Naples Senior Center food pantry volunteers deliver groceries to seniors in need

Coronavirus combined with job loss and the financial impact on Southwest Florida has created a dire need.

The doors are closed at The Naples Senior Center at JFCS, but with the pandemic keeping many seniors inside, their food pantry’s services have never been more critical. That’s why every Wednesday, volunteers step in to help the many seniors who need it most.

”I was a professor and I taught in the schools here for many years,” said James Mack.

But nowadays, he’s retired here in Naples.

He lives alone and during the pandemic, he needs to stay home for his health.

”I don’t like to go to the grocery store because you have a lot of contact with folks,” he said.

Thankfully, volunteers now help him get food to make it through the week.

“A real blessing to me,” Mack said.

For other seniors who depend on grocery deliveries, even with the Naples Senior Center closed, Dr. Jaclynn Faffer says the pantry’s services are needed more now than ever.

“Seniors who are living with the adult children, where the adult children were working and helping to support mom or dad, now because of the pandemic, it’s mom, dad and the adult children who experience food insecurity,” she said.

The most vulnerable are now extremely thankful the community is lending a hand.

The Naples Senior Center says donations are needed now more than ever with a rising rate of seniors in need in our community.

If you’d like to make a donation, click here for a list of needs and when you can bring them by.