Community Cooperative holds mobile food pantry, large need for food amidst COVID-19

With the coronavirus pandemic, thousands in our area are struggling to put food on the table.

Saturday morning, one local group is doing its part to make sure people in need have enough to eat.

Volunteers will gather in North Fort Myers to help out people in need who have been lining up since 4:30 a.m.

That’s three and a half hours before the mobile food pantry even opens. It shows just how high and widespread the need is for food.

Community Cooperative will be holding Saturday’s mobile food pantry from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. at Palmona Park located at 2000 N. Recreation Park Way in North Fort Myers.

The folks in charge of the pantry know you might need food, but worry about getting it safely, so they’ve cut back the number of volunteers working and instead of walking around to choose your groceries, volunteers will bring the food to you.

You do not need to leave your car to get what you need.

Community Cooperative is running food pantries all month and knows this is an emotional experience for people who come to them—because it is for them too.

“I’ve already cried twice. People are pulling in and they have tears in their eyes,” said CEO Tracey Gallow on Thursday. “So many grateful people and it overwhelms me. I come out here, it makes me sad that this is happening. [I] love Community Cooperative, love our volunteers, so…”

It’s not hard to see why these events are so emotional all around.

There’s more than just food being offered in North Fort Myers today. Not being able to afford food also likely means not being able to afford food for your pet, so the Gulf Coast Humane Society will also be at the site Saturday.

If you can’t make it out today, there is a full list of Community Cooperative’s upcoming April food pantries listed below: