Thousands still left to raise for WINK News Feeds Families Hunger Walk

Reporter: Kristin Sanchez
Published: Updated:

FORT MYERS, Fla.- The race is on to raise $330,000 for families in need in Southwest Florida through the annual WINK News Feeds Families Hunger Walk.

Every $1 donated to the Harry Chapin Food Bank turns into $6 worth of food. The food bank helps feed around 30,000 people a month,
with about half of those being children and seniors.

Dozens of volunteers work alongside the food bank to check the food, box it up, and deliver it to families.

“It’s the hard work and the way people think that gets everybody involved,” said volunteer Steven Klien. “I see smiles on their faces, I see them come close, I see the kids put their heads on daddy’s or mom’s chest.”

Volunteers ship out treats to people in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades Counties.

“The smiles and the twinkle in their eyes, because it’s true, hunger hurts,” said Klien.

With a goal of raising $330,000, this year’s Hunger Walk can help the food bank distribute about $2 million worth of food to people in need.

“The Hunger Walk is the biggest fundraiser for the Harry Chapin Food Bank,” said Mary Wozniak with Harry Chapin.

The food bank gets food from local or national growers, but the food bank says nothing would be possible without the donations from the community.

“It’s just a really nice, fun day of camaraderie and people feel so good afterwards because they’ve done something good that really helps,” said Wozniak.

The WINK News Feeds Families Hunger Walk takes place Saturday, January 16.

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