Thanks to the team at St. Mathew’s House, it’s easier than ever to help feed our surrounding community’s needy families this Thanksgiving season.
Currently St. Matthew’s House is feeding over 19,000 families through 12 church partners that host food distributions at their locations and individual food drives organized by scouts, neighborhoods and school groups.
“Thanks to our church partners, we have fed more than 225,000 families since the pandemic began,” says Bob Irzyk, director of marketing and communications for St. Matthew’s house in Naples. “We’re also on pace to feed more than 200,000 families this year alone so we are asking every community and business to host a community food drive. We make it as easy.”
Keri M. Couture is the distribution coordinator for St. Matthews House. Her team has streamlined the job of hosting a food drive by providing bins, sandwich boards, table tents and transportation for the collection on Wednesdays and Fridays. “We will drop off and set up bins and advertising. Just give us a call when it is full and we will come by and pick it up,” she says.
Church partners have been invaluable during the non-profit’s growth. Church volunteers work two to three-hour shifts, sometimes in rain and unbearable heat. They pack bags with smiles and good cheer.
The average “shopping cart” value for their food distributions recently was $124 per family. “Our goal is to distribute a combination of food items that will allow four meals a week, vegetables, fruits, and meat to each family. As the need continues and we feed so many families it has become harder to distribute food for four days and with a healthy variety,” Bob explains.
Another arm of St. Matthew’s outreach is the impressive restaurant operation and training at Lulu’s Kitchen, a new 8,000-square-foot, free-standing facility that is home a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen, open-to-the-public Fresh Start Café and drive-thru window, Delicious by Design commercial catering operation, and Culinary Training Institute of Southwest Florida.
Lorna McLain, food distribution manager says Delicious by Design offers everything from backyard barbecues to lobster and caviar; catering cocktail receptions, weddings, elegant dinners, themed buffets, and luncheon with all proceeds benefiting St. Matthew’s House.
Finally, readers can support St. Matthews House, by donating by phone, texting the word blessing box to 41444 with monetary donations to help continue the glorious work of these amazing neighbors.
Fresh Start Café is open Mon-Sat,7 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Drive-through opens at 6:30 a.m.
2001 Airport Road South, Naples
239.774.0500