LeeTran hosts second annual food drive
LeeTran is marshalling its forces to collect 50 tons of food for the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida on Sunday, Sept. 19.
For the second year, LeeTran is challenging Southwest Florida to help the 30,000 people who seek assistance from the food bank each week.
On Sunday, Sept. 19, a LeeTran vehicle and volunteers will be at every Publix supermarket in Lee County from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. They will gratefully accept donations of non-perishable food items or cash to feed the “new hungry” of Southwest Florida: the working poor,seniors on fixed incomes, and the unemployed who have to choose between feeding their families and paying other bills.
Last year’s food drive collected 25 tons of food; this year, the goal has been bumped to 50 tons, because the food bank’s shelves are depleted after a summer of hunger.
Donation bags may be purchased in advance at any Publix, but we urge Southwest Florida to visit us on Sunday, Sept. 19 to donate just one can of food, and show the community that we care.
LeeTran buses will park in the Publix parking lots during that time for shoppers to fill bins with nonperishable food.At 4 p.m., the buses will caravan to the Harry Chapin Food Bank’s Fowler Street warehouse, where volunteers will unload the donations.
LeeTran drivers and other employees are volunteering their day’s labor to serve the community. The event is being co-sponsored by the Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc., and The News-Press Media Group.
Harry Chapin Food Bank Associate Director Joyce Jacobs noted that the food bank is hoping for the same outpouring of support that they experienced in the National Association of Letter Carrier Food Drive in May.
The Harry Chapin Food Bank solicits, collects and stores quality food for distribution to families in need through a network of more than 170 local nonprofit agencies in Lee, Collier, Hendry, Charlotte and Glades counties, who provide food to more than 30,000 people monthly.More than 800,900 pounds of food are distributed monthly. For every dollar donated, about $6 in food value goes back to the community.In the past fiscal year, The Harry Chapin Food Bank distributed more than 9.6 million pounds of food and other grocery products.
Additional information about or to contribute financially to the Harry Chapin Food Bank, contact 334-7007 or go to harrychapinfoodbank.org.