Our Daily Bread Food Pantry Wraps Up September Hunger Action Month

They say September is the quietest month on Marco Island…that surely was not the case for Our Daily Bread Food Pantry and its volunteers this September! 

September is known around the country as Hunger Action Month, an initiative that was put forward and promoted by Feeding America. According to Wikipedia, “Feeding America is a United States–based nonprofit organization that is a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that feed more than 46 million people through food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other community-based agencies. Forbes ranks it as the largest U.S. charity by revenue.”And Our Daily Bread Food Pantry is one of those agencies supported by Feeding America indirectly. Thus, it was only natural for ODBFP to ensure Hunger Action Month was seen and heard in and around Marco Island.

The month kicked off with food drives organized by local churches, businesses, and neighborhood communities as well as Civic Organizations in Marco and Naples. ODBFP would like to give a big Thank You to all the participants who supported this initiative: Wesley United Methodist Church, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, San Marco Catholic Church, Marco Presbyterian Church, United Church of Marco Island, Elks Naples Lodge, Winn Dixie, YMCA of  Collier County- Marco YMCA, Mackle Park Community Center, Marco Island Racquet Center, Marco Fitness, Keep in Touch, Bargain Basket, Cache Cleaners, Island Automotive, Rick’s Hair Salon, Shear Play Hair Design, Neighborhoods. Over the course of just one month, 5,700 lbs of food was collected. We are so grateful.

We, of course, could not do this on our own, so we turned to our media partners to advertise in the Coastal Breeze News throughout September, and for the very first time, on the big screen at Marco Movies! You also may have heard our PSA on 98.1 FM or have seen our outdoor banner at Marco Island Charter Middle School. All of these efforts were designed to bring awareness to a critical issue, not only in Collier County but throughout the United States.

And if that wasn’t enough, Our Daily Bread Food Pantry was a proud recipient of not only 1 but 2 Proclamations by the Collier County Commissioners on September 12th as well as the Marco Island City Councilors on September 18th, declaring Hunger Action Day and recognizing all the efforts and hard work that the 250 volunteers at Our Daily Bread Food Pantry do for our community and its residents.

We are so thankful for everyone taking part in helping us promote this cause as well as contributing to our mission, “Working to Wipe Out Hunger.”

To learn more about Our Daily Bread Food Pantry - the organization, how you can get involved, and/or make a financial or food donation, please visit our website: ourdailybreadfoodpantry.org.