Volunteers extend hours to battle cold in Fort Myers

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

With Southwest Florida feeling the chill, local nonprofits are stepping up to help those who don’t have a warm place to go.

In Fort Myers, the Community Cooperative is extending its hours and bracing for a week of higher demand. Sam’s Community Café and Kitchen, which typically serves lunch from 10:30 to noon, is now opening as early as 7:30 a.m. Volunteers are serving hot coffee, cocoa, and breakfast to dozens of guests, some of whom aren't prepared for the weather.

“We saw somebody come in here in shorts and flip flops… and it’s a little cold for that,” said longtime volunteer Laura Furderer.

Furderer has been volunteering here for five years. A retired teacher, she says she shows up every Wednesday, and this week, a little earlier than usual.

“I love it,” she said. “Seeing the smiles on their faces when we serve them food… they thank us, they bless us. It’s just really nice.”

The café has become a critical daytime warming station, especially as more people show up in need of warm meals and supplies.

“We’re making sure people have access to blankets, gloves, and sweatshirts,” said Stefanie Ink, CEO of Community Cooperative. "As fast as those donations are coming in, they’re going right back out.”

Ralph Dean is one of the guests who relies on this place. He’s originally from Minnesota, and no stranger to brutal cold.

“Twenty years outside in Minnesota is not good,” Dean said. “Sometimes it’d be 20 below zero… I couldn’t do a walk around on it.”

Dean moved to Florida, hoping for a break from the cold. But with health issues and a small monthly Social Security check, he says he’s still sleeping on the streets.

“I come here every day Monday through Friday,” he said. “It saves me about ten dollars a meal. That makes a big difference.”

Across the Gulf Coast, other nonprofits are also responding. The Lee County Homeless Coalition and partner organizations are distributing blankets to people living outdoors, and St. Matthew’s House is opening its emergency shelters nightly through the end of the week...welcoming anyone in need of a bed, a blanket, and a hot drink.

Back in the café, volunteers say it’s the little things, like a warm plate and a smile, that go a long way.

“Even though I don’t know all their names, we know them by face,” said Furderer. “Everyone seems very appreciative. And we’re happy to be here.”

If you’d like to donate winter gear or make a monetary donation, Community Cooperative is open Monday through Friday on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

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