By Carole Meghreblian
FLArmenians Naples Contributor

Last month, the Armenian Church of Southwest Florida (ACSWFL) mission parish collected $1,067 as part of the Diocese’s Department of Mission Parishes food drive for children in need.

(Also on FLArmenians: Florida Mission Parish Update from ACSWFL)

The funds were donated to the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Ft. Myers, in memory of the children who were victims of anti-Armenian pogroms in Azerbaijan (1988-89) and the war in Nagorno-Karabagh (1991-1994).

Meg Madzar, Campaign Project Coordinator, Harry Chapin Food Bank & Carol Meghreblian, ACSWFL Parish Council Chairwoman

The Harry Chapin Food Bank serves five counties in southwest Florida: Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee.  In 2011, they distributed 15 million pounds of food and other grocery items valued at $24.9 million, to more than 160 non-profit partners who serve more than 30,000 people monthly.  This is a first-time collection for the ACSWFL, and they intend to make it an annual event.