At Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida, we are proud to lead the fight against hunger with the help of our generous partners and dedicated agencies. Thanks to support from Feeding America and the Walmart Foundation, we’ve expanded our ability to serve more families in need by awarding new vans to six incredible agency partners—three in this recent round, and three from our first cycle.
In the latest round, we awarded vans to:
- Word of Life in Fort Myers, which operates a welcoming choice pantry open from Tuesday to Friday. With partnerships from donors like Publix and Dollar General, Word of Life is able to provide essential food to families in need. Their long lines of community members highlight the growing demand for food assistance.
- Wintergarden in Charlotte County, one of the largest pantries in the region, has built strong relationships with key donors such as Sam’s Club and Walmart. Their commitment to serving their neighbors has made them a critical resource in the fight against hunger.
- Venture Cares is meeting families where they are through mobile pantries set up in school parking lots during pick-up times. This innovative approach, supported by donors like Fresh Market and Aldi, ensures parents can easily access fresh and nutritious food.
These new vans will enhance each agency’s capacity to distribute more food to those who need it most across Southwest Florida.
Reflecting on Our First Round of Vans
In our first cycle of this grant, we also awarded vans to:
- Joseph’s Project, which continues to serve families in their community by ensuring reliable and regular food distribution.
- Moore Haven Church of Prophets, a vital resource for families in need, where the van has made it possible to extend their reach in the community.
- Community Love Project, where the van has enabled more families in underserved areas to receive the help they need, increasing their access to nutritious food.
Each of these agency partners plays a critical role in ensuring that no one in their community has to face hunger. These vans have become essential tools in their efforts to serve more people efficiently and effectively.
Looking Ahead
The addition of these vans is much more than just a logistical boost—it represents expanded opportunities for deeper community engagement and a greater capacity to provide for families facing hunger. With these new resources, our agency partners will continue to make a meaningful difference, helping us move closer to a hunger-free Southwest Florida.
We are immensely grateful to Feeding America and the Walmart Foundation for their generous support and for partnering with us to strengthen food access in our communities.
Together, we are driving positive change—one van, one meal, and one partnership at a time.