Harry Chapin Food Bank, the largest hunger relief organization in Southwest Florida, is thrilled to announce the Island Coast High School JROTC collected 1,268 pounds of food during its recent food drive.

“We are proud and honored to be the beneficiaries of the Island Coast High School JROTC food drive and look forward to partnering with them in the future,” said Stuart Haniff, the chief development officer at Harry Chapin Food Bank. “This phenomenal effort exemplifies what can happen when a dedicated group of individuals comes together to work toward a common cause. Food drives like this not only support Harry Chapin Food Bank but inform an entire new generation about our mission to ensure that families in Southwest Florida have readily and consistent access to healthy, nutritious food.”

Held each February, the food drive is part of the Island Coast High School JROTC’s ongoing community outreach efforts.

According to Feeding America, more than 135,250 people in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades and Hendry counties faced food insecurity in 2021. More than 30,000 of those are children. Food insecurity is defined as the lack of access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle.

The food collected during the Island Coast High School JROTC food drive is enough to provide 1,521 meals to families throughout the five-county region.

Now in its 40th year, Harry Chapin Food Bank feeds more than 250,000 people each month through a variety of food distribution programs.

To host a food drive, make a donation or learn more about the food bank, visit harrychapinfoodbank.org.

About Harry Chapin Food Bank

Harry Chapin Food Bank, a member of Feeding America, is the largest hunger-relief organization in Southwest Florida. The food bank rescues food that would otherwise go to waste and distributes it to children, families, and seniors who are hungry through a series of food distribution programs that feed more than a quarter of a million people each month.

Harry Chapin Food Bank distributed $61.5 million worth of food in fiscal year 2022. Through our food distribution programs, we supplied 34.7 million pounds of food and other grocery items, including 12 million pounds of fresh produce. The food is the equivalent of 29 million meals distributed to those who are hungry.

Our membership with Feeding America enables us to amplify our food and distribution efforts and cost-effectively source food from various retail and grocery stores, national food producers and distributors, and growers locally, nationally, and even internationally.

Harry Chapin Food Bank is proud to be named a Blueprint Partner by the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival. Harry Chapin Food Bank is also a United Way partner agency. For more information or to make a gift, please call 239-334-7007 or visit harrychapinfoodbank.org.