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‘Stuff The Bus’ food drive Sept. 20

By Staff | Sep 9, 2015

The Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida is asking Lee County residents to help fill empty pantry shelves by shopping at Publix Super Markets between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 20.

On that day, stores will display pallets of foods that the food bank and its partner pantries most need. Volunteers and LeeTran buses will be on hand to receive donated items and “stuff the buses.”

This is the seventh year that the food bank has partnered with LeeTran for the end-of-summer food drive. In the past six years, the drive has collected a total of 611,553 pounds of food to benefit the food bank and its 150-plus partner agencies.

Unlike previous years, this “Stuff the Bus” food drive will take place on one day so the community’s support is especially important. “We really need the public to come out and support us that day, because our pantries are depleted,” said Al Brislain, food bank president and CEO.

Volunteers are also needed for the event.

To volunteer, call Tanya Phillips 239-334-7007 Ext. 141 tanyaphillips@harrychapinfoodbank.org.

The Harry Chapin Food Bank, an affiliate of Feeding America, solicits, collects and stores quality food for distribution to families and others in need through a network of more than 150 nonprofit agencies in Lee, Collier, Hendry, Charlotte and Glades counties that provide food to 30,000 people monthly. More than 1 million pounds of food are distributed by the Harry Chapin Food Bank monthly. For each donated dollar, the food bank can distribute $6 worth of food and grocery items. In fiscal year 2015, the Harry Chapin Food Bank distributed 18.4 million pounds of food and other grocery items valued at $31.3 million. This is roughly the equivalent of 15.3 million meals to people in need.

To learn more about the Harry Chapin Food Bank, visit www.harrychapinfoodbank.org.