First-of-its-kind food truck to feed hungry veterans

Published: Updated:

CAPE CORAL, Fla. A first-of-its-kind food truck aims to help feed hungry veterans.

The Community Cooperative’s food truck made its first delivery to more than 100 veterans and their families on Friday to the Lee County Veterans Affairs Healthcare Center in Cape Coral.

State Rep. Dan Eagle is glad to see action taking place in the community he represents.

“It tells me that Cape Coral and Southwest Florida is the place to be,” said State Rep. Dan Eagle (R, Cape Coral). “When you’ve got veterans that have served our country who call this place home, they choose to come here, it shows that we’re doing the right thing and we’re giving back.”

Nearly 25 percent of active service members receive help from food pantries across the country, according to the Community Cooperative. The organization assisted 600 veterans in Southwest Florida last year.

“Everything is so expensive these days. It’s hard to keep up with everything,” said Carolyn Crowley, who is married to a veteran.

Hunger among the 12 million veterans over the age of 60 continues to increase nationwide, according to the Community Cooperative.

The money to support the truck comes from local donations, the Community Cooperative said, adding that The Bonita Bay Veterans contribute $2,000 every month.

“It’s needed more than anything you can possibly imagine,” Army veteran Nicolas Romano said.

The next opportunity for veterans to get food from the mobile pantry will be on June 8.

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.