The Harry Chapin Food Bank is teaming up with LeeTran to help collect food for the needy.

Harry Chapin has served record numbers this year, according to Associate Director Joyce Jacobs.

Jacobs said the non-profit organization, which helps to stock food bank in the five-county area, has seen 6 million pounds of food pass through its doors during the fiscal year, which ended in June.

Though Harry Chapin has never worked with LeeTran on its fund-raising efforts until now, Jacobs said it’s often tough to come up with new fund-raising ideas.

“You always want to keep things fresh,” she said. “And you want to make things as easy as possible for them … most people are happy to give, they just don’t have the time sometimes.”

LeeTran buses will be parked in front of 32 Publix stores throughout the county.

All Publix stores in the Cape will have buses for donations. The vehicles will collect food between 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., and then transfer the food to the Harry Chapin warehouse where volunteers will unload the donations.

Jacobs said food pantries around the region are hurting.

A new food pantry in South Fort Myers alone served 9,000 people in the last few months.

And pantries in the Cape, including the Cape Caring Center, have empty shelves as the food will simply not stay in stock.

Yet, as bad as things are in Lee, Charlotte, and Collier, Jacobs said times are even harder in the rural counties like Hardee and Glades.

“There isn’t a whole lot of support out there,” Jacobs added. “Fortunately we have a lot of pantries here … but in those rural areas there’s not a lot of support.”

LeeTran drivers and other employees are volunteering their days to help serve the community during the flood drive.

Along with Joyce Jacobs, the volunteers are hoping that shoppers will pick up a few extra cans of non-perishable items while shopping for themselves or their families.

“When you’re shopping that day, think about our needy neighbor and think about an extra can of food,” Jacobs added. “Or maybe bring something from your cabinet. That would be wonderful, too.”

For more information about the food drive contact the Harry Chapin Food Bank at 334-7007.

Contact your neighborhood Publix to inquire if they will be participating in the food drive.