Arnold Abbott
Lovethyneighbor.org
Civic activist may be too soft a description for Abbott, who has dedicated his time, resources and boundless empathy to feeding the homeless in Broward County since 1991. Now in his 80s, Abbott is really more of a fighter, a warrior even, who refuses to be knocked down in his mission to help people who are struggling to help themselves. Abbott formed the nonprofit, all-volunteer organization Love Thy Neighbor 15 years ago after the death of his wife, Maureen. By his count, he has served more than a half-million meals since then, first at the infamous tent city near City Hall in Fort Lauderdale and then on the beach on Wednesday nights and at the Cooperative Feeding Program, where until recently he ran a cooking school for the homeless. He set up shop at other sites, as well, and in almost every instance, Abbott has had to plead his case with local officials, sometimes in court, to keep the chow lines open. He does so without anger or animosity but with the righteous beliefs that personal dignity begins with a hot meal and that no one in a country as well-off as ours should go hungry.
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