Harry Chapin Food Bank helps hundreds of Golden Gate families

Reporter: Nicole Papageorge
Published: Updated:

GOLDEN GATE, Fla.- Volunteers with the Harry Chapin Food Bank’s Mobile Food Pantry handed out food and groceries to more than 150 families at Golden Terrace Elementary School on Thursday.

Nine-year-old Ivana Santivanaez, along with her two siblings and mother, received bags filled with food, including fresh produce, meat, cereal and canned goods. Santivanaez says they come to get food every month.

“Some people don’t have much money and they can’t go to the store and buy all this stuff,” said Santivanaez.

Around 93 percent of the students at Golden Terrace Elementary School receive free or reduced lunch. It highlights the incredible need in a county that’s known for its affluent areas.

“There’s a lot of people that service all these people in gated communities that really need food,” said Les Appel, a volunteer with the food bank.

The Harry Chapin Food Bank provides groceries for 30,000 people every month through a network of more than 150 nonprofits in all
five counties: Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, Glades and Lee.

The largest event to raise money to help all those in need is the WINK News Feeds Families Hunger Walk. This year, the walk takes place Saturday, January 16 at Miromar Outlets. The goal is to raise $330,000.

The food bank can distribute $6 worth of food and groceries for every dollar donated.

“It’s like a blessing,” said Santivanaez.

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