Publix donates $100,000 to Harry Chapin Food Bank as pandemic lingers

Piles of boxes, long lines and empty trunks were just waiting to be filled with food on Tuesday.

Brandy Stark of Lehigh Acres said she’s never been through anything like this in her life – losing her job back in February

Stark said, “I went from being professional in every job that I do to having to depend on the caring and giving of the community.”

Seven months into the pandemic, the Harry Chapin Food Bank is feeding about 6x more people than last year.

Richard LeBer, the president of Harry Chapin Food Bank Southwest Florida said, “We’re doing about a dozen of these every week at this size or larger.”

He thanks donors like Publix Super Markets, who help feed the need. Tuesday they presented a more than $100,000 the food bank — money that will go a long way.

“We’re going to use that to support our work in getting food to feed people in Southwest Florida,” he added.

“If it wasn’t for them and all these wonderful people here, there would be no food in my house,” Stark said, emotionally. “It allows a little extra relief from having to buy food in order to keep your electric on, keep something on.”

And help people like Stark get back on their feet again.