The Harry Chapin Food Bank has recently received a generous $51,000 grant from the Collier Community Foundation. This funding will help restock food supplies in various pantries throughout Collier County.
Thanks to support from the Greater Marco Island Community Fund, the grant will buy fresh produce from local farmers, as well as canned goods, meats, baked items, dairy, and more. The Collier Community Foundation is dedicated to meeting the community’s needs, celebrating its 40-year history of promoting philanthropy in 2025.
Each month, the Harry Chapin Food Bank reaches over 250,000 people, including children, seniors, families, and veterans, through a network of more than 175 partner agencies. They operate permanent food pantries and run mobile pantries nearly every day at various locations like community centers and churches. In 2024, they distributed an impressive 12.6 million pounds of food to those facing hunger in Collier County.
“Many believe Naples is only for wealthy families, but food insecurity is a real issue here,” said Richard LeBer, president and CEO of Harry Chapin Food Bank. “This grant is crucial as it helps bring food directly into underserved neighborhoods.”
To put this in perspective, it’s important to recognize that food insecurity affects millions nationwide. According to a recent USDA report, about 10.5% of U.S. households experienced food insecurity in 2021. Local efforts, like those of Harry Chapin, are critical in addressing this ongoing crisis.
The Harry Chapin Food Bank, a partner of Feeding America, is the largest hunger-relief organization in Southwest Florida. In 2024 alone, they provided 39.5 million pounds of food—enough for 32 million meals—across multiple counties. They are recognized as a Four-Star Charity by Charity Navigator and have a Platinum rating from Candid’s GuideStar.
The Collier Community Foundation has played a pivotal role in the region’s charitable landscape since 1985, managing over 900 donor funds and awarding more than $387 million in grants and scholarships. Their dedicated approach connects generous donations with pressing community needs.
For further details, you can visit the Harry Chapin Food Bank’s official website [here](https://harrychapinfoodbank.org/) or learn more about the Collier Community Foundation [here](https://colliercf.org/).
