Friday, 13 November 2009 17:17 Last Updated on Friday, 13 November 2009 18:01 Written by Nick

Family Summer Food Program and Services Overview in Bonita Springs

Lee County has seen a dramatic increase in the number of students enrolled in the free/reduced breakfast and lunch program. For the 2008 school year, over 60% of all Lee County students were enrolled in this pivotal program. At Bonita Springs Elementary, 90% of their 450 students receive free or reduced meals. For the majority of school children, when school is not in session for weekends or over the summer break, they often go without meals and essential nutrition.

As summer approached, Lee County feeding agencies and The United Way knew something needed to be done to help these students and their families. Not only did The Salvation Army increase food provisions to families through our Food Pantry located in Fort Myers and expand our Bonita Springs food outreach program, but we also joined forces with a powerful team of agencies to bring food items to the families in their own neighborhoods.

From the partnership of The Lee County School District, CCMI, the Harry Chapin Food Bank, The Salvation Army and The United Way, the Family Summer Food Program was born. For nine weeks this summer, area agencies visited five schools selected by the School District weekly, delivering service to hundreds of families. The initiative allowed each agency to contribute what they do best, providing comprehensive and complimentary services to Bonita Spring’s families in a place where they could easily access them, their children’s school sites.

The United Way provided vital referral information regarding additional services. CCMI operated a mobile pantry stocked with non-perishable food items. The Harry Chapin Food Bank provided perishable food items. Families selected pantry items and then come to The Army’s mobile feeding unit, or canteen, to pick up prepared meals. Because of our community’s support of this incredible program, The Army was able to serve over 3,300 meals to 1,016 families through the canteen.

As with all Army programs, food is used as a gateway to allow case managers to work with families, introducing them to the comprehensive services available not only through Army programs, but also through fellow providers in the Bonita Springs area.

Just last year, The Army’s Bonita Springs case managers provided the following services: 1,130 individual mental health counseling sessions conducted, 133 psychiatric visits, transported 988 individuals to medical appointments or job interviews, 110 families provided with household items (including food and diapers) and facilitated a FGCU seminar to teach members of the newly formed women’s group how to start their own small businesses. Since October, nearly 1,000 food orders have been given to families through case management. In addition, over 260 families and 350 children were provided with Christmas gifts and food and over 100 students received backpacks full of school supplies, made possible through the support of The Friends of The Salvation Army.

The Friends of The Salvation Army, a group of volunteers in Bonita Springs, are an integral partner. The members of this group recognized the great need in their area and banded together, supporting Army services, allowing programs to grown and more effectively meet the needs of thousands of individuals every year.