Put out your non-perishables! Tomorrow (May 14) is the Letter Carriers’ National Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, and local postal employees will be collecting as much as possible to help alleviate hunger in Southwest Florida.
For information on how the drive works and suggested contribution items, click here.
Hunger is a serious issue throughout Lee and Collier. A newly released study from the organization Feeding America finds that nearly 12 percent of Collier residents and 14 percent of Lee are considered “food-insecure.” Children are the most at risk of going hungry. Nationally, some 48 million Americans are going hungry, the organization reports.
The Harry Chapin Food Bank, which will receive food collected in Lee County, has put a call out for volunteers to sort food in three shifts: noon to 2 p.m.; 2-4 p.m.; and 4-6 p.m. Volunteer drivers are also needed.
Volunteer sorters will be working at the following Post Offices:
- Cape Coral Central: 1030 SE Ninth Ave., Cape Coral
- Downtown Fort Myers: 1350 Monroe St., Fort Myers
- Page Field: 2655 N. Airport Road, Fort Myers
- Carrier Annex (South Fort Myers): 14651 Six Mile Cypress, Fort Myers
- North Fort Myers:1882 N. Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers
- Tice: 4585 Palm Beach Blvd., Fort Myers
Contact the Harry Chapin Food Bank at 334-7007 for more information. In Collier County, the food collection will be managed by Collier Harvest: 455-3663.
