Southwest Florida church grows veggies to donate to food pantries

A local church grows its own food in order to donate fresh produce to a local food pantry.

The food grown at the Fort Myers Christian Church Community Garden goes to the Gladiolus Food Pantry, where director Miriam Ortiz said there is a growing need for fresh produce.

“The need has always been here but since COVID, you know, people have lost their jobs, people have gotten sick, so we have had up to 220 families between 180 to 220 families every week,” Ortiz said.

Pastor Zach Seitz, of Fort Myers Christian Church, said the church wants people to have a chance to have healthy food.

“That’s part of our mission here at our camps, community garden,” Seitz said.

The garden depends on volunteers to get their hands dirty, pull some weeds and grow some veggies.

And those on the receiving end feel the love too.

“People are really happy when they come here and they see we have all these things from our garden,” Ortiz said.

Ortiz also said the garden is hoping to expand and is asking for donations in order to buy a lot near to their pantry.

They are hoping to raise the $400,000 purchase price.

For more information on how to donate, visit the pantry’s website.

Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to email disciplesfmcc@gmail.com.