Meals of Hope rolls out new mobile pantry; brings fresh food to families in need

NAPLES, Fla. — A new mobile food pantry is bringing fresh groceries to families in Southwest Florida.

Meals of Hope launched its 'Your Neighborhood Pantry' on Monday by the River Park Community Center, giving many people the chance to shop for the items they need most at home. It aims to feed over 150 families in two hours.

"We used to come to River Park years ago, and we'd have over 100 families that come," said Stephen Popper, president & CEO of Meals of Hope. "But honestly, the parking is tight. We bring our big trucks. Now that we have this, we're so happy to be back in this community, serving really an area of great need."

The 26-foot mobile unit is designed to run like a small neighborhood market. Dozens of families walked through and picked out fresh produce, dry goods, eggs, milk and canned goods.

"Like a blessing, sort of, you know what I mean?" said Lewis Arnold, a shopper. "Some of the stuff I don't have to buy, like potatoes, eggs and stuff. I don't have to worry about that."

The mobile pantry was made possible through a $100,000 grant from the Collier Community Foundation's 40th Anniversary Grant Awards.

The pantry will be at the River Park Community Center every Monday from 10:00 a.m. to noon for people to get the food they need.