THIS THIS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS COMING UP, WE'LL MOST PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS AND WINNERS EMERGED TUESDAY NIGHT.

THERE ARE ALREADY SOME CANDIDATES THAT KNEW THE RESULTS BEFORE THE POLLS EVEN CLOSED.

ONE COUNTY CALLED ITS ELECTION WEEKS AGO FOLLOWING A SERIES OF UNCONTESTED RACES MAINTAINING FAITH IN EDUCATION AS NEW SCHOOLS OPEN IN AVE MARIA, THE LONGTIME CATHOLIC INSTITUTION AT THE CENTER OF THE COMMUNITY LOOKS TOWARDS A FUTURE AS THE AREA'S POPULATION BLOSSOMS AND PUTTING A DENT IN SENIOR CITIZEN FOOD INSECURITY.

ONE LOCAL GROUP IS HONORED FOR ITS EFFORTS AND MAKING SURE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE ARE NOT FORCED TO SKIP THEIR NEXT MEAL.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AFTER OVER 2 MILLION FLORIDIANS TOOK PART IN EARLY VOTING OR VOTE BY MAIL.

TUESDAY WAS THE DAY FOR THE REMAINING REGISTERED VOTERS TO DECIDE WHO WILL BE REPRESENTED IN THE NOVEMBER MIDTERMS.

HOWEVER, NOT EVERY COUNTY NEEDED TO WAIT UNTIL ELECTION DAY IN OKEECHOBEE COUNTY.

THE RACE, THE RACES WERE CALLED EARLY WITHOUT A SINGLE VOTE BEING CAST FOR ANY OF THE 5 COUNTY SEATS AND 3 CITYWIDE SEATS.

WGCUS EILEEN KELLY EXPLAINS WHY.

>> WHEN OKEECHOBEE COUNTY COMMISSIONER TERRY BURNS WAS FIRST ELECTED TO OFFICE IN 2014, HE'D BE TO OTHERS FOR THE SEAT.

4 YEARS LATER, HE WANT TO GET TESTING A SINGLE CHALLENGER.

IN FACT, BURROWS SUCCESSFULLY WON ALL 4 ATTEMPTS FOR THE COUNTY COMMISSION SEAT.

SO THE LAST 2 RACES WERE WON WITH LITTLE TO NO EFFORT BECAUSE BIRDS RAN UNOPPOSED IN 2022 AND ONCE AGAIN THIS YEAR, HE'S IN GOOD COMPANY.

IN FACT, NOT A SINGLE LOCAL RACE IN THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE NORTH IN THE COUNTY WILL BE DECIDED BY VOTERS AFTER THE POLLS CLOSE TUESDAY EVENING.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE WINDS WERE AUTOMATICALLY GIVEN TO THE SOLE OFFICE SEEKERS FOR 5 SEATS UP FOR GRABS IN THE COUNTY AND 3 SEATS UP FOR GRABS IN THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE.

POLITICS CAN BE DIRTY, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WHERE BIG MONEY GETS POURED INTO CAMPAIGNS BY SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS.

SO COULD THAT BE THE REASON THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE CONTESTED RACE IN OKEECHOBEE COUNTY OR CITY THIS ELECTION.

IT'S TIME TO SAY THE BUREAU SAYS OKEECHOBEE HAS BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE CLEAN REESE'S USUALLY RACES THE NEW SMALL RURAL COUNTIES LIKE WE HAVE.

WE DON'T THERE'S.

>> PEOPLE DON'T GET UGLY.

THEY DON'T GIVE DUKE A REAL NEGATIVE TO HAVE BEEN USED UP TO THE FACTS.

BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE YOUR FACTS IDEA TO CONJECTURE.

>> PERHAPS THAT'S BECAUSE AN ELECTED JOB CAN BE VERY DEMANDING AND ENTAILS MUCH MORE.

THE 2 PUBLIC MEETINGS A MONTH ELECTED OFFICEHOLDERS, HEAR COMPLAINTS DAILY AND ARE EXPECTED TO PLAY REFEREE GUIDING RESIDENTS ON HOW TO RESOLVE ISSUES.

