• Community Cooperative Seeks Summer Drive for Hunger Campaign Support

    Community Cooperative is calling on community members to support its annual Summer Drive for Hunger campaign. During the months of June, July, and August, the organization has a goal of raising $25,000 and 25,000 pounds of food for its Community Cafés, Community Market and mobile food pantries and hopes to add 250 new volunteers to the organization to help year-round.

    The increased need for assistance each summer presents a unique dynamic to Community Cooperative and its volunteers in these months as well. “As our dedicated, seasonal volunteers begin returning up north for the summer, we are always left short staffed,” said Rachell Mays, Volunteer Coordinator.  Mays continued, “Forty percent of our volunteers are seasonal residents, so that leaves us with many open positions to fill each summer and into the fall. We will take all the help we can get!”

    Community Cooperative is looking for local businesses, organizations, churches and community groups to support their Summer Drive for Hunger by hosting food drives, volunteering, and giving financially. Food drives can range from simple collection days to engaging social donation events. Volunteers are needed in various areas, such as packaging and delivering meals for Meals on Wheels, serving lunch in the Community Café, stocking pantry shelves, assisting clients at a monthly Mobile Food Pantry, and weeding and harvesting in the Able Garden.

    For more resources and information on how to get involved, contact Stefanie Edwards at Stefanie@CommunityCooperative.com or call (239) 332-7687 ext. 110. Monetary donations are always welcomed and can be made directly on their website at www.CommunityCooperative.com, or mailed to: Community Cooperative, P.O. Box 2143, Fort Myers, FL 33902.