SWFL nonprofit is in need of food and monetary donations for kids summer camp program

Quality Life Center, a nonprofit dedicated to personal and educational development, is in need of food donations for its annual youth summer camp.

“We've been doing the summer camp for about 20 years,” said Keesha Allen-Thomas, director of youth programs at Quality Life Center. “For the last couple of years, we've had a contract with the Child Care Food Program and Afterschool Meal Program, which covered our lunch, snack and dinner meals.

"We would ask parents and the community to donate breakfast items so that we could serve breakfast for the children that weren’t able to have breakfast. Last year we were notified that the contract does not cover the summer camp. Our current contract only covers the cost of meals during the after-school months, whereas the previous contract included the summer months."

Quality Life Center is located in Fort Myers at 3210 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.

The summer camp is for children ages 5 to 18. The camp starts June 19 and wraps up on July 28.

Nonperishable food items can be dropped off at the center.

“We’re expecting about 130 students,” said Allen-Thomas. “So far we've received about three cases of water and about five cases of snacks and breakfast items. We've also had people donate to us through Cashapp.”

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Allen-Thomas said the same programs that are offered during the school year are offered over the summer.

“In our after-school programs, the focus is performing arts and education,” said Allen-Thomas. “We have physical fitness. We go to the park, bowling, Sky Zone. We meditate and give updates on what’s planned for the day. During the summertime, the programs are from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Throughout the school year we're open from 1 to 7 p.m. So it’s a full day of enrichment activities.”

Allen-Thomas said the summer camp ends with a show.

“We have 130 to 150 students performing on stage on July 28 at Dunbar High School,” said Allen-Thomas. “It’s a showcase of all of our students performing, speaking, dancing and singing for one hour, and that's where the community really gets to see all of our children shine.”

Fort Myers resident Phil Phillips was one of many who have donated so far.

“We gave a monetary gift of $250,” said Phillips. “I believe in investing in the next generation. We always have to pay it forward. We all stand on the generosity of someone that went before us. I think we're just paving the way for the next generation to be successful.”

For more information on how to donate, contact Quality Life Center at 239-334-2797. To donate via Cashapp: $QualityLifeCenter

Erica Van Buren is the underserved communities reporter for The News-Press and Naples Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Connect with her at EVanBuren@gannett.com or on Twitter: @EricaVanBuren32

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: SWFL nonprofit calling on community for food donations for summer camp