Donating to The Harry Chapin Food Bank

Giving Support

          Making a financial contribution to the Harry Chapin Food Bank is a wise investment. Not only does a donation help feed people in our community, it is also tax-deductible.

           Ninety-six cents of every dollar donated to the Food Bank is directly used to fight hunger in Southwest Florida. Each month, the Food Bank provides emergency food to approximately 50,000 hungry people. Hungry people in Southwest Florida include families struggling to meet basic needs (working poor), seniors living on fixed incomes, and thousands of children whose nutritional needs must be met if they are to have any kind of quality future in our community. In the months after the 2005 hurricanes, the HCFB’s operations increased dramaticly!

           While the cost of gathering and distributing millions of pounds of food is considerable, no other hunger relief solution yields such high returns as an investment in food banking. This is often referred to as the “Miracle of Food Banking.” For every gift of $10, the Food Bank can provide $50 worth of quality food to needy people.

           The Harry Chapin Food Bank – your community’s #1 safety net against hunger – faces critical operating expenses such as utilities, fuel, purchasing and maintaining trucks, equipment repair and maintenance, printing, cleaning supplies, modest salaries, insurance, training, and packaging. 

          While the Food Bank is grateful to accept almost any “in-kind” donation leading to a solution against hunger, monetary gifts are clearly needed.

           Throughout the year, the Harry Chapin Food Bank seeks operating funds from local United Ways, area businesses, Florida foundations, through fundraising events, and from individuals. While these sources are often generous, the Food Bank needs more help now if we are to keep up with the burgeoning demand for emergency food in Southwest Florida.  Not only have requests for emergency food increased due to the Food Bank’s response to local evacuees from Hurricanes Wilma, Katrina, and still for Hurricane Charley, but also donations are tight these days with a huge national outpouring to charities working in areas hit by Hurricane Katrina.

           Whether you are a foundation officer, a local business, an area service club, or an individual with heart, please consider the Harry Chapin Food Bank for your next charitable gift or award. Hunger is a serious but solvable problem and the solution lies within you and our community.

Giving Options:

• Designate funds to the Food Bank’s Capital Campaign
• Make a gift in support of food delivery
• Hold an event to benefit the Food Bank
• Make a donation to honor a special person
• Assist with an unrestricted financial donation
• Donate a car, boat, RV or other personal property
• Make a donation of stock or mutual funds
• Remember the Food Bank during estate planning