Donations to be accepted April 4 through 18.

Lee County Solid Waste’s fourth annual “Donated not Wasted” campaign will launch Monday, April 4, to encourage seasonal residents and visitors to donate unopened pantry items before returning north.

Since the program’s inception, 15,193 pounds of food has been diverted from potential disposal and sent to the Harry Chapin Food Bank – enough food to provide 12,660 meals.

The food bank continued to be both a conduit and safety net to the community during the pandemic.

 “In 2021, our food distribution programs provided 47.6 million pounds of food, including 12.6 million pounds of fresh produce, to the Southwest Florida community,” said Meg Madzar, food-drive coordinator for Harry Chapin Food Bank.

To help, drop off unopened canned or dry goods between Monday, April 4, and Monday, April 18, at any library or Lee County Recreation Center. (See complete list below). Additional collection containers are located at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve and the Lee County Topaz Court Household Chemical Waste Facility.

Partners in the campaign include Harry Chapin Food Bank, Lee County Solid Waste, Lee County Parks & Recreation, Lee County Library System, the city libraries of Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach, Waste Pro and FOX4.

For more information, visit www.leegov.com/solidwaste or call 239-533-8000.

Drop off locations

Recreation Centers

• Estero Recreation Center, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero, FL 33928
• North Fort Myers Recreation Center, 2000 North Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers, FL 33903
• Veterans Park Recreation Center, 55 Homestead Road South, Lehigh Acres , FL 33936
• Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreation Center, 16760 Bass Road, Fort Myers, FL 33908

Library locations

• Bonita Springs Public Library, 10560 Reynolds St., Bonita Springs, FL 34135
• Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library, 921 SW 39th Terrace, Cape Coral, FL 33914
• Captiva Memorial Library, 11560 Chapin Lane, Captiva, FL 33924
• Dunbar Jupiter Hammon Public Library, 3095 Blount St., Fort Myers, FL 33916
• East County Regional Library, 881 Gunnery Road, Lehigh Acres, FL 33971
• Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First St., Fort Myers, FL 33901
• Fort Myers Beach Public Library, 2755 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931

• Johann Fust Community Library, 1040 W. 10th St.,  Boca Grande, FL 33921
• Lakes Regional Library, 15290 Bass Road, Fort Myers, FL 33919
• North Fort Myers Public Library, 2001 N. Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers, FL 33903
• Northwest Regional Library, 519 Chiquita Blvd. N., Cape Coral, FL 33993
• Pine Island Public Library, 10701 Russell Road, Bokeelia, FL 33922
• Riverdale Branch Library, 2421 Buckingham Road, Fort Myers, FL 33905
• Sanibel Public Library, 770 Dunlop Road, Sanibel, FL 33957
• South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Parkway, Estero, FL 33928

Others

• Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, 7751 Penzance Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33966
• Topaz Court Solid Waste Annex, 6441 Topaz Court, Fort Myers, FL 33966