Even TV news can’t remember the correct name of Destin Harvest, a 7-month-old local charity, says executive director Kim Moore.

“We are totally different from Harvest House,” Moore told The Log, “but even Fox 10 refers to us as Harvest House.”

Harvest House is a 20-year-old Destin charity that offers clothes, food and financial assistance to people in need, and supports itself by selling donated items through its non-profit thrift store.

Destin Harvest began operations last August, providing food to local organizations including Shelter House, Waterfront Rescue Mission, Caring & Sharing, OASIS and several church shelters and soup kitchens, according to destinharvest.org.

Moore said the organization was kicked off by George Landegger, a Destin property owner, after he learned Harbor Docks owner Charles

Morgan threw an annual Thanksgiving Habitat for Humanity dinner. Landegger realized through the event that, even in Destin, some people go hungry and homeless. Moore said Morgan and Heather Coleman are the two other board directors.

The Web site says that over the past seven months, Destin Harvest has collected more than 14 tons of food. Moore said the primary source is leftover food from local businesses.

“We collect our food from restaurants and grocery stores as well, on a daily basis,” Moore said. “We have a refrigerated truck for that purpose.”

Using restaurants means much of the charity’s supply is cooked food rather than canned, non-perishable items. However, Moore said, Destin Harvest is planning a summer food drive that will ask tourists to donate canned goods. She said a lot of visitors buy food for their stay, then leave unopened cans and boxes behind.

“This way,” Moore said, “visitors coming to the area could help our community when they’re here.”

Destin Harvest doesn’t have a facility — only a desk in the Harbor Docks gift shop — but these local businesses will accept nonperishable items for the food drive: Real Estate Professionals of Destin, People’s First Community Bank, Destin Charters, Life’s a Beach, First Presbyterian Church of Destin and Tropical Smoothie Café.

Moore said Snowbirds also supported Destin Harvest with food drives in some of the condos during their 2007-08 stay. She said Destin Harvest has also scheduled a May 21 golf tournament as a fundraiser.

Moore added that the charity has begun the process for registering with the state government as an approved 501(c) 3 charity, but it could take up to a year or so to finish.

Destin Harvest also accepts donations of money or volunteer labor along with food, Moore said. She told The Log her paid staff consists of two part-time drivers and herself, and that she participates in driving the delivery truck.

“Gas is killing us right now,” Moore said. “Diesel is about $4 a gallon, and whether we carry 56 pounds of food or 1,500, our truck rolls six days a week.”