Collier County's Meals of Hope grows, enhances support for local families

FLORIDA, (WINK)—WINK News recently concluded its month-long "March to a Million Meals" campaign, inspired by the community's overwhelming support. 

However, our commitment to the Southwest Florida community inspired our latest initiative—WINK Feeds Families.

This year-round commitment is meant to reducing hunger across Southwest Florida by raising awareness, increasing access to healthy food, spotlighting solutions, amplifying community partners, and mobilizing the audience to take action.

Meals of Hope, a nonprofit organization, offered WINK News a tour of their new facility, which enhances their ability to serve the community.

Stephen Popper, CEO and President of Meals of Hope, said, "We have 15 weekly food pantries that we go out to throughout Collier and Lee County and serve today, some 4,000 families each week."

Popper explained that the new facility includes over 9,000 square feet of refrigerated space, allowing them to store large quantities of food. This space benefits not only Meals of Hope's food pantries but also other community pantry operators.

"So come on in. Let me give you a tour. In this area, we're bringing in and storing a lot of fresh produce. You can see we have potatoes, onions, and carrots. There's cabbage over there," said Popper.

The facility also includes freezers holding almost two full truckloads of frozen chicken and canned goods to supplement the fresh produce and frozen meat distributed at their 15 food pantries.

Bob Stewart, a food pantry volunteer, shared his experience, saying, "Last Monday, we did about 320 families. I know most of these people do work. They just don't have quite enough money to make it."

Popper emphasized the importance of volunteers, stating, "Volunteers are the lifeblood, honestly, of what we do."

Stewart added, "It just gives you a good feeling like you're doing what Jesus said, 'Go out and serve,' and we get to talk to each other, it's a lot of fun."

Popper reiterated, "We can't do what we do without volunteers."