'Share the Shelf' encourages seasonal residents to donate canned goods, boxed foods

FORT MYERS, Fla. - April 18, 2025 - PRLog -- Harry Chapin Food Bank has launched Share the Shelf, an end-of-spring food collection encouraging seasonal residents to donate surplus food before departing for their summer homes.

Now through Friday, May 2, residents can drop off non-perishable, shelf-stable foods at Harry Chapin Food Bank's distribution centers in Fort Myers and Naples.

"Seasonal residents know to clean out their refrigerators before leaving for a few months, but they don't often think about the food left inside their kitchen cabinets and pantries," said Richard LeBer, president and CEO of Harry Chapin Food Bank. "So many of our neighbors in Southwest Florida are struggling with food insecurity, and Share the Shelf makes it easy for visitors to donate a bag or two of leftover cans, boxes and bags of food that otherwise would collect dust or potentially expire before they return next winter."

Foods in high demand include breakfast bars, canned fish or chicken, dry or canned beans, canned vegetables, pasta and pasta sauces, cooking oil, dry milk, peanut butter and jelly, rice and canned soups.

Food donations can be dropped off between 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays through Friday, May 2 at the Fort Myers Distribution Center, 3760 Fowler St. in Fort Myers, and the Naples Distribution Center, 3940 Prospect Ave. #101 in Naples. Additionally, food donations can be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. through May 2 at a marked container inside the lobby of Naples Airport's General Aviation Terminal, 160 Aviation Drive North in Naples.