Lee County Solid Waste is excited to announce its eighth annual “Donated Not Wasted” food rescue campaign. This initiative encourages seasonal residents and visitors to give away unopened pantry items before heading back home. Since the campaign started, over 38,700 pounds of food have been saved from disposal, providing more than 32,200 meals to those in need.
This collaborative effort includes partners like the Harry Chapin Food Bank, Waste Pro, and local libraries. Together, they aim to redirect food that could end up in landfills to individuals who need it most.
If you’d like to contribute, please drop off unopened canned or dry goods at one of the participating locations from April 7 to April 21. You can find collection bins in various Lee County libraries and parks. The Topaz Court Facility in Fort Myers also has additional drop-off containers.
Drop-off locations:
Parks & Recreation Centers:
- Estero Recreation Center
- North Fort Myers Recreation Center
- Six Mile Cypress Slough Interpretive Center
- Veterans Park Recreation Center
- Wa-Ke-Hatchee Recreation Center
Library Locations:
- Bonita Springs Public Library
- Cape Coral Lee County Public Library
- Dunbar Jupiter Hammon Public Library
- East County Regional Library
- Fort Myers Regional Library
- Lakes Regional Library
- North Fort Myers Public Library
- Northwest Regional Library
- Pine Island Public Library
- Riverdale Public Library
- Sanibel Public Library
The Harry Chapin Food Bank plays a vital role in this community, serving around 250,000 people each month through its network of 175 partner agencies. It’s the largest hunger-relief organization in Southwest Florida, addressing food insecurity in the area.
Recent trends show that food donation campaigns are becoming increasingly important. A survey by Feeding America found that more than 35 million Americans struggle with hunger, underscoring the need for programs like this one.
Get involved. Your donations can truly make a difference. For more details, check out the official page of the Harry Chapin Food Bank.
Check out this related article: Revitalized Randolph Food Pantry Receives $200,000 Boost for Comprehensive Food Accessibility Makeover
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