Lakewood Ranch residents can drop off canned goods and shelf-stable food starting Monday, Nov. 9, as part of a Thanksgiving food drive spanning two counties.

The Mayors' Feed the Hungry Program is collecting nonperishable food at four sites across Sarasota and Manatee counties through Nov. 19, according to the Suncoast Post. The Coldwell Banker Realty office on Market Street is the only Lakewood Ranch location among them.

The drive honors the late Nathan Benderson. Sources disagree on the exact target: the Suncoast Post and Scene Sarasota put the goal at 108,000 pounds, marking what would have been Benderson's 108th birthday. Nathan Benderson Park's event page lists 109,000 pounds and his 109th birthday. The program has not publicly clarified the difference.

The program dates to 1987, according to the Suncoast Post. It distributes collected food through local pantries in both counties.

Where to donate

Four drop-off sites are accepting food Nov. 9–19:

  • Coldwell Banker Realty — 8334 Market St., Lakewood Ranch
  • Palmetto Police Department — 1115 10th St. W., Palmetto
  • Bradenton Fire Department Station 1 — 1010 Ninth Ave. W., Bradenton
  • DeSoto Boys & Girls Club — 5236 30th St. W., Bradenton

Check each location's hours before visiting.

What to bring

Organizers suggest unopened canned beans, tuna or chicken, vegetables, pasta or oatmeal. All items should be shelf-stable and not require refrigeration, according to the Suncoast Post.

Nov. 20 finale at Nathan Benderson Park

The drive wraps up with a drive-through drop-off on Friday, Nov. 20, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle in Sarasota. Organizers plan to sort donations there and send them to pantries in both counties.

Tracy Wiggins, identified by Scene Sarasota as a board member of the Mayors' Feed the Hungry Program, is the contact for groups that want to host their own collection bins. She can be reached at [email protected].

Lakewood Ranch High School joins in

The effort goes beyond the official drive sites. Lakewood Ranch High School's Lakewood Leaders community service club is collecting nonperishable items Nov. 9–23, according to coverage published Nov. 5 by the school's Mustangs Ahead student outlet. Kyle Elmendorf, the club's adviser and a social studies teacher, is coordinating the effort. Students bring donations to their first-period teacher. The class that collects the most wins Chick-fil-A sandwiches.

Upcoming

  • Nov. 9–19: Food drop-off at Coldwell Banker Realty, 8334 Market St., Lakewood Ranch
  • Nov. 20: Drive-through finale at Nathan Benderson Park, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota