Area food banks, churches and shelters collect donations for Thanksgiving, Christmas

By Jean Amodea. November 9, 2012 – Southwest Floridians, churches, organizations and even students are preparing to stretch out their hands in compassion and love during the upcoming holidays – and they need your help.

Lamb of God Church, in Estero is hosting its 10th annual “Feeding the 5000,” that will supply a traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings to the needy in Lee, Collier, Hendry and Charlotte counties.

Cheryl Frogge of the church’s steering committee said the drive is a grass-roots effort of neighbors helping neighbors where every penny raised goes directly to the provision of meals.

Last year, some 400 church and community volunteers spent thousands of hours identifying families in need, establishing food and financial support, preparing and cooking and packaging the meals, figuring delivery routes and delivering the meals.

The program has grown from feeding 150 to providing 9,600 meals in 2011 when 563 turkeys and more than 12,000 pounds of side dishes were prepared and distributed.

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