![Revisiting Hurricane Irma]()
Sep 18, 2018 | In the News
Nearly a year after Hurricane Irma hit Southwest Florida on September 10, 2017, Meals of Hope still provides services to families whose homes were damaged and individuals who lost jobs and need additional support services.
In the eight months prior to Irma, Meals of Hope distributed 700,000 pounds of food through its pantries. In the six weeks after the storm, 850,000 pounds were distributed, and the organization ended the year having distributed 2.2 million pounds of food locally. Prior to Irma, food was distributed at three locations, and for six weeks afterward, 45 different distribution locations were used (and many still receive services today).
In addition to distributing food, water and hot meals after Irma (including 4,000 lunches a week to Everglades City), Meals of Hope also provided basic necessities such as diapers, feminine hygiene and adult incontinence products, and cleaning supplies.
“There was a real collaborative effort to help our community,” said Stephen Popper, president/CEO of Meals of Hope. “We staged water throughout North Collier County Fire District before the storm hit, and within 24 hours of the storm passing, we were distributing food and water. We held a food pantry in front of our office the day after the hurricane hit.”
Meals of Hope also was impacted by the storm. The organization lost power for 17 days and had $120,000 worth of building damage. Some employees could not get to work because of road conditions, electrical outages and gas shortages, but others on the team worked additional hours to ensure community needs were met.
To view interviews regarding the storm’s aftermath, please visit:
https://www.fox4now.com/news/local-news/meals-of-hope-fighting-for-hunger-one-year-after-hurricane-irma
https://www.helloswfl.com/news-stories/meals-of-hope-still-providing-food-for-hurricane-irma-victims
Sep 18, 2018 | In the News
Meals of Hope held its first packing event at Naples High School in 2007, where 500 people packed 135,000 meals.
Approximately 11 years later, on Friday, Sept. 7, the Naples High School hosted another chapter in Meals of Hope history when the Student Government Association packed the 50 millionth meal. This event marked another opportunity to raise hunger awareness during Hunger Action Month.
“We’re going all over the country buying supplies for our packing events,” said Meals of Hope President/CEO Stephen Popper. “Our cost is right around .25 cents a meal, so it’s a very affordable way to do it. After its packed, we then give it to the Harry Chapin Food Bank, and they in turn give it to about 150 food pantries all over Southwest Florida.”
Watch the video here:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1040585128349761536
Sep 18, 2018 | In the News
Meals of Hope broke a Guinness World Record for the “most cereal boxes toppled in a domino fashion” by knocking over 3,913 boxes on Saturday, September 1, at Grow Church in Naples. The event kicked off our September Hunger Action Month activities.
The 3,913 number was shy of the 4,000 target – a significant number as it represents the number of families Meals of Hope serves at its food pantries each month.
Under the supervision of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, at-risk children helped arrange the boxes as a community service project. After the event, the cereal was distributed to all Meals of Hope food pantries.
The record was held by students and staff at H. Frank Carey High School in New York, who knocked over 3,416 boxes. Prior to that, the record was held by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
To view coverage of the event, please visit:
https://www.fox4now.com/news/local-news/meals-for-hope-breaks-guinness-world-record
https://www.marconews.com/story/news/local/2018/09/01/meals-hope-topples-cereal-box-guinness-world-record/1139238002/
http://yvnoticias.com/2018/09/por-una-buena-causa-florida-record-mundial-en-caida-de-cajas-de-cereal/
Jan 8, 2016 | In the News
Thank you to all the volunteers who gathered at The Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach Hotel on December 16, 2017 and at the Lee County Civic Center on December 23, 2017. The combined efforts of more than 3,000 total volunteers made our 5th Annual Holidays Without Hunger packing event a great success! We packed a total of 1,027,000 vitamin, and mineral fortified Cinnamon-Apple Oatmeal meals, all of which were donated to the Harry Chapin Foodbank of SW Florida, and will help food insecure people in the 5-county region of SW Florida. Thank you to all of our volunteers, donors and sponsors, and everyone else who helped us in their own way!
Jul 29, 2015 | In the News
Fifty kids from the Boys and Girls Club of Collier County packed 20,488 meals as a Christmas in July kickoff event for Meals of Hope’s fifth annual Holidays Without Hunger packing event. The 2017 event were held on December 16th at The Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach Hotel and on December 23rd at the Lee County Civic Center. With nearly 3,000 volunteers at the events we packed over 1,000,000 meals in just three 2-hours sessions!
Jun 28, 2012 | In the News
The Florida Society of Association Executives will host its third annual Meals of Hope food packing event Friday, July 13th from 2:00pm – 4:00pm in the Palm Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando. Last year, more than 40,000 meals were packed by FSAE volunteers – a number they hope to surpass in 2012. This community outreach program is sponsored by the Marriott & Renaissance Hotels of Florida. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT FSAE.
