Couple helps feed the hungry on island
Beverly Brewer says she and her husband Terry have a passion to feed the hungry.
Brewer admits she wears many hats, serving Pine Island United Methodist Church as the music director and also volunteering for the “Back-Pack” program, started by her and her husband, where they provide groceries for children during the school year and entire families when school is out on break.
“When we became aware in mid-March that school was not going to come back after spring break,” said Brewer, “we shifted our focus to individual bags.”
She said they realized the situation was going to affect a great number of people and therefore made it known that they may be able to get food delivered. She reports having gone from 50 bags in the first week to 175 bags by week 11. The church youth director, Brewer said, is doing a lot of deliveries to families, which is helpful for keeping in contact with the kids she normally sees.
“I’ve got people delivering in St. James City, in Matlacha, up through Bokeelia and in the Center,” said Brewer. “We have about 90 families right now receiving bags.”
Much of the food purchased for distribution by the Brewers comes from donations. Brewer said when they started the program she enlisted help from fellow residents of Pine Island Cove, feeling that they had much to offer by way of giving back to the community. Over the course of 11 weeks, Brewer said she’s received $5,000 from these residents.
“Even some people who have gone back up north are mailing me money, so it’s been pretty awesome,” said Brewer.
There have been vast numbers of anonymous donations made to the program as well, said Brewer, who adds that even though the unity warranted by the situation has been amazing, she’s hoping this won’t be necessary for long, as things get back to normal. She said knowing so many families on the island are literally living hand-to-mouth all year, they felt this was something they could do.
“We’re loving people through this,” said Brewer. “We’re doing this because God wants us to take care of one another. If people need food, they can call me.”
Brewer can be contacted at 765-404-3835.