As seasonal residents begin their journey north, Lee County waste management is encouraging them to donate unopened pantry items instead of discarding them.
The eighth annual “Donated not Wasted” food rescue campaign is underway and will run through April 21, with collection sites across the county.
According to Lee County Solid Waste, the campaign has diverted more than 38,700 pounds of food from landfills since its inception, providing more than 32,200 meals to people in need. The donated food is distributed through the Harry Chapin Food Bank.
Residents and visitors can drop off unopened canned or dry goods at designated Lee County libraries, parks, and recreation centers. Collection bins will also be available at Lee County Solid Waste’s Topaz Court Facility in Fort Myers.
The effort is a collaboration between Lee County Solid Waste, Harry Chapin Food Bank, Waste Pro, the Lee County Library System, the Sanibel Public Library, and Lee County Parks & Recreation. Officials say the program helps reduce food waste while supporting residents facing food insecurity.
Drop-off locations include:
Parks facilities/recreation centers
- Estero Recreation Center – 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero
- North Fort Myers Recreation Center – 2000 N. Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers
- Six Mile Cypress Slough Interpretive Center – 7791 Penzance Blvd., Fort Myers
- Veterans Park Recreation Center – 55 Homestead Road S., Lehigh Acre
- Wa-Ke-Hatchee Recreation Center – 16760 Bass Road, Fort Myers
Library locations
- Bonita Springs Public Library – 10560 Reynolds St., Bonita Springs
- Cape Coral Lee County Public Library – 921 SW 39th Terrace, Cape Coral
- Dunbar Jupiter Hammon Public Library – 3095 Blount St., Fort Myers
- East County Regional Library – 881 Gunnery Road N., Lehigh Acres
- Fort Myers Regional Library (South Building) – 1651 Lee St., Fort Myers
- Lakes Regional Library – 15290 Bass Road, Fort Myers
- North Fort Myers Public Library – 2001 N. Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers
- Northwest Regional Library – 519 Chiquita Blvd. N., Cape Coral
- Pine Island Public Library – 10701 Russell Road, Bokeelia
- Riverdale Public Library – 2421 Buckingham Road, Fort Myers
- Sanibel Public Library – 770 Dunlop Road, Sanibel
For more information, including a full list of drop-off locations, visit leegov.com or call 239-533-8000.
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