AND THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THAT COMES WITH ELECTED OFFICE.

SO COULD THAT BE WHY ONLY GRIZZLED INCUMBENTS FILED FOR OFFICE MAYBE SAYS BOROUGHS.

>> THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR ALL THE BLANKS AND HAVE TO DO WITH THE PEOPLE ON A DAY IN AND DAY OUT BASIS.

IT TAKES A DIFFERENT PERSON TO BE A COMMISSION OR CITY COUNCIL.

NARA POLITICIAN AS A WHOLE.

>> BRUCE SAID HE SPOKE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE WEIGHING THE POSSIBILITY OF RUNNING FOR COUNTY COMMISSION SEAT.

THAT WAS UNTIL THEY FOUND OUT THAT WINNERS MUST DISCLOSE A GREAT DEAL ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL FINANCES.

FIRST, FIRST, ONE OF THOSE SWARMS HAS FORM 6 PEOPLE.

>> DO NOT LIKE TO THEY DON'T WANT TO COME IN TO GET INTO AN OFFICE WHERE THEY HAVE TO REVEAL ALL THEIR FINANCIAL.

WELL, WORDS.

I THINK GOD HAS A HUGE EFFECT ON BATH SALTS.

SOME PEOPLE DO.

LAKERS BUT TOOK THE TIME I WAS MY TEAM TO RUNNING IN THE U.S.

WAS TALKING TO SOME PEOPLE WHO LIVE CONSIDERING AND THEY'VE SPENT A LOT OF THINGS THAT THEY HAD TO DO AND BUT I GOT TO THE FORM 6.

THEY MEANING THAT THE INFORMATION IS OUT FOR PUBLIC USE AND JUST YET, YES, IT IS.

AND THAT IT DID TO HIM DARIAN FROM MAKING THAT MAKE THE AMMENDMENT TO EVEN CONSIDER RUNNING.

>> CHIEF CRAIG, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE OKEECHOBEE COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY SAYS IT'S EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WERE ONLY INCUMBENTS AND NO INTERESTED NEWCOMERS THIS ELECTION SEASON.

>> WELL, THEY GOT A GOOD THING.

IT MEANS EVERYBODY DOING A VERY GOOD JOB WORKING TOGETHER AND AND GETTING THE JOB DONE.

>> AND HE'S QUITE HAPPY.

IT TURNED OUT THIS WAY AND HE FEELS VOTERS ARE TOO.

>> AND THANK GOD BOATERS A PRETTY SATISFIED WITH WHAT'S GOING ON TO LISTEN UP.

AND THEN I THINK THE MAIN WOULD WANT TO STEP ON.

>> FOR WGCU NEWS, THIS IS EILEEN KELLY.

>> BE SURE TO KEEP UP WITH EVERYTHING HAPPENING IN THE 2026 FLORIDA PRIMARY AND UPCOMING MIDTERM NOVEMBER ELECTION BY VISITING OUR WEB SITE W G C DOT ORG FOR ALL THE LATEST INFORMATION COMING UP AS THE WAR BETWEEN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA CONTINUES TO WAGE OVERSEAS.

A SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COMMUNIT WHEN RUSSIA ANNEXED THE CRIMEAN PENINSULA IN 2014, IT TRIGGERED WHAT WOULD BECOME A LONG AND CONFLICT WITH UKRAINE.

THE WAR ESCALATED WITH A FULL-SCALE INVASION IN 2022.

AND LEFT UKRAINIANS LIVING IN AMERICA FEARING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THEIR HOMELAND ON AUGUST 24TH THE CITY OF NORTH PORT WILL RAISE THE UKRAINIAN FLAG IN SOLIDARITY WITH UKRAINIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AS PART OF THE OBSERVANCE THE CITY WILL ADOPT.

A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING UKRAINIAN INDEPENDENCE AND STAND BY A COMMITMENT BETWEEN THE NATION AND THE UNITED STATES.

WGCUS CULTURE AND CONNECTIONS.

REPORTER ELIZABETH ANDARGE HAS MORE.

>> FOR MORE ON UKRAINIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY AND JOINED BY PAT LILLIS CO THE PRESS SECRETARY FOR BRENT.

