U.S. Postal Service workers across the country are gearing up for the 20^th annual National Letter Carrier Food Drive this Saturday, May 12. 

In Southwest Florida, non-perishable food items left at mailboxes will be collected by letter carriers and distributed to food service organizations including the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida in Lee County and Collier Harvest in Collier County.

It’s estimated nearly 9 million Americans 50 and older face the risk of hunger. That’s the impetus for a summit Wednesday at Florida Gulf Coast University sponsored by the Harry Chapin Food Bank (HCFB).

Florida, with its large retiree population, combined with the ailing economy, is perhaps ground zero for senior hunger. The forum is aimed at gauging the scope of the problem and brainstorming for ways to help. HCFB Director Al Brislain said hunger can sometimes arrive unexpectedly with loss of a spouse and that spouse’s pension.   

“You can just picture the senior that’s got a condo payment and they need both those pensions and they don’t have a second one and given the state of the economy right now they can’t sell that condo,” he said.

Brislain says many seniors are also depleting their budgets by helping out children and grandchildren who’ve lost their jobs. 

Putting food on the table at Thanksgiving seems basic to many people. But there are hundreds of families still don't know whether they will have a turkey dinner tomorrow. Mia McCormick reports on the local need in Sarasota.

The 3rd annual Southwest Florida Hunger Summit held Friday in Fort Myers drew many attendees from local service agencies looking for better ways to help the hungry.  WGCU’s Valerie Alker reports.

N-G-O
Development Workers from around the world are in North Fort Myers this
week.  ECHO – the Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization -
teaches outreach workers agricultural techniques and technologies to
help others help themselves.  WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports.

The
number of southwest Floridians using food stamps is increasing but
there’s concern at the state Department of Children and Families that
some people are too embarrassed to use them.  WGCU’s Luis Hernandez
reports.

Charlotte
County’s Empty Bowls fundraiser has been helping to feed the needy for
a decade now, but this year community sponsorship is coming up short. 
WGCU’s John Davis reports.

15
tons of protein from Tyson Foods arrives in Southwest Florida Friday
for distribution to area food banks. WGCU’s Valerie Alker has more.

The
area’s lead food distribution agency is enlisting more aid in feeding
Southwest Florida’s hungry. WGCU’s Valerie Alker reports.

The Salvation Army in Ft. Myers has taken its “Meals with Compassion” program to a new level – with the addition of an outdoor dining area complete with a privacy fence and potted plants.  WGCU’s Valerie Alker has more.