Marco Island pantry receives $30K grant to feed Collier County families

MARCO ISLAND, Fla. (WINK)—A $30,000 grant was awarded to Our Daily Bread Food Pantry to help feed more kids and families in Collier County.

The pantry began 10 years ago when five women on Marco Island became concerned about students arriving at school hungry. What began as a small effort has grown into a comprehensive food assistance program.

"Our K-12 program is actually how we got started 10 years ago, when five women on Marco Island were concerned that students were coming to school hungry," said Evelyn Rossetti-Ryan, executive director of Our Daily Bread Food Pantry.

The program has expanded significantly over the past decade. "And all these years later, we are now providing nourishing food to close to 900 K-12 students throughout Collier County," Rossetti-Ryan said.

The Marco Lutheran Church Foundation awarded the pantry the $30,000 grant. The grant will help provide snack packs to kids so they don't go hungry.

Grants and donations like these are needed now more than ever. "We're actually in a state where we're buying a lot more food than we're actually getting donated," said Ron McClay, operations manager at Our Daily Bread Food Pantry.

The pantry serves more than just students. "Many of the people that we're serving are working people…What's been classified as ALIC, which is asset-limited, income-constrained. So, these are folks who may work in the service industry. Maybe working one, two, and three jobs, trying to support themselves and their families," Rossetti-Ryan said.

Volunteers work six days a week collecting, sorting, packing, and delivering meals through Saturday drives, mobile pantries, and weekday appointments. They serve hundreds of families in need on and off the island.

"To see them and their smiles and their graciousness...and how grateful they are that, you know, we have this," said Bill McCarrick, a volunteer.

Our Daily Bread Food Pantry is open Monday through Saturday.