Harry Chapin Food Bank, Yah-Yah Girls partner to offer help to the community

It’s what we’ve all come to know, see and experience: “It’s a tough time for everybody across the nation,” said Charlotte County Schools community liaison Michael Riley.

Too many families are wondering where their next meal will come from, mostly because of the tens of thousands of people who suddenly lost their jobs.

That’s why the Harry Chapin Food Bank and the Yah-Yah Girls partnered together at Baker Head Start in Punta Gorda to offer a helping hand.

“We feel like we’re pretty hard-hit here and anything we can do to help, you know, we’re going to do,” Riley said.

He says he sees the need daily and is proud the district is getting involved.

“It just shows how much the schools work with our community and how giving our community is to our children,” he said. “This is needed and it’s a beautiful thing.”

Lysette and her infant son, Alexander, are particularly benefitting.

“If it weren’t for them, honestly, we probably wouldn’t have half the stuff we do,” she said.

She’s grateful because she knows the stuff doesn’t come cheap.

“It’s a huge help because I don’t work as much, he doesn’t work as much so, you know, diapers and wipes are kind of expensive and it’s really really helpful,” she said. “It’s almost like the schools have become first responders. That’s no disrespect to law enforcement and fire, because they are and they do the tough jobs, but you know, each time we’re right there for the kids.”

Harry Chapin and Charlotte County Schools will have four more curbside pickups on Thursday, all between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

They’ll be held at Peace Rover and Neil Armstrong Elementary schools and LA Ainger and Punta Gorda Middle schools.