More food distributed during pandemic than hurricane relief

The Harry Chapin Food Bank said they’re passing out at least 20 percent more food now than they would after a hurricane.

CARS ARE LINING UP DAY AFTERDAY SO PEOPLE CAN GET FOOD TOFEED THEIR FAMILIES.AS THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMICLEAVES PEOPLE OUT OF WORK, THENEED FOR FOOD CONTINUES TO GROW.THANKS FOR STAYING WITH US.

I’MJANE MONREAL.AND I’M PATRICK NOLAN.

SOME THGROUPS HELPING OUT SAY THEY’REPACKING MORE MEALS NOW THAN THEYWOULD FOR HURRICANE RELIEF.FOX 4’S RACHEL LOYD SHOWS YOUJUST HOW MUCH MORE.

RACHEL?(:21 - :27)(:57 - 1:04)LLINTRO: THE HARRY CHAPIN FOODBANK SAYS THEY’RE PASSING OUT ATLEAST 20 PERCENT MORE FOOD NOWTHAN THEY WOULD AFTER AHURRICANE.

AND LEE COUNTYSCHOOLS SAYS THEY’RE GIVING OUTDOUBLE THE FOOD THEY NORMALLYWOULD FOR THEIR SUMMER PROGRAM.NatsPULL UPLOADREPEAT.ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND PEOPLE ARECOMING OUT TO HARRY CHAPIN FOODDISTRIBUTION CENTERS EVERY WEEK.It’s heartbreaking to see howmany people need help, but it’sheartwarming to see thecommunity come together and helpall our neighbors.HARRY CHAPIN CEO RICHARD LEBERSAYS THANKS TO FOOD AND CASHDONATIONS THEY’RE ABLE TO FEEDFAMILIES AT THEIR 12 SOUTHWESTFLORIDA SITES.LAUREN COUCHOIS WITH LEE COUNTYSCHOOLS IS ALSO SEEING A GROWINGNUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING TO THEIRGRAB-AND-GO SITES.We are steadily doing over25,000 meals everyday.THE DISTRICT OPENS SHELTERSAFTER HURRICANES AND FEEDSFAMILIES IN NEED BUT IT’S NOT ONTHIS LARGE SCALE SINCE FAMILIESUSUALLY GET HELP FOR A SHORTERPERIOD OF TIME.That’s even less than what we’redoing right now.

So, COVIDclosure, we’re seeing anincrease in the amount of peoplethat participate in our mealsprograms.COUCHOIS ADDED SINCE GRAB AND GOMEALS STARTED A MONTH AGOTHEY’VE PASSED OUT NEARLY HALF AMILLION MEALS, AND ARE READY TODO SO THROUGH THE SUMMER.

LEBERSAYS HARRY CHAPIN WILL PREPARETO DO THE SAME.We’re working hard everyday tomake sure that we have enoughfood and distribution capacityto serve everybody who’s hungry.LLTAG: THE HARRY CHAPIN FOODBANK SAYS IF YOU CAN, MAKEMONETARY DONATIONS INSTEAD OFGOING OUT AND BUYING FOOD TODONATE TO THEM.

THEY WANT TOCONTINUE FEEDING SOUTH