56 OF THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL WOMEN'S LEAGUE OF AMERICA.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HI, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT KNOW WHY DOES THIS PROCLAMATION MATTER TO NORTH PORT SPECIFICALLY?

>> BUT THERE ARE MANY UKRAINIAN-AMERICANS WHO LIVE IN THE AREA AND THE ORGANIZATIONS OR ARE MANY.

THERE'S THE KOREAN AMERICAN CLUB.

THE UKRAINIAN-AMERICAN WAR VETERANS.

MY GROUP BRANCH, 56, WE DO THINGS NOT ONLY.

IN TERMS OF HUMANITARIAN RELIEF MEETING WITH ONE ANOTHER EXCHANGING IDEAS WE PROMOTE SCHOLARSHIPS.

BUT WE ALSO DO THINGS IN THE SARASOTA AND CHARLOTTE COUNTY COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY.

>> THE PROCLAMATION YOU SET ME SPECIFICALLY CALLS OUT THE ABDUCTION OF UKRAINIAN CHILDREN AS A WAR CRIME.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHY THAT'S INCLUDED?

>> IT'S AN ATROCITY.

I WE BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WITNESSING IN UKRAINE, INCLUDING THE ABDUCTION OF OUR CHILDREN IT'S JUST ANOTHER GENOCIDE.

THERE WAS ONE PERPETRATED IN UKRAINE BETWEEN 1932.

33.

WHEN STALIN SEALED OFF THE COUNTRY AND YOU START TO MILLIONS OF UKRAINIANS, UPWARDS OF WHAT THEY BELIEVE ARE 12 TO 14 MILLION UKRAINIAN PEOPLE.

NOW WE'RE WATCHING NOT JUST AN ATTEMPT TO ERADICATE OR LANGUAGE THE CHILDREN WHO ARE KIDNAPPED OR TAKEN TO INDOCTRINATION CAMPS BEFORE THEY'RE ADOPTED OUT TO RUSSIAN FAMILIES.

THEY'RE TOLD THEY'RE NOT UKRAINIAN.

THEY'RE TAUGHT TO SPEAK ONLY RUSSIAN.

THE RUSSIANS DURING THIS WHERE HER POST WHEN THEY DID OR MUSEUMS BURN FROM DOWN REMOVING ANY VESTIGE OF UKRAINIAN CULTURE, RELIGION, LANGUAGE, THE WRITTEN WORD SPOKEN WORD.

SO WE'RE WITNESSING ANOTHER GENOCIDE AND THEY'RE KILLING OUR PEOPLE TO.

>> AND YOU FELT LIKE THIS SPECIFICALLY NEEDED TO BE INCLUDED AND NEEDED TO BE REPRESENTED HERE IN NORTH PORT.

WHY?

>> TO BRING AWARENESS BY AMERICANS TO THIS ISSUE MORE THIS ATROCITY THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT HAS PUT THE NUMBER AT ROUGHLY 20,000 CHILDREN.

THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT, HOWEVER, IN THEIR OWN MEDIA IS SAYING IT'S HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN.

BY THE ACCOUNT OF THE PARENTS THAT HAVE SURVIVED THE NUMBER IS PROBABLY IN EXCESS OF 40,000 CHILDREN.

THAT'S AN ASTONISHING NUMBER.

>> HOW HAS THE UKRAINIAN COMMUNITY HERE IN NORTH PORT CHANGED SINCE THE INVASION?

>> AND UKRAINIANS HAVE BECOME MORE STALWART.

I THINK THEY'VE BECOME WAR.

ADAMANT ABOUT PROMOTING THEIR CULTURE, MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF IT.

BRINGING AWARENESS TO OUR POLITICAL FIGURES, ENCOURAGING THEM TO SUPPORT UKRAINE.

THEY REALIZE THAT UKRAINE IS A VERY IMPORTANT BATTLE FRONT.

I MEAN, NOT JUST.

FOR THE SAKE OF THAT COUNTRY AND BEING A DEMOCRACY.

IT IT ALSO IS A BUFFER TO THE REST OF EUROPE AND IT IT'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

I MEAN, YOU GO WEST, YOU'RE GOING INTO EUROPE.

YOU GO EAST OR GOING INTO ASIA.

SO UKRAINE IS A CRITICAL NATION.

AND I THINK PUTIN RIGHT NOW IS TESTING THE RESOLVE OF NATO COUNTRIES AS TO HOW FAR HE CAN GO BY PROVOKING LITTLE INCIDENTS LIKE DROPPING A BOMBING IN ROMANIA.

HE DID THAT A FEW WEEKS AGO.

SO ON.

UKRAINE IS KEEPING UP THE FIGHT.

>> WHAT IS RAISING THE FLAG SYMBOLICALLY MEAN FOR THE CITY OF NORTH PORT UKRAINIAN AMERICANS.

>> WELL, THE CITY OF NORTHPORT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE IS A VERY LARGE CONSTITUENCY BASE OF UKRAINIAN AMERICANS LIVING IN THAT COMMUNITY.

AND CERTAIN OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY, VERY SUPPORTIVE.

THOSE INDIVIDUALS WILL LEAVE HENCE SERVICES TO COMMEMORATE FOR INSTANCE, THE ABDUCTION OF THE CHILDREN IN PRAYING FOR THEIR RETURN.

THEY THEY'VE SHOWN UP.

THEY'VE COME TO THOSE AND SUPPORTED US.

SO I THINK THAT.

THE CITY HAS BEEN VERY, VERY SUPPORTIVE TO THE UKRAINIAN COMMUNITY AND WILL OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS >> PAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE STORIES ON UKRAINIAN HERITAGE THROUGHOUT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG OR THIS SCHOOL YEAR TO NEW SCHOOLS OPENED IN THE COMMUNITY OF AVE MARIA IN COLLIER COUNTY FOR THE ALL THE MARIA CATHOLIC ACADEMY, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE DONAHUE ACADEMY OF AVE MARIA.

THIS CHANGE MEANS GOING FROM BEING THE SOLE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM TO ONE OF SEVERAL WGCUS YOUN JOO PARK HAS MORE ON THESE NEW LEARNING NEIGHBORS.

>> AVE MARIA IS A TOWN FOUNDED ON CATHOLIC VALUES.

THE COMMUNITY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2007, A PRIVATE CATHOLIC SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED IN LOCKSTEP THE SCHOOL WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY IN AVE MARIA FOR NEARLY 2 DECADES.

BUT THIS YEAR WITH THE GRAND OPENING OF 2 NEW SCHOOLS, AVE MARIA CATHOLIC ACADEMY HAS COMPANY.

FOR PRINCIPAL MARK SNYDER.

IT'S A GOOD THING TO HAVE A BIGGER PLAYING FIELD >> YOU HAVE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS, YOU HAVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE KIND OF EDUCATION THAT BOTH PROVIDE IS DIFFERENT.

IT REALLY IS.

AND SO I REALLY DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE COMPETITION.

AND, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN THE 2 AT LEAST CERTAINLY NOT, YOU KNOW, TO THE EXTENT OF ONE PULLING AWAY FROM THE OTHER.

>> SNYDER SAYS THE NEW SCHOOLS REFLECT A GRADUAL SHIFT TOWARD RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY IN THE COMMUNITY.

AT FIRST THE TOWN WAS I THINK.

>> 95% CATHOLIC.

>> YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I WAS HERE IN THE TOWN FIRST OPENED IN 2007 AND NOW THE TOWN.

I THINK IT'S ABOUT 70% CATHOLIC.

SO IT'S DIVERSIFIED.

>> THAT'S A GOOD THING.

THE AVE MARIA CATHOLIC ACADEMY STILL HAS A STRONGHOLD IN NUMBERS TOTALING AROUND 550 STUDENTS.

SINCE THE SCHOOL SERVES ALL GRADE LEVELS ITS ENROLLMENT IS NATURALLY LARGER.

COMPARE IT TO THE NEW PUBLIC SCHOOL.

IN FACT, SNYDER SAYS THE MOST IMPACTFUL COMPETITION IS NOT FROM OTHER SCHOOLS, BUT FROM GREATER SOCIAL FORCES.

THERE'S A TENDENCY TO THINK THE KIDS THAT GO HERE.

>> AND, YOU KNOW, THERE.

PROTECTED SOMEHOW.

FROM, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE THE OUTSIDE WORLD TO THE OUTSIDE CULTURE AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THESE, YOU KNOW, SAINTS THAT JUST KIND OF FLOAT AROUND, YOU KNOW, WITH PRAYING HANDS AND SAID, NO, THESE ARE REAL KIDS.

AND THEY HAVE REAL BATTLES AND THEY'RE STRUGGLING WITH, YOU KNOW, THE SAME KINDS OF THINGS THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS STRUGGLING WITH.

>> TO COUNTER SECULAR INFLUENCES ON YOUTH SNYDER EXPLAINS THAT THE CORE BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF AVE MARIA CATHOLIC ACADEMY HELP DIFFERENTIATE IT FROM THE OTHERS.

ONE HALLMARK IS A CATHOLIC MASS EVERY MORNING TO ENRICH STUDENTS, SPIRITUAL FORMATION >> AND THE RULES.

BUT THERE IS ALSO A UNIQUE FOCUS.

>> ON CLASSICAL EDUCATION.

>> WE WANT THEM TO READ GREAT BOOKS, NOT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO ANYTHING FOR THEM.

PRODUCTIVELY ONCE THEY GET OUT OF SCHOOL.

BUT BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT READING GREAT LITERATURE.

YOU KNOW, WE WANT THEM TO FALL IN LOVE WITH LEARNING AND SO LOVE LEARNING AS AN END IN ITSELF.

NOT AS A MEANS TO AN END.

>> THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL BUILDING, THERE ARE BOOKS ON HOW ONE CAN GRAPPLE WITH A THEOLOGICAL IDEA OF MERGING SCIENCE AND FAITH.

MARTIN, DO MEN IS THE SCHOOL'S CAMPUS MINISTER WHO SAYS THAT RECONCILING CONFLICT BETWEEN THE SECULAR AND SPIRITUAL WORLDS IS AT THE HEART OF A CATHOLIC EDUCATION.

>> I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL THAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS COMING IN BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT FAITH IS SOMETHING THAT'S MEANT TO BE SHARED WITH EVERYONE.

BUT IN A VERY NATURAL ORGANIC WAY, YOU KNOW, LIKE JUST BEING KIND TO ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS IS A WAY THAT I CAN SHARE MY FACE.

>> SCHOOL LEADERS BELIEVE THAT THIS DIVERSITY CAN ONLY STRENGTHEN THE SPIRITUAL MISSION OF THE SCHOOL AND EQUIP STUDENTS TO LIVE OUT THEIR VALUES OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF A CATHOLIC SCHOOL AND TOWN.

FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M YOUN JOO PARK.

>> INFLATION RISING HOUSING COSTS AND FIXED INCOMES COMBINED TO CREATE A MOUNTING CRISIS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS.

HUNGER, ACCORDING TO FEEDING AMERICA OVER 550,000 OLDER ADULTS IN FLORIDA ARE FACING FOOD INSECURITY TO HELP EASE THE CRISIS.

ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS COMMUNITY CO-OPERATIVE HAVE INCREASED THEIR OUTREACH.

THOSE EFFORTS INCLUDE MEALS ON WHEELS OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, A PROGRAM THAT JUST ONE THE 2026 QUALITY SENIOR LIVING AWARD FOR THE COMPASSION AND SUPPORT THAT THEY HAVE BROUGHT 2 LEE COUNTY WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE HAS MORE ON THEIR SERVICES.

>> SO JOINING ME NOW IS STEPHANIE.

THANK.

SHE IS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITH COMMUNITY CO-OPERATIVE.

MISS THANK.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH OUR AUDIENCE WHAT THE MISSION OF YOUR ORGANIZATION IS?

>> SURE, SO COMMUNITY CO-OPERATIVE.

IT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A REALLY LONG TIME HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND OUR MISSION REALLY IS TO END HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS.

HERE.

AND WE DO THAT THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS.

ONE OF OUR REALLY FAVORITE PROGRAMS THAT WE DO IS MEALS AND WHEELS OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

>> SO NOW WE HAVE A LARGE POPULATION OF SENIORS DOWN HERE.

SO HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO GET THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM ROLLING?

>> WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLY LARGE AND CONTINUALLY GROWING POPULATION OF SENIORS HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

SO MEALS ON WHEELS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO RELY ON THE SERVICE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

A LOT OF TIMES THE MEALS THAT ARE DELIVERED BY OUR VOLUNTEERS AND OUR STAFF.

IT'S THE ONE PERSON THAT SOMEBODY MIGHT SEE ALL DAY.

WE'RE REALLY WORKING NOT JUST ABOUT MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE EATING AND HAVE CONNECTION TO SERVICES, BUT IT'S FIGHTING SENIOR ISOLATION.

>> AND THEN YOUR ORGANIZATION JUST RECEIVED THE QUALITY OF SENIOR LIVING AWARD FROM THE FLORIDA COUNCIL OF AGING.

SO HOW HAS FOOD INSECURITY BECOME SUCH AN ISSUE FOR THE SENIOR POPULATION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA?

>> WE DID.

WE'RE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO HAVE RECEIVED THAT AWARDED STATEWIDE RECOGNITION FOR THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.

THE SERVICE SENIOR IS HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, IN PARTICULAR, BUT I CAN TELL YOU WITH THE AGING POPULATION AND JUST HONESTLY, THE COST OF LIVING FOOD, RENT, MEDICATION, EVERYTHING CONTINUES TO GROW UP, CONTINUES TO RISE AND CONTINUES TO GET MORE EXPENSIVE.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF SENIORS LIVING ON FIXED INCOMES, THEY HAVE TO MAKE REALLY HARD DECISIONS BETWEEN.

AM I GOING TO EAT SOMETHING TODAY OR AM I GONNA FILL THAT PRESCRIPTION?

AND WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT NOBODY IS GOING HUNGRY.

>> AND THEN I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THIS IS NOT JUST FOR SENIORS, THOUGH.

I SAW REPORTS THAT SHOW ONE IN 8 PEOPLE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FACE SOME FORM OF FOOD INSECURITY.

SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THAT THE COMMUNITY CO-OPERATIVE IS LOOKING TO COMBAT THIS ISSUE?

>> SHORES, OUR MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM IS JUST ONE WAY THAT WE'RE HELPING PEOPLE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

YOU'VE GOT FAMILIES THAT YOU'VE GOT INDIVIDUALS OF THE WORKING POPULATION HERE.

HUE GO TO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THEY'RE JUST HAVING A HARD TIME MAKING ENDS MEAT SOMETIMES.

AND WE'RE HERE DOING THE WORK AND ENSURING THAT NOBODY GOES HOME 3 THROUGH ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS THROUGH MEALS ON WHEELS.

WE'VE GOT A COMMUNITY CAFE.

WE'VE GOT A LARGE MOBILE FOOD PANTRY, DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM.

AND WE ALSO UTILIZE SOCIAL SERVICES AND EDUCATION TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THOSE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES.

SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE FOOD WE'RE FIGURING OUT WHY.

WHAT TO SOMEBODY ELSE NEED TO GET BACK ONTO THEIR OWN PATH TO SUCCESS AND COMMUNITY CO-OPERATIVE IS REALLY THERE TO HELP THEM ALONG THE WAY.

>> AND THEN WHERE DO YOU SOURCE YOUR FOOD FROM WITH ALL THESE PROGRAMS?

HOW DO YOU GET ENOUGH TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO SUPPLY ALL THAT YOU NEED FOR THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SUPPORT.

>> HARD TO DO.

THAT IS THE THING THAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT.

I WILL SAY WE ARE A PARTNER AGENCY WITH A LOT OF THE LOCAL FOOD BANKS HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WE ALSO RELY ON FUNDRAISING AND PHILANTHROPY.

WE ARE NOT THAT WE ARE NOT A GOVERNMENT-FUNDED AGENCY.

WE RELY ON THE GENEROUS DONATIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN BY THE FOOD THAT WE NEