NAPLES, FL. — The need for food donations continues throughout Southwest Florida.
To help bridge the gap for families that are homebound, a non-profit is making home deliveries of frozen meals and groceries.
They're called Beverly's Angels, and their mission is to spread love and gratitude through acts of kindness.
"When the pandemic began, we started delivering yummy meals of love, which is a home-cooked meal that's delivered to a family that otherwise cannot come out because of their autoimmune system or cancer," said Faith Schwalback.
Schwalback founded the non-profit organization two years ago as a way to remember her mom, Beverly.
"She suffered from dementia, and I wanted to keep her spirit of giving alive, so I started Beverly's Angels with a group of 5 women," said Schwalback.
Since then, the group has grown to 64 volunteers, called angels.
"She used to give Thanksgiving meals that she would drop off to our church, and that's what started this whole process was giving food and the comfort of food," said Schwalback.
On Thursday, the angels loaded up their cars with frozen meals provided through a partnership with the Naples Sailing Yacht Club.
This is the second week they also deliver groceries thanks to a partnership with St. Matthew's House.
"The need that we've seen has just been incredible, and that's why we reached out to St. Matthew's House. They just opened arms to us," said Schwalback.
The frozen meals and groceries are enough to feed 50 families, and it's all free.
St. Matthew's House has been helping thousands of families through their mobile pantries, but President & CEO, Vann Ellison, says this is a way to expand their mission and help families that cannot attend.
"As long as we're here, and there's groceries in our pantry, we're going to be helping out the neighbors around us," said Ellison.
Through collaborations like this, Schwalback says they are able to help people that are really in desperate need of food.
"Our families came to us from the Family to Family Crisis Kids' Closet, we work with the Alzheimer's network because we want to make sure we're getting to those people that have the need," said Schwalback.
Meal deliveries are once a week, while groceries are delivered twice a week.
On Sunday, Beverly's Angels will deliver ready to eat 'yummy meals of love,' along with small bouquets of flowers to celebrate Mother's Day.
"My mom is…. she's crying tears of joy from heaven. I just know that she's so happy," said Schwalback.
To learn more about Beverly's Angels, or to volunteer, click here.
