available. Professional cooks and chefs will likely wish to supply your own based on preferences.

We offer a dedicated space for food vendors – a certified commissary kitchen where they can confidently house their licenses and operate with the assurance of meeting all regulatory standards.
Click here for Commercial Kitchen Agreement
Click here for Food Truck Agreement

Our kitchen provides the opportunity for new and existing small businesses in the community to elevate their growth and turn their dreams into a tangible reality.

Food Pantry

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Pine Manor offers three distinct food pantry options to meet the needs of its residents. The Community Food Pantry is offered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month in partnership with the Harry Chapin Food Bank and Midwest Food Bank. New clients will need to fill out a self-declaration form to determine eligibility.

The association also offers a Mobile Food Pantry with partner Community Cooperative from 10 a.m. to noon on the third Tuesday of the month, where residents can receive additional staples. Lastly, we offer a dedicated Senior Food Bank from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month, where senior residents can pick up a box of staples.

Pine Manor will greatly expand its food offerings in 2024 with a planned external cooler that will allow us to store fresh fruits and vegetables for extended periods. This addition will ensure that residents have access to more nutritious foods on a regular basis. It also will allow us to store produce from our Community Garden and stock our Commercial Kitchen with the freshest ingredients.

Health Screenings

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Pine Manor is fortunate to partner with Premier Mobile Clinic, who provides screening services and immunizations at no cost monthly from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month at the Pine Manor Improvement Association Community Center. In addition, students from the Florida Gulf Coast University School of Nursing are on hand to assist with screenings and gain hands-on experience in the community.

These screenings have meant the difference between life and death for some residents by catching life-threatening conditions such as extreme high blood pressure that required immediate medical attention, resulting in trips to health care specialists, and in one case, the emergency room. The clinic averages about 30 clients a month.

Social Services

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For more than a decade, Pine Manor’s Neighborhood Resource Specialist Shari Clark has assisted residents apply for social services. She is available to help residents navigate the Department of Children and Families’ website to receive and apply for food, cash and medical assistance. She also can assist with Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP), Social Security applications, tax preparation and creating resumes and enhancing job skills. We also offer English as a second language classes.

Residents also may use the association’s computer lab, phones and fax on an as-needed basis. Call 239-275-5180 to make an appointment and avoid having to wait for availability.

Special Events

New Recycling Bins Program

Pine Manor’s Community Center is the social hub of the neighborhood and regularly offers events that bring residents together. Over the course of the year, we offer an Easter Egg Hunt, On the Table Potluck, Keep Lee County Beautiful “Trash Bash,” Summer Lunch Program, Back To School Backpack Giveaway, Halloween Trunk or Treat, Make A Difference Day Neighborhood Cleanup, Thanksgiving dinner in conjunction with partner Children’s Advocacy Center, Christmas Dinner and Adopt A Family Christmas giving.

Please check the Scheduled Activities on this website for specifics.

United Way House

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Pine Manor is honored to be a partner with United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades and even more honored to be an official United Way House, which is a centralized location where individuals and families can receive wrap-around social services from multiple community organizations. Because of the value the association brings to the community, United Way helps defray the cost of our resident coordinator.

Goodwill assists with job service skills and operational support. They also partner to put on Culinary Kitchen Classes. The Children’s Advocacy Center operates a no-cost after-care program from the association building. In addition, personnel from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences provide nutrition and food preparation instruction.

Our other incredible partners include Florida Gulf Coast University, the Harry Chapin and Midwest Food Bank, numerous places of worship, Metro McGregor Kiwanis and Rotary District 6960.

Pine Manor’s many partners and volunteers are the reason we are able to provide the services that we do.

Scheduled Activities

Program

Days

Time

After School Program

Monday – Friday

School Days:
2:30 – 5 p.m.

Summer Break:
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Community Food Pantry

Second Thursday of the month

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Computer Classes

Friday

1 – 3 p.m.

English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes

Friday

10 a.m. – Noon

Health Screenings

Second Thursday of the month

9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Mobile Food Pantry

Third Tuesday of the month

10 a.m. – Noon

Senior Food Pantry

Third Tuesday of the month

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Social Service Assistance

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Volunteer in Garden

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

8:30 – 10 a.m.

Contact us to get more info about our programs