Farm Share will hold a free food distribution at Lehigh Senior High School on Friday, May 15, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The food distribution event is drive-thru only and first come, first serve.

The event is being hosted by Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto and Rep. Spencer Roach, with members of the East Lee County Chamber of Commerce (formerly the Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce), Lehigh Community Services and the Salvation Army lending a hand in the food distribution.

“Sen.Benacquisto is the one spearheading this event. She usually holds a couple Farm Share distribution events throughout the year in Lehigh Acres and other areas she represents,” Roach said.

According to Roach, these types of food distributions are desperately needed and things might get worse for South Floridians. In a study by Wallet Hub, Florida now has more unemployment claims than any other state in the country.

“Many of those unemployed are frustrated and stressed. They have been waiting for weeks since filing for unemployment and still have not seen a dime. The government ordered these people not to go to work and then at the same time has made it impossible for them to get unemployment. How do they expect them to eat and feed their families,” Roach said.

Roach recently appeared on a local TV station and gave out his cell in an effort to stay informed and hear from the people he represents.

“It’s very emotional. I’m probably on the phone for four to six hours a day with my constituents. It’s very hard on them. Fifty percent of Lehigh residents already live below the poverty line. This district is made up of mainly blue-collar workers and it has the highest percentage of non-English speakers in the district. The fear is real for many people who are down to their last few dollars,” Roach said.

Roach shares in their frustrations with the failings when it comes to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s website.

“One of the biggest issues we are having is people not being able to get unemployment through the state. We are going on 9, 10, 11 weeks now and still they can’t get the website up and going properly,” Roach said.

Roach also is concerned for the long-term look at Florida’s economic future.

“I’m very worried about the economic future of Florida. This could set us back a decade. We haven’t even begun to see the effects yet. This has already wiped out all of the jobs we created and all the growth seen in the last 10 years,” Roach said.

Last Thursday, Roach worked with sponsors including: U.S. Sugar, Cheney Bros, Publix, Pioneer Growers, and Duda Farm Fresh Foods to distribute 35,000 ears of corn and other fresh produce to families in need in Lehigh Acres at Varsity Lakes Middle School.

He also participated in another food distribution event on Friday, at Alva School.

Lehigh Senior High School is at 901 Gunnery Road N., Lehigh Acres.