Volunteer

Our Daily Bread Food Pantry Turns Four!

Food Pantry Turns 4 | Our Daily Bread Food Pantry marco Island
Happy Birthday: Our Daily Bread Food Pantry Turns Four!
If you’ve been a volunteer very long with us, you know we love to celebrate! Whether it’s a our bi-weekly Volunteer Social Hour on Marco Island or our annual Volunteer Appreciation Party, we are eager to honor milestones and the people who make them possible.

This year marks four years since our story began… Our History

And to honor the occasion, we would like to take a look back at how far we’ve come and just how much we’ve grown! Without further ado, and by the numbers, Our Daily Bread Food Pantry has:

  • In the past four years, we have decreased food insecurity in over 18,9000 households. That means 18,900 households in the Marco Island and Naples areas had peace of mind with stocked cupboards and refrigerators.
  • In 2016, we served 3600 people. In 2020, we are on course to serve 33,000 people!
  • In 2019, we had our first matching donor and successfully fundraised with local organizations. We also were awarded our 501 (C) (3) status enabling all contributions to be tax-deductible.

 

While it’s been a busy few years of growth, we don’t plan on slowing down in 2020. As our history has shown us, none of what we’ve accomplished or what we will accomplish this year would be possible without community support and our volunteers. The needs of our neighbors are real and critical. And we know that together, we can work to wipe out hunger!

 

This year, we’ve identified three key needs that, when filled, will propel us forward as we celebrate every guest who comes through our doors or visits our mobile pantry van.

  • One 40,000kw Generator: This generator will enable us to be fully prepared during storm season. In 2017, following Hurricane Irma, the Pantry was a first responder collaborating with the Red Cross and The Salvation Army in the days immediately after the hurricane’s passing. When storms come, we are a recognized emergency services provider. This generator would enable us to stock and keep fresh food as well as operate electric in an outage.

 

  • A Brick & Mortar Location in East Naples or South Naples: Eighty (80%) percent of our guests live in East Naples and we know the need is greater than what we see just two Saturdays a month and on our Mobile Pantry routes. A location in East Naples or South Naples would enable us to expand our services to areas most in need.

 

  • Additional Sources of Food & Produce at Cost or Below Cost: While we have a strong network of Partners including Midwest Food Bank, The Harry Chapin Food Bank and Collier Harvest Foundation, the number of guests exceeds the amount of food provided through our network. Each week, we purchase hundreds of dollars of food, produce and hygiene items to stock the shelves. With the addition of low cost sources, we would increase efficiency and effectiveness by stretching donation dollars further and providing even more items to families in need.

We would love to opportunity to speak with you further about volunteering, giving and any questions you might have.  Please reach out to us through our Contact Form and you will receive a personal response from one of our staff or Directors soon.

Here’s to another great year at the Pantry!