A Rainy Friday For Al’s Pals Mobile Food Pantry Volunteers

The email was sent out early Friday to the Al’s Pals volunteer list asking them if they still plan to help out at the St. Mark’s Food Distribution, even with the forecast of heavy rains. They all said yes – “if we advertised it – we will show up, even if two cars come by.”

With lots of smiles and big hearts they all showed up and one by one, the cars came. After one hour, over 100 bags of food, fresh produce, eggs, milk, dog and cat food and feminine products were distributed. For clients who could not make it, volunteers also made home deliveries to near-by homes.

Overall, it was a Happy Wet Friday for Al’s Pals Mobile Food Pantry at the St. Mark’s parking lot.

Al’s Pals Mobile Food Pantry is a mobile outreach program for Our Daily Bread Food Pantry (ODBFP). The mobile food pantry goes on location to serve individuals with limited mobility or who are unable to attend the ODBFP weekly distribution at the Winterberry location.

ODBFP received a grant of $20,000 from Collier Community Foundation and these funds will go towards their program of giving nutritious groceries for a week to families, students and seniors. The food will be distributed through their 15 mobile food pantries throughout Naples and Marco Island, in addition to the weekly Saturday pantry at their Marco Island Winterberry location.

The deep need for food is growing exponentially in our community. In 2021 ODBFP gave out 1,550,208 pounds of items such as meat, eggs, milk, bread and pasta. This year they are projecting to give out 1,908,000 pounds of food in Collier County.

According to ODBFP’s new Executive Director, Amanda Nelson, “our partnership with the Community Foundation of Collier County is invaluable to our work and mission. We are so deeply grateful for the support of this wonderful community resource, especially at this time of such great food insecurity in our region.”

With more rounds of price increases making its way to consumers, Al’s Pal’s Mobile Food Pantry is delivering food relief to people who most need it. For residents who would like to help, please consider donating non-perishable foods and canned goods to ODBFP.

You can drop off your donation to ODBFP at 1450 Winterberry Drive (back building on Auburndale Avenue) on Marco Island. Other food drop locations are Bargain Basket, Chamber of Commerce, Keep in Touch, YMCA and Winn Dixie.