Collier County Boys and Girls Club providing meals to kids on weekends

For weeks now local school districts have stepped up and handed out sack lunches for kids even while schools are closed—but a local “Boys and Girls Club” saw an unmet need and stepped in.

Because our local school districts have daily food distributions the Collier County Boys and Girls club only distributes food two days during the week.

Tuesdays in Immokalee and Fridays at their office in Naples. But families also need food on the weekends.

Southwest Florida resident, Victoria Perez says the Boys and Girls Club has always been there for her and her two kids.

“They help my kids learn and help them with their schoolwork,” said Perez.

Usually, it’s in the form of after school care—but since the club had to close its doors the staff had to start supporting families in other ways.

CEO of Collier County Boys and Girls club, Megan McCarthy says they will do whatever it takes to help out the kids in need.

“They give us a lot of food, they give us milk they give us yogurt, pizza, burgers so it helps a lot,” said Perez.

In addition to handing out groceries with Harry Chapin two days a week—the club is also providing meals during the weekend.

“In a typical school year they’re getting breakfast and lunch from the schools, they’re getting snacks and dinner from the clubs. So you know it’s a real issue when you talk about taking away sources of food for our families and when families have to pick up this cost, it’s a very large financial burden,” said McCarthy.

In just six weeks they’ve handed out more than 9,000 hot meals.

“Pizza days, burger days, the corn dogs those are something the kids really love,” said McCarthy.

The club serves both breakfast and lunch every Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.—All you have to do is show up to the club off Davis Blvd or at their location in Immokalee.