FORT MYERS — Harry Chapin Food Bank has been awarded a Chick-fil-A Child and Family Feeding Grant through Feeding America to help expand access to nutritious food for children and families experiencing food insecurity across Southwest Florida.

The grant will support the food bank's In-School Pantry Program, which provides students and their families with convenient access to nutritious food at schools throughout Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties. By bringing food directly to campuses, the program helps reduce barriers to access while ensuring children have the nourishment they need to learn, grow and thrive. Across Southwest Florida, one in seven neighbors experiences hunger, including thousands of children whose families are working hard to make ends meet.

“We are grateful to Chick-fil-A and Feeding America for investing in children and families in our community,” said Richard LeBer, president and CEO of Harry Chapin Food Bank. “Far too many students arrive at school worried about where their next meal will come from. This grant helps us meet families where they are by providing healthy food in a familiar, trusted environment, making it easier for parents to put meals on the table.”

For many families, school is more than a place where children learn. It is also a trusted connection to resources that help them stay healthy and succeed. By supporting school-based food access, this grant will help Harry Chapin Food Bank continue working alongside educators and community partners to ensure children have reliable access to nutritious food beyond the classroom.

The Chick-fil-A Child and Family Feeding Grant is part of Chick-fil-A's ongoing commitment to helping children reach their full potential by supporting programs that address hunger and strengthen communities. Through Feeding America, the grant supports food banks working to increase access to nutritious food for children and their families.

For more information about Harry Chapin Food Bank or to support its mission, visit HarryChapinFoodBank.org.