Lee County kicks off annual food-rescue campaign
Lee County Solid Waste’s third annual “Donated not Wasted” food rescue campaign encourages seasonal residents and visitors to donate unopened pantry items before returning north. Two previous campaigns resulted in 6,000 pounds of food diverted from potential disposal — enough to provide 5,000 meals to hungry people.
Nationwide, Americans throw out 30 percent to 40 percent of the available food supply. In Lee, food waste accounts for 13 percent, or 70,000 tons, of the local waste stream, according to a 2016 audit.
Since the onset of COVID-19, the need for food has increased dramatically.
“Last year we distributed 32.4 million pounds of food,” Meg Madzar, food drive coordinator for the Harry Chapin Food Bank, said. “Now, we are distributing nearly 1 million pounds a week and feeding a quarter of a million people a month.”
People can drop off unopened canned or dry goods now through April 5 at libraries, including the Captiva Memorial Library, or Lee County Parks & Recreation recreation centers. Additional collection containers are located at the Parks & Recreation’s Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve and Lee County Solid Waste Topaz Court Household Chemical Waste Facility.
Partners in the campaign include: Harry Chapin Food Bank; Lee County Government, including Lee County Solid Waste, Lee County Parks & Recreation and the Lee County Library System; Sanibel Public Library and Town of Fort Myers Beach library; Waste Pro; and FOX4.
For more information, visit www.leegov.com/solidwaste or call 239-533-8000.
The Captiva Memorial Library is 11560 Chapin Lane, Captiva.
The Sanibel Public Library is at 770 Dunlop Road, Sanibel.