Snowbirds departing for their northern homes are encouraged to leave their unopened, nonperishable food items at the Boca Grande post office for the 20th annual Letter Carrier Food Drive Saturday, May 12.
The food will be delivered to the Harry Chapin Food Bank in Lee County and Collier Harvest in Collier County. All food collected will be distributed to their networks of nonprofit agencies at no charge.
Last year's Letter Carrier Food Drive, "Stamp Out Hunger," resulted in more than 400,000 pounds of food donated and more than $2,300 in cash donations.
This year the need is even greater.
Children who receive free breakfasts and lunches during the school year will be in need during the summer months when these meals aren't available; the food bank assists in providing this service.
Food items especially needed include canned soup, meats fish and vegetables, fruits and juices, boxed goods (such as cereal), and pasta and rive.
The Harry Chapin Food Bank solicits, collects and stores quality food for distribution to families in need through a network of nonprofit agencies in Lee, Collier, Hendry, Charlotte and Glades counties, who provide food to more than 30,000 people monthly.
More than1 million pounds of food are distributed monthly. For every dollar donated, about $6 in food value goes back to the community.
In the past calendar year, The Harry Chapin Food Bank distributed more than 13.7 million pounds of food and other grocery items valued at more than $22.5 million. This is roughly the equivalent of 11 million meals to people in need.
Additional information about or to contribute financially to the Harry Chapin Food Bank, contact (239) 334-7007 or go to harrychapinfoodbank.org.
Joyce Jacobs
Harry Chapin Food Bank
Fort Myers
