The Harry Chapin Food Bank is reaching out to help those who have been economically impacted by the toxic algae blanketing beaches, killing sea life, and devastating tourism. The food bank will hold a mobile pantry from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Aug. 24 at 1510 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach.
Then the food bank will start holding Wednesday mobile pantry food distributions, beginning Aug. 29 from 10 a.m. to noon, at the same location. The mobile pantries will continue on succeeding Wednesdays as long as deemed necessary.
Red tide in salt water and green algae in fresh water have hurt businesses, particularly in the tourism and hospitality industries, and made it difficult for their employees and other residents to make ends meet and feed their families.
“For people working in tourism and hospitality, the summer off-season is always a challenging time,” said Richard LeBer, food bank president and CEO. “This year, water quality issues have devastated business, employment and wages in our coastal communities. We hope our mobile pantries can help coastal residents struggling to make ends meet while this crisis continues.”
Each mobile pantry can serve up to 250 households per distribution. Clients receive 35 to 40 pounds of a variety of food, which may include fresh produce, meat, and bread, along with a variety of canned and dry goods such as peanut butter, beans, rice, juice, cereal, and fruit.
Meanwhile, residents can also get help at one of the 23 mobile pantries the food bank holds monthly or one of the more than 150 partner agencies the food bank provides food to across Southwest Florida.
For a calendar listing of mobile pantries, please visit our website at this link: harrychapinfoodbank.org/about-us/mobile-pantry-schedule.
For a listing of partner agencies and their locations, please visit: harrychapinfoodbank.org/about-us/partner-agencies.