Harry Chapin, Ocean Church see waves of Cape Coral residents facing hunger

Cape Coral is the largest city in Southwest Florida, and some of its residents are facing a big hunger problem.

Ocean Church has a food distribution site where people come weekly, and on Friday, they opened early because the line was so long.

One after another, people waited in line in their cars at the church.

Erica Smith said she has been coming here for the last month and if it wasn’t for this food bank, she wouldn’t know if she’d be able to eat regularly.

“It helps me because I’m going through a hard time,” Smith said, “I’m recently going through a divorce and recently a second-time cancer survivor. My income is a little rough right now.”

This food bank also helps William Gill. He lives on his own, and with the price of everything going up, it’s tough to get by on a fixed income.

He said, “If it wasn’t for this, I would have a really difficult time making ends meet as far as food goes and stuff.”

On the menu were chicken, corn, and fruit.

Volunteers started to hand everything out around 9 a.m. and by 11 a.m. everything was gone.

Ocean Church, in partnership with the Harry Chapin Food Bank, knows just how big a challenge hunger is in Southwest Florida’s biggest city.

Robin Rollinger has volunteered there for the last year and she said she’s noticed a lot more seniors who need help. “Older people that all of their fixed expenses are raising but their income is not we have a lot of need that people are coming to get food so they can pay their electric bill.”

And a piece of advice from Rollinger to those who are in need right now. “Get rid of that stigma. You should not be ashamed when you come to get food, you should be ashamed if you don’t get food and you need it.”

WINK News is marching towards feeding 1 million people by March 1.

Our March to a Million Meals campaign helps the Harry Chapin Food Bank continue its mission of helping families in need.

Please consider donating by clicking the link.