L E B R AT I N C E G

Notes from Harry

Notes from Harry

35 YEYEAR S & BEYOND Winter Newsletter 2019 | Vol. XIX, No. 1 Serving Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee Counties

Introducing Matching grant helps nourish the Hero of the Year senior food program Harry Chapin Food Bank’s effort to feed The program costs $1.1 seniors in need is going strong, and we seek million to operate. We A donation YOU! your help to keep it that way. are grateful that, for of $500 The Harry Chapin The Care & Share: Senior Feeding Campaign the second consecutive can feed a Food Bank was began 18 months ago to supplement year, a grant from the senior for a notified in December the diets of low-income seniors in Lee, Richard M. Schulze year. that we are a finalist Charlotte and Collier counties. The program Family Foundation will for the Hero of the has grown to serve 2,350 seniors, with match up to $300,000 Year Award, given more than 600 on a waitlist. in donations to the annually by The Harry Chapin food bank They are on fixed incomes, often making News-Press. We when donors designate the difficult choices of whether to pay rent are honored to be their gifts to our Care & Share: Senior and other bills or buy food or the medicine nominated with two other Feeding Campaign. The food bank’s goal is they need to stay healthy. worthy finalists. The winner will be to fulfill the match by June 30. announced Feb. 22. Seniors age 60 and over who qualify receive food “kits” containing canned fruits But we also know that whether or not we receive this award, the real and vegetables, protein, grains, cereal and heroes are you, our donors. Your other food each month. When possible, support, whether it’s making a the food bank will also provide bread, financial donation, volunteering, or produce and frozen meat to clients. holding food drives, is the force that The program helps powers any action the food bank clients like Grace (left) of takes and any accomplishment we Fort Myers, who retired achieve. after working 25 years There is no distributing 24 million for a medical supplies company. She said she pounds a year to people in need - note from a senior client in Southwest Florida, no serving also delivered Care & hungry seniors and children, Share kits to two elderly neighbors who ...... no emergency mobile pantries were without transportation. “We are there for one another. I’m thankful for this This Issue providing relief in crises like 2 Major milestone hurricanes or toxic red tide, no program.” Collier County Center anniversary celebrating our 35th anniversary and The food comes in 3 the distribution of our 200 millionth bags that are often 4 In-school pantry update pound of food, without you. decorated by those 6 Erik Hoffer opinion A hero is someone who cares about who participate in 7 Volunteers the welfare of his or her neighbors, our Family Volunteer has the courage to step up and do Day, members of a the right thing, and is seen as a role local art club, or school model for the actions of others. children. Seniors who Thank you for being our heroes. receive them enjoy the messages they convey. State of the food bank Our mission is to lead our community in the fight to end hunger...... Major milestone The Harry Chapin Food Bank celebrated a huge milestone in November – the distribution of our 200 millionth pound Richard LeBer of food to feed our neighbors in need Harry Chapin Food Bank in Southwest Florida. President & CEO Welcome to 2019! For those of you who are seasonal every independent organization in residents of Southwest Florida, Southwest Florida feeding the hungry welcome back to our little slice of – over 150 of them at last count. paradise! We hope you will join us and our At the Harry Chapin Food Bank, other friends at the WINK Feeds we are determined to help our Families Hunger Walk, our largest community thrive by helping people, fundraiser. It’s a great opportunity The food bank marked the occasion in the face of life’s emergencies. We to support the food bank, catch up by holding two special mobile food help hungry kids whose parents may with friends and supporters and pantries, one in Lee County and one have become ill or lost a job. We help have a lot of fun. We are so grateful in Collier County, on the first Tuesday seniors struggling with skyrocketing to our generous sponsors who make after Thanksgiving, also known as medical costs. We make our it possible. Come on out; you won’t “Giving Tuesday.” community stronger by helping them want to miss it! The food bank began in 1983 as a tiny back to their feet. Thanks as always for your support. grassroots food cooperative. It took us That keeps us busy. Our trucks are 31 years to get to 100 million pounds of at 30 mobile pantries every month. food distribution in 2014, and only four We operate nine pantries in schools. more years to reach 200 million. We are serving over 3,500 seniors The milestone is even more significant every month through our two when you consider that it was reached senior food kit programs. We are in the Harry Chapin Food Bank’s 35th the major food source for just about anniversary year.

