Producer: Kathy Johnson
Writer: Rod Clarke
The troubled local economy has taken a fearsome toll, making Southwest Florida one of the hardest hit areas in the nation, with an unemployment rate topping 12 percent. Homes have been foreclosed or abandoned -- lives and families shattered. Children, seniors, and low-income workers are the fastest growing segments of need. They’ve been called “the new hungry.” Watch this half-hour special Connect! that features ways to find help and ways that you can volunteer to assist in this “Crisis in Paradise.”
Resources:
Café of Life
Founded in 1998, in its formative months the Café of Life offered coffee to its clients. From this humble beginning the Café of Life has become a fixture in Bonita Springs, serving luncheon meals Monday thru Friday to individuals and families from all walks of life.
Our purpose today is to assist in meeting the basic needs of the less fortunate people of Bonita Springs, Florida, providing nutritional and supplemental assistance while preserving the dignity of the client.
CCMI
Community Cooperative Ministries (CCMI) was incorporated in 1984, and has long been a driving force in the Fort Myers community, providing food to homeless and nearly homeless, as well as emergency groceries and affordable childcare to the working poor. In July of 2006 the agency expanded its mission outreach to Lee County by merging with agencies that had historically provided home delivered meals to the homebound hungry (Meals on Wheels), and transportation services to the frail elderly (Faith In Action). This merger created an agency that is able to provide comprehensive, unduplicated services to the homeless, nearly homeless, homebound, seniors and children more effectively, more efficiently and with greater compassion than at any other time in the former agencies histories.
Grace Community Center
In January, 2007, Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Coral purchased the nearby 5.2 million dollar 56,000 square foot former Winn-Dixie grocery store for the purpose of bettering our North Ft. Myers community at the intersection of Hancock Bridge Parkway and Orange Grove Boulevard.
The Center will be a hub for the community, providing a path that our neighbors can live lives of freedom and dignity. Programs will include free and reduced fee medical care, literacy and GED classes, after school programs for our middle and high school students, a food bank and automotive job training. We also intend to provide some employment opportunities through our retail ventures including a coffee shop, bookstore, thrift store, moving company and child care. Community events include Family Fun Nights, regular worship services and recovery meetings.
Harry Chapin Food Bank
Since 1983, the Harry Chapin Food Bank has served as the only Food Bank in Southwest Florida (Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties). On an annual basis our Food Bank provides nutritious, quality food to more than 150 Partner Agencies that provide direct services to those in need. Partner Agencies are non-profit organizations that are comprised of church food pantries, neighborhood centers, Kids Cafes, low-income housing sites, senior nutrition centers, family crisis centers, group homes, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, day care centers, rehabilitation facilities, and disaster relief agencies.
Lee County Pocket Guide to Emergency Assistance (can be printed out)
This guide was prepared to help those who find themselves homeless or in immediate need of some sort of assistance. It does not contain all the services which may be available to assist you or guarantee services are still available. Our sincere hope is that it will connect you with someone who can be of assistance.
Salvation Army -- Lee County area
The Salvation Army has been in Lee County for over 57 years and in Hendry County for over 14 years. Throughout those years our mission has remained constant: to provide services to people experiencing hunger and homelessness, regardless of race, color, sex, age, or religion while continuously leading and assisting our clients as they strive towards the goals of attaining affordable housing, stable employment while simultaneously fostering a sense of greater self-determination.
Senior Friendship Centers
Senior Friendship Centers, Inc., established in 1973, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping older adults live with dignity and independence in Sarasota, Desoto, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties. Funded in part by State and Federal agencies, and support from private foundations and individuals, Senior Friendship Centers serves more than 10,000 older adults annually.
St. Matthews House
More than a Homeless Shelter
Since 1988, St. Matthew's House (SMH) has provided housing, spiritual support and structured recovery programs for the homeless in our main facilities in Naples, FL. St. Matthew's House can house 174 men, women and women with children in our combined facilities in Naples and Immokalee.
United Way of Lee, Hendry & Glades
United Way is working to improve the quality of life for all people in our community by coordinating the local human service network and providing resources to United Way supported programs. Our goal is to create long-lasting change. Last year our United Way raised over $8 million and distributed funds to 70 Partners and over 160 programs. These United Way supported programs positively changed the lives of over 300,000 families, children, seniors, and individuals right here in our community.