LeeTran/Publix team up for food collection
The partnership between LeeTran and Publix led to the collection of 49,556 pounds of food for the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida Sunday, Sept. 20. The Beach Publix contributed 1,975 pounds to the cause.
LeeTran’s food drive “Fill Our Fleet to Feed the Hungry” was held at 32 Publix locations throughout Lee County. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., LeeTran volunteers urged shoppers to help them fill the LeeTran bus in the parking lot.
“We were overwhelmed by the generosity of the people we met,” said Transit Director Steve Myers, who worked at the Bonita Bay Plaza Publix. “Even people who said they were going through tough times gave a can or two, because they wanted to help those less fortunate.”
The drop-off at the food bank went off without a hitch. Within 90 minutes, all 32 vehicles were unloaded by an efficient group of food bank volunteers.
“It was inspiring to see so many people working together with such commitment and enthusiasm,” said LeeTran Operations Manager Paul Goyette.
The LeeTran volunteers held a competition to see which location could raise the most food. LeeTran’s winning team was headed by Operations Supervisor Bob Southall. They collected 4,880 pounds of donations at the Publix at The Shoppes of Fiddlesticks.
Sunday’s collections will restock the food bank’s shelves with supplies that they can give their member agencies at no charge. After a summer of tremendous need, these supplies were almost completely gone. Harry Chapin Food Bank Director Al Brislain said that “without the LeeTran food drive, the next few weeks would have been very difficult for our partner agencies and the families that depend on them. Now, we have some food to tide us over until the holiday season starts up in November.”
Joyce Jacobs contributed to the report.