Volunteers are fighting hunger, one backpack at a time.
On Thursday, the Southwest Florida chapter of Blessings in a Backpack held a packing event at Palm Paradise Realty Group in Fort Myers.
Team members packed 500 meals for elementary school students in need. Over the weekend, the nonprofit sends students who are in need home with breakfast, lunch and snack items. Otherwise, they may go without a meal.
"People don't realize how many kids don't know when their next meal is going to be, how many kids go hungry until Monday comes along. In Southwest Florida alone, we have 80,000 elementary school kids that are food insufficient," said Paige Navarro, the chapter coordinator for Blessings in a Backpack.
Marcus Larrea, the owner of Palm Paradise Realty, said it feels good to make a direct impact that keeps growing.
"It creates a ripple effect. We've had other businesses see what we've done, and they've brought in their employees, and they've helped blessings in a backpack and other charitable organizations," Larrea said.