Hope and community thrive at Punta Gorda's Harry Chapin Food Drive

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.—Florence Winters knows the meaning of struggle and redemption. In Punta Gorda, she shared her journey from hardship to hope, now volunteering with the Harry Chapin Food Bank to help others find their way.

"I have recovered everything I've ever lost, and I'm here to give back to the community until the day I die," said Winters.

Winters understands what it's like to face hard times.

"When you fall on hard times, and it could happen to anybody, you can't see the light," said Winters.

She recalled her own moment of hope.

"Someone reached out and helped me and told me there was hope, and I believed in them, and it happened," said Winters.

Her journey forward began at the Harry Chapin Food Drive.

"It started here. It started right here in Florida. It started right here in Punta Gorda," said Winters.

Winters shared her experience of relying on the food bank during difficult times.

"When you live in a Lexus, and you carry yourself in a way, people don't think you need food. People look at you and go, Why are they in the line? But not everybody knows people's stories. You don't know what's going on in their life," said Winters. "I humbled myself to stand in the line to get the food to feed my family, and I'm happy for it," said Winters. 

Now, Winters is giving back.

"It's like a hallelujah moment, all right, when you can actually grab your cart and smile at all the people in line and help them take their food to their car," said Winters.

Liz St. James, another volunteer, also finds fulfillment in helping others at the food bank.

"I'm retired now from nursing, and so being a caregiver is part of who I am. And this was a good fill," said St. James.

She sees the need for assistance firsthand.

"Some of these people are just making it on their pensions and need the supplement from Harry Chapin. So we've got familiarity every time we're here," said St. James.

St. James emphasized the importance of community connection.

"It's the people. It's all about the people," said St. James.

"That kind of connection to the community, to these people, they really make my life complete," said St. James. Even with their efforts, the need remains great.

"If you have food for 160 and you've got 200 showing up, that's, that's, it leaves you feeling like we can do more," said St. James.

For Winters, volunteering is a lifelong commitment. 

"I'm retired, so this is my job now, so I'll do it until God calls me home," said Winters.