Lee County Solid Waste’s third annual “Donated not Wasted” food rescue campaign encourages seasonal residents and visitors to donate unopened pantry items before returning north. The two previous campaigns resulted in 6,000 pounds of food diverted from potential disposal – enough to provide 5,000 meals to hungry people.
Nationwide, Americans throw out 30 to 40 percent of the available food supply. In Lee County, food waste accounts for 13 percent, or 70,000 tons, of the local waste stream, according to a 2016 audit.
Since the onset of COVID-19, the need for food has increased dramatically. “Last year we distributed 32.4 million pounds of food,” said Meg Madzar, food drive coordinator for Harry Chapin Food Bank. “Now, we are distributing nearly 1 million pounds a week and feeding a quarter of a million people a month.”
People can drop off unopened canned or dry goods from Monday, March 22, through April 5, at libraries or Lee County Parks & Recreation centers. Additional collection containers are located at the Parks & Recreation’s Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve and at Lee County Solid Waste’s Topaz Court Household Chemical Waste Facility.
For more information, visit www.leegov.com/solidwaste, or call 239-533-8000.
Drop off locations in Lehigh Acres
Recreation centers
Veterans Park Recreation Center
55 Homestead Road S, Lehigh Acres
Library locations
East County Regional Library
881 Gunnery Rd., Lehigh Acres