This Thursday, Community Cooperative Ministries Inc. will be in full swing with several events feeding hungry individuals and families.
According to Debra Almeida, COO for CCMI, the agency is seeing a substantial increase in the need for emergency food this holiday.
“Normally, we give out between five to seven vouchers per day this time of year,” she said. “Friday we gave out 34 vouchers and 2,245 pounds of food in just one day.”
As they have for the past several years, CCMI plans to once again help those struggling enjoy a nutritious holiday meal, including:
* Soup Kitchen: CCMI’s Soup Kitchen, 3429 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., will serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal from 11 a.m. to noon. The meal will be prepared and served by an all-volunteer staff. Everyone is eligible to have access to this free meal.
– Meals on Wheels: CCMI’s Meals on Wheels drivers will deliver more than 400 traditional holiday meals to the homebound across Lee County on Thursday. Drivers and delivery trucks will begin picking up the meals at 8:30 a.m. and meals will be delivered to Meals on Wheels recipients beginning at 10:30 a.m.
– LongHorn Steakhouse: LongHorn Steakhouse is opening one restaurant in south Fort Myers on Nov. 26, specifically to feed local families who are struggling to afford a nutritious holiday meal this Thanksgiving.
The restaurant seats 215 guests per seating and each guest will receive a full-service holiday dinner including turkey, stuffing, potatoes, green beans and pumpkin pie and more. LongHorn Steakhouse management and staff will be volunteering their time for this Thanksgiving event.
LongHorn has been working with CCMI to identity eligible families for this holiday meal. CCMI’s Family Services Department works with families to help provide emergency groceries and social services as well as assistance with food stamps and tax programs. Eligible families will be admitted by ticket only. The meal will not be open to the general public or for walk-ins.
For more information, contact CCMI at 332-7687.