Community Cooperative

Sams Community Caf & Kitchen is an innovative delivery model for feeding the hungry in our community. The caf model provides dining in a compassionate, communal atmosphere where people can sit down, eat a meal, and be introduced to resources that will help individuals and families address the underlying issues causing hunger. The Communityand Mobile Food Pantries are sustainable, client choice models for long-term hunger elimination that provides a choice and a voice for the hungry in our community. The markets provide customers an opportunity to choose their own food off market shelves instead of receiving a box of food filled with items that may not be used, as well as access to a hot meal and additional resources and assistance.

The Meals on Wheels home delivered meal program delivers meals to southwest Florida residents who are elderly, ill or disabled and are unable to shop or prepare their own food. This service provides daily nutrition and contact for homebound residents regardless of their ability to pay. The program also provides groceries, a pet program and additional support and resources.

Social & Education Resource Centers partner with a myriad of community partners and agencies tasked with assisting individuals with positive, sustainable change through direct services, referral, and follow-up all under one roof. On-site and referral resources for job training, housing, mental health, substance abuse, child-care, education, financial well-being, health and wellness, and life coaching are available. Assistance with Medicaid and SNAP applications is provided, as well as providing basic needs such as clothing, hygiene products and mail services for our homeless clients. In addition to serving the basic needs of families in crisis, Community Cooperative provides classroom opportunities for adults to learn employment and financial skills, self-development, health and wellness, and goal setting and to engage and help with positive, sustainable long-term change.

This department continually recruits and organizes volunteers for all CCI programs. CCI relies on approximately 2,400 volunteers annually to deliver services to all of the programs. Volunteers provide food delivery to homebound elderly customers, guiding customers in collecting take home food for families, preparing, serving, hosting and cleaning up the kitchen in the cafs. Other volunteer duties include assessing customers for services and needs including preparing applications, in addition to typing, mailing and answering phones.