Lehigh man will supply food for the hungry
mtoadvine@breezenewspapers.com
George Duncan wants to help bring food to the people of Lehigh who are living on low incomes and for those who have lost their jobs and those who have lost their homes during the current economic recession.
“I remember the help my family received when I was young and now I want to help people in this area and I have the resources, with the help of the community who will become my partners, to bring food to this area and to keep it flowing in weekly.
One of his first partners of Duncan’s Peace B Still Foundation Inc. is Dewey Tyler, owner of the Chad Truong Business Center at 205 Joel Blvd. Tyler has provided Duncan an office and plenty of space to store food.
Now what Duncan needs are a large box truck and a few freezers.
Known throughout the community as Dr. George Duncan, he received his Ph.D. in leadership and counseling and was a teacher for several years in the area. He and his wife, Claire-Nite, are dedicated to helping alleviate the hunger problem in Lehigh.
“There are so many people living in our community who are barely making it. There are many people living in the wooded areas because they have no home and there are people who go without food at night. Even though there are other agencies that help, much more help is needed,” Duncan said.
Helping people isn’t new to Duncan. He said that up to 2001, he was able to provide food to people who had no ways of getting food but the work stopped because of the lack of donations.
In addition to have been a teacher, Duncan was a mortgage broker and understands the crisis many Americans are facing because they can’t pay for their homes and the fact that all homes have gone down in value with many people striving to make mortgage payments on homes that in most cases have lost half of their value.
He says the federal government should be focusing its attentions on the middle and lower economic class of Americans who are hurting, those who are losing their homes in foreclosure, the jobless, and those who don’t know which way to turn to improve their lives.
“The government has approved funding to lend to the big mortgage houses, but the average American needs help, too,” he said.
Duncan’s Peace B Still Foundation is a non-profit group with its 501 (c) 3 designation.
Last week, Duncan sent out letters to the business community asking for help. He said through Peace B Still Foundation, that hundreds of families in Southwest Florida need their help.
“Every month, a steady stream of men, women and children who are experiencing a crisis in their lives, come to us looking for help and hope. Through Peace B Still Foundation Inc., you can help them and give them something else they long for – a better tomorrow.
He said the foundation and Tyler Health Spa and Tyler’s TKD Club are partnering together to distribute to 500 or more Lehigh Acres families, homeless and senior citizens food and toys for the children.
“We desperately need the business community’s help. The needs are greater than our resources. Whatever they can give will be great appreciated. Their donations will help us get more food, clothes and services to those in need and their gifts are tax deductible.
In the past, his organization has received referrals from churches and from Liz Eilf when she was the director of Lehigh Community Services.
“Today, there are people who don’t where to turn to for food. There are guidelines they have to meet and forms they have to fill out. What we are doing is just providing food to people who need it,” Duncan said.
Because he sees the great need in the area, Duncan said he could not turn away from what he believes he is guided to do again, find the food and get it out to people who need it.
“When we bring in food one day, we want to get it out that day or the next to people who need food … it’s that simple. Dewey Tyler, owner of the business center at 205 Joel Blvd., has offered financial assistance and labor – men who can help load and unload truckloads of food that will be brought to this address.
Duncan says he is able to find the food if the money comes from those who care. He has connections, he says, throughout Florida, including food banks where food can be bought for small amounts of money. He also can purchase food from the local Harry B. Chapin Food Bank in Fort Myers.
“I’m going this week with my pickup to northern Florida to pick up a load of chickens. I understand these are Perdue chickens … we will be giving them away as soon as we get back. In the meantime, we also need a big freezer or a couple of freezers where we can store short-term frozen foods,” he said.
He hears sad stories every day. Just this past Thanksgiving, Duncan said he gathered several turkeys and passed all but one out. Then on the day before Thanksgiving, he received a call.
“A gentleman was desperate. He told us he had no food at his house and that his wife had recently died. By that night, we delivered that turkey to him and went to a local supermarket and picked up enough food to last this man a couple of weeks.
“He thanked me and said he had sought help from others, but nobody would or could help him,” Duncan said.
“We don’t ask any questions. We are here to do the work of what we have been taught as Christians, to feed the people who need to be fed,” he said.
While he is trying to build his organization of Peace B Still, much of the money to pay for food is coming out of his own pocket.
“We’re not rich folks. We’re average. But we can’t stand by and watch what is happening in Lehigh Acres,” he said.
“We can get food for 18 cents a pound at the Harry B. Chapin Food Bank and I know where we can get USDA food that will not cost anything … it’s a crisis here and we don’t have time to let it go on and one while people are hungry,” he aid.
He said anyone who needs food can call the Peace B Still Foundation at 239-303-0182. If he isn’t there, leave a message and Duncan said he will call the person and make sure they get food. Those who want to be his partners can call the same number.
“If the people who need food can’t get to us to get it, then we will find a way to get the food to them. This is where Dewey Tyler has also volunteered to help,” he said.
His plan now is to open the food pantry at the Chad Truong Business Center at 205 Joel Blvd. every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning Dec. 20.
“The food will be for those who need it. We are not here to judge anyone. I’m a Christian and my duty is to help others and I enjoy it. My life has been blessed and I want to give back,” he said.
Sadly, Duncan doesn’t see the economic woes of the nation turning around anytime soon. He said his commitment is long-term and with the help of others, people in Lehigh will not be forced to go without food.
“The public can help in this crisis and I think those who can, will,” he said.
In addition to financial help, Duncan days his organization needs a large panel truck so he can pick up larger loads of food. He would love for someone to donate such a truck.
He also has plans to find clothing for people whose budgets now can’t afford to buy clothes.
“My dream is to have a building here in Lehigh where we can help people in different ways, a place where they can take warm showers, and eat, a place where teens and young people have a place to go to enjoy themselves.
As it stands right now, Duncan says on Dec. 20, Peace B Still Foundation will welcome people into the entrance at 205 Joel Blvd. to receive food. In the meantime, he and Tyler will ask for financial help and Duncan plans to go into the woods to let the homeless know food will be available for them. If it means taking the food to them, that will happen, he said.
“I don’t want people to be turned away because they may have received food before at other agencies and turned down when they go back. I don’t ask questions. I want to be able to only do what I am being guided to do, and that is to find the food and then hand it out to the people.
“It will be a continuing process,” Duncan said. “All I ask is the help from those who are
more fortunate, those who are being guided to help us feed people here who just don’t have any food and are hungry. This includes families with children and others who live alone. This program is for the people,” he said.