Collier, Lee County families can get food for Thanksgiving: Here's how

Liz Freeman, Naples Daily News
·4 min read

Numerous food banks and charities are providing food to needy families to enjoy a Thanksgiving Dinner or to put food on the table during hard times.

In Florida, 11.4% of households were food insecure from 2020-2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Volunteers fill bags during Our Daily Bread Food Pantry’s mobile food pantry, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021, at Naples Botanical Garden in Naples, Fla.Families received around 30 pounds of food, including meat, eggs, dairy, and fresh produce, along with cat/dog food and feminine products. More than 100 bags were given away.
Volunteers fill bags during Our Daily Bread Food Pantry’s mobile food pantry, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021, at Naples Botanical Garden in Naples, Fla.Families received around 30 pounds of food, including meat, eggs, dairy, and fresh produce, along with cat/dog food and feminine products. More than 100 bags were given away.

Food-insecure households are defined as having had difficulty at some time during the year providing enough food for family due to a lack of resources, according to the federal agency.

Feeding America reports the rate of food insecurity in the state in 2021 was 10.6%  for 2.3 million households

Harry Chapin Food Bank, the largest hunger relief agency in the region serving people in need in Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties, distributes donated food and other groceries to 250,000 people every month.

Volunteers pack Thanksgiving meals for distribution through the St. Matthew’s House food pantry.
Volunteers pack Thanksgiving meals for distribution through the St. Matthew’s House food pantry.

“We expect to see a large increase in demand this year for the holidays,” said Allegra Belliard, program director for Catholic Charities in Naples.

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Lee County

Salvation Army Fort Myers  – The Center of Hope campus is hosting Thanksgiving Day dinner at noon, Thursday, Nov. 23. The address is 2400 Edison Ave. in Fort Myers. All are welcome.

Harry Chapin Food Bank –  Meal kits will be distributed at the 170 agency partners and our Mobile Pantry distributions. Visit harrychapinfoodbank.org and click “Find Food” to locate food where they live.

 Heights Foundation /The Heights Center – Is hosting a ‘Celebration of Giving Thanks’ on Saturday, Nov. 18 at The Heights Center.  More than 450 Harlem Heights residents will enjoy a meal together and each family will receive a turkey and a Publix gift card so they can prepare their Thanksgiving meal in their home.

Meals of Hope mobile food pantries – Residents need to present a Florida drivers license or identification with proof of address in Lee.

Monday: St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 9801 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs,  2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Wednesday:  First United Methodist Church, 27690 Shriver Ave., Bonita Springs 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday bi-weekly: Iglesia Pentecostal Peniel 12800 Orange River Blvd., Fort Myers, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 14th, Nov. 28th through Dec. 12.

Wednesday bi-weekly: Reload Church 1916 Commercial Drive., Fort Myers, 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Nov. 15th, Nov. 29th through Dec. 13.

Collier County

St. Matthew’s House – Turkey distribution

Wednesday, Nov. 15, 602 W. Main Street, Immokalee, 10 a.m. to noon.

Thursday, Nov. 16, First Baptist Church, 3000 Orange Blossom Drive, North Naples, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 20, Paradise Coast, 3565 City Gate Blvd., 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

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Starting Nov. 15, “Hope for the Holidays” meal boxes will be distributed.  Information  on distribution locations and dates can be found at stmatthewshouse.org. Residents  need to show identification.

Meals of Hope mobile food pantries – Residents need to present Florida drivers license or other identification with proof they live in Collier.

Monday:

Lely Presbyterian Church, 110 St. Andrews Blvd., Naples. 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

River Park Recreation Center, 301 11th St. N., Naples.  3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday:

Sugden Community Park, 4284 Avalon Drive, Naples. 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Greater Naples YMCA, 5450 YMCA Road, Naples. 3 p.m. to 5 p.m

Wednesday:

Max A Hasse Jr. Community Park, 3390 Golden Gate Blvd., Naples. 10 a.m. to noon.

Emmanuel Community Park, 2770 Oil Well Road, Naples. 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday:

Golden Gate Senior Center, 4898 Coronado Blvd. Naples. 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Farm Workers Village Farm Worker Way & Bell Circle, Immokalee. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Friday:

Helping Hands Pantry, 13510 Tamiami Trail N., Naples. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Baby Food Pantry Van Otterlo Family Campus, 3655 Westclox St. Immokalee. 10 a.m. to noon.

Catholic Charities in Naples

Food pantry, 3174 Tamiami Trail E., Monday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Need valid Collier County identification/eligibility based on income.

Our Daily Bread Food Pantry in Marco Island

The pantry is open at 1450 Winterberry Drive on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

It offers mobile pantries at locations in East Naples and elsewhere on Marco Island. For mobile pantry times and locations and for additional information, please visit www.ourdailybreadfoodpantry.org.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: SWFL charities offering help at Thanksgiving. Here are options