Drumstick roll, please Thanks to all of you, we surpassed our Publix Super Markets. Publix also took goal in our 2018 Thanksgiving turkey donations from their customers and drive. We wound up with about 3,250 provided 31,118 pounds of prepared turkeys. The goal was 3,000. Morgan & meals for our partner agencies. We are Morgan donated 58 turkeys and checks grateful to our community for helping totaling $10,395. More than 300 turkeys our clients have a Happy Thanksgiving. were donated at the last minute by

Photo: L-R, Jim Hutchinson, accounting staff; Richard LeBer, food bank president and CEO; Joe Linnehan, attorney; Jason Gelinas, attorney; Lauren Hutchinson, accounting manager; Emily Ruiz and Yesenia Rodriguez, accounting staff.

2 Monthly giving is a great way to support the food bank! Our vision is that no one has to go hungry in our community. Collier County Collier center celebrates first anniversary The Harry Chapin Food Bank knew the food bank expand its services Lynn sees it in his volunteer work, there was lots of potential for growth throughout Collier County, LeBer said. especially at the food bank’s mobile and community engagement in Collier John Lynn, a Naples volunteer who has pantries. “A lot of the people are really County. logged 817 hours in about 1 ½ years working poor. It’s not that they’re Now we’re starting to realize that of volunteering, believes that the new not trying. They come up to mobile potential, and there’s no telling how far center has raised awareness. “A lot pantries, a lot of them on the way back we can go. more people know we’re here,” he said. from work.” The food bank’s Collier County Center, For some, it’s hard to understand that The Harry Chapin Food Bank has 35 at 3940 Prospect Ave., is just over a hunger exists in the Naples area, known partner agencies in Collier County year old. The center has succeeded in as one of the wealthiest cities in the and also operates our mobile pantry offering more room for food donations, United States. But in Collier County, program, called Fulfill. A total of 5.1 volunteer opportunities and meeting 36,640 people are food insecure, which million pounds of food was distributed space for community organizations and means they may not know where their in Collier County in the last fiscal year. nonprofits. next meal is coming from. This includes The Collier County Center, opened in 12,420 children. October 2017, is a complement to the Harry Chapin Food Bank’s Fort Myers Distribution Center at 3760 Fowler St. Before and after photos of the warehouse at the Collier County Center At 13,500 square feet, it quadruples the space where the food bank previously operated in Collier County. “The food bank had already been a significant part of the Collier County nonprofit network for 20 years, but the Collier County Center has helped raise and reinforce our profile,” said Richard LeBer, food bank president and CEO. The center has helped build closer connections and is continuing to help

...... Grants move food bank’s mission forward Receiving grants is vital to the Harry County food distribution Back for mobile pantries held in East Chapin Food Bank’s mission to lead our • $7,000 from St. John’s Episcopal Naples community in the fight to end hunger. Church in Naples for the Care & • We also received a new truck in Here are some of the grants we’ve Share program December. The refrigerated received in the last several months, • $5,000 from the Cape Coral truck, funded with a $150,000 along with the programs, improvements Community Foundation for the Care grant from Publix, is the 19th truck or activities they will help fund: & Share program in our fleet. • $50,000 from Arthrex for the Care & • $107,578 from Jane’s Trust for We are grateful for the support of our Share: Senior Feeding Campaign refrigerator expansion generous donors. • $15,000 from Mosaic for Charlotte • $12,000 from Windstar Gives

Remember us in your . estate planning 3 In-school pantries Feeding young bodies so young minds can learn When hungry children go to school, they lunches because of their families’ low Parkside has many families who depend are at a double disadvantage, physically income. on the twice-monthly food distributions, and mentally. Not having enough The food bank now has nine in-school he said. “By sending home a variety of nutritious food to feed your body makes it pantries, and three schools that receive produce, meats and non-perishable foods, more difficult to feed your mind. food boxes that are distributed to the the students and their families are assured Kids who don’t get enough to eat struggle families of the students. The food bank of having enough to eat so that when they to focus, are more likely to experience started with about three in-school pantries are at school, they can be focused on their impaired development in language and six years ago. academics and not on their need for food.” motor skills, and have more social and “Establishing more in-school pantries, behavioral problems, according to Feeding along with distribution of the pre- In-school pantry / America, the nation’s largest food bank packaged food boxes, gives the food bank food box distribution network, of which Harry Chapin Food Bank another way to provide healthy, nutritious Lee County: is a member. food to children, teens and their families • Tortuga Preserve Elementary The Harry Chapin Food Bank is focusing who are experiencing food insecurity,” said • Coronado High School on increasing the number of in-school Louise Bain, food bank programs outreach North Nicholas High School pantries it provides in Southwest Florida, manager. “Students can access an in- • where two-thirds of school children are school pantry without the stigma that is • Mariner Middle School eligible for or receive free or reduced oftentimes associated with being in need, • James Stephens International and families are able to receive the food Academy they need in a familiar, welcoming place.” • Food box distribution at Hancock Creek Elementary and Island Coast One of the food bank’s in-school pantries High School is at Parkside Elementary School in Naples. “At Parkside we are so appreciative of our Charlotte County: in-school food pantry partnership with • Baker Center School Harry Chapin Food Bank, and the North • Food box distribution at the Boys & Naples Church donors and volunteers who Girls Club in Port Charlotte support this important program,” said Tom Collier County: Gemmer, school counselor. • Parkside Elementary • Mike Davis Elementary • Immokalee High School Photo: Students receive food at Parkview Elementary.

More mobile pantries, millions of pounds The food bank has increased the efficient ways for the food bank to number of mobile food pantries to an distribute fresh, nutritious food directly average of 30 per month this year. In to clients, many of whom do not fiscal year 2017-18, we held 737 mobile have access to grocery stores due to pantries and produce deliveries at 80 location or lack of transportation. locations. Clients at each pantry receive 30 to Our clients received 3.2 million pounds 35 pounds of fresh produce, meat and of food, or about 2.7 million meals. bread, along with a variety of canned The mobile pantry program, called and dry goods such as peanut butter, Fulfill, continues to be one of the most beans, rice, juice, cereal and fruit. Angel at an Immokalee mobile pantry 4 Monthly giving is a great way to support the food bank! Harry’s photo album

Feeding young bodies so young minds can learn

The food bank had a fresh new wrap Clients received food at a mobile pantry installed on the front of the Fort Myers distribution atFranklin Park Elementary School Distribution Center. in Fort Myers to mark the 200 millionth pound of food distributed to our community.

A group of volunteers from Homewood Henry and Sandy Peterson delivered 731 pounds Joy Youngblood, age 8, stopped by with her Suites recently sorted and packed 5,216 of turkey and 127 pounds of nonperishable food Christmas gift to the food bank. This year, she pounds of milk. from the “Sanibel East End Turkey Drop and Roll.” raised $163! Madeline Paniagua, food bank administrative assistant, helped count.

Julia Humble, 8, and her mom, Agne Gaijaouskaite, volunteered at Let’s Feed Lee.

More mobile pantries, millions of pounds

Richard LeBer, right, food bank president and Richard LeBer, food bank president and CEO, left, Volunteers packed onions while learning CEO, accepts the Harvey Kapnick Award from with Pamela and Tom Marciniak of Punta Gorda, who about the food bank at Naples Family the Community Foundation of Collier County, raised $11,000 from their 11th annual “Party with a Volunteer Day. in recognition of our work after Hurricane Irma. Purpose” dinner gathering.

Share your photo with us on facebook: facebook.com/harrychapinfoodbank. 5 Opinion

channeled that makes it relevant to First, the snowbird response of “My the community or cause receiving it. home is in Michigan, but I am here Take our Southwest Florida German only half the time” is typical. Shepherd Rescue Inc., The permanent resident organizations such as typically says, “I love living here, the Ya Ya Girls and Harry but my home is still up North.” Chapin Food Bank, for Either way I tend to get instance, which my frustrated, because these two By Erik Hoffer foundation supports. These groups still cannot see the Hoffer Family Foundation organizations serve those in members of the community Harry Chapin Food Bank donor Charlotte and Lee counties where they reside as “home,” who are in need. The Ya Ya Girls in the sense of channeling their provide food in backpacks for over generosity to local causes. I am not Where’s home 1,100 local Charlotte County children suggesting we forsake our great home In rescue and most other weekly who do not eat regularly over states, but we also need to consider charitable organizations, the weekends. The Harry Chapin Food where we reside. It must be inclusive donations make the wheels Bank provides basic nutritional needs of the residents in our neighborhoods, turn and provide the services 12 months a year to neighborhoods our friends, our business colleagues, to those in need. whose residents are unable to afford the local first responders, hospitals, quality, nutritious food. The rescue, of schools, restaurant workers, where we In order to understand the nature course, is dog-based, but to those of pray and where we play. us who love our pets, these homeless of giving, a generous person must When we consider what to support German shepherds are equally in need decide with whom to share his or and how much to support it, I of help. her wealth. This is typically decided would suggest rethinking what is by some passion that person has, I have spoken to many people who actually “home” and supporting or a conscious desire to help some live here in Punta Gorda and in the local organizations with at least the cause. Gifting takes thought and gives surrounding areas. When asked, same consideration given to a similar pleasure to both the donor and the “Where’s home?” you get two types of organization 1,500 miles away. charity. Regardless of the magnitude replies.

of the gift, it’s where the money is

...... February features major food drives The Harry Chapin Food Bank is holding We’re asking customers to stop by several county-wide food drives in and donate one or more of the items February at Publix Super Markets. most needed by our partner agencies. Our staff and volunteers will be at the 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2: stores to greet you and say thank you. Let’s Feed Collier and Let’s Feed In February 2018, our first Let’s Feed Charlotte will be held at Publix Collier drive resulted in more than stores in Collier and Charlotte 15,000 pounds of food. In September counties. 2018, our first Let’s Feed Lee drive 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23: brought in 47,488 pounds of food, and Let’s Feed Lee will be held at Publix $11,733 in donations. stores in Lee County. Steve Soucy of our food bank staff accepts donations with two volunteers at the Brooks Village Publix for Let’s Feed Collier. 6 Donate easily and securely at harrychapinfoodbank.org. Reasons why I volunteer Rick Laboda “When I started volunteering at the food bank and found out how great the need was, it made me even more excited about the difference I could make. I love the different things that I can do. ”

Frederick Gloege “The people that I work with and the mission of Harry Chapin speak to my heart, and it’s Scot and Nicole Chausse and their two children, Quinten and Chloe, something I look enjoyed their first Family Volunteer Day in November. The next forward to doing for as many years as Family Volunteer Day in Fort Myers and Naples will be 9 to 11:30 I am physically able.” a.m., Saturday, March 23. Thanks a million Our volunteers provided: More than There are more than a million reasons why our volunteers are vital to the $1 million of success of the food bank. in-kind service In the last fiscal year, 3,839 volunteers collectively provided more than 41,000 hours, which equates to more than $1 million of in-kind service. If you’d like to know more about joining our army of volunteers, visit 41,000 hours harrychapinfoodbank.org/donate/volunteer.

Fiscal year 2017-18

...... Answering the call to help after Hurricane Michael We’re proud of our staff members and partner agency deliveries. and Mike Davis, our retail logistics who did double hurricane relief duty In the meantime, staff member Jose manager. Thanks to all! this season. In October, we deployed Soto-Cruz, drove one of our mobile four staff members and two trucks pantry trucks up to the Panhandle to for Hurricane Michael relief in the deliver emergency relief, along with staff Panhandle. The group included member Edson Pagan, who drove one of Operations Director Eric Hitzeman, who the food bank’s box trucks. worked at food banks in both Tallahassee In September, we sent two of our own and Alabama, arranging food donations to North Carolina for two weeks to and deliveries through the Feeding help with Hurricane Florence disaster America network. Warehouse driver relief distribution and warehouse Nelson Virella stayed in Tallahassee for An emergency mobile pantry distribution management. The team included Dennis in the Panhandle one week, helping with mobile pantries Hall, our Fort Myers warehouse manager,

Find out how you can volunteer with the Harry Chapin Food Bank at harrychapinfoodbank.org. 7 The Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida 3760 Fowler Street Fort Myers, Florida 33901

Sign up to receive email updates from Harry Chapin Food Bank Text HARRY to 42828 to get started.

Leave a legacy Harry’s happenings • Feb. 2 - Let’s Feed Collier and Let’s Feed Charlotte Your support of the Harry Chapin Food Bank 9 to 3 p.m., Publix stores in Collier and demonstrates your commitment to ending hunger in Charlotte counties Southwest Florida. Please consider the Harry Chapin • Feb. 23 - Let’s Feed Lee Food Bank when planning your will or estate. 9 to 3 p.m., Publix stores in Lee County For more information, contact Miriam Pereira: • March 23 - Family Volunteer Day (239) 334-7007 ext. 127 9 to 11:30 a.m., Collier County Center [email protected]. 9 to 11:30 a.m., Fort Myers Distribution Center

How donations are used Fort Myers Distribution Center Collier County Center $1 equals $8 worth of food value 3760 Fowler St. 3940 Prospect Ave. #101 Fort Myers, FL 33901 Naples, FL 34104 Find us on social media 4 percent of donations go to administration and funding 96 percent of donations go to programs and services

A copy of the Food Bank's official registration and financial information may be Member of Member of obtained from the Division of Comsumer Services by calling toll-free within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the state. For more information, contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs at 1-800-435-7352 or visit freshfromflorida.com.