Stocking Up Pantries
On Friday mornings, Sun Splash Family Waterpark in Cape Coral converts into a food-distribution site where prepackaged foods, canned goods and fresh produce are provided to those in need—thanks to the Harry Chapin Food Bank. Every week the food bank offers 12 drive-through sites throughout Southwest Florida. While the food bank generally feeds around 28,000 people per week on average, during the past few months, the numbers have increased by more than 50 percent. Thanks to generous volunteers and donors, the food bank has been able to keep up with the demand.
“We will be at Sun Splash and other local sites as long as there is a need in the community and vehicles keep lining up for food,” says Mary Wozniak, marketing and communications manager for Harry Chapin Food Bank. To pick up food, pop your trunk and drive through on Friday mornings from 10 a.m.-noon. For a calendar of distribution sites and to learn how you can volunteer or donate, visit the organization’s website. Pet donations are available on some days at certain locations. Community Cooperative and Midwest Food Bank are also offering assistance to Southwest Floridians. For more information, visit sunsplashwaterpark .com and harrychapinfoodbank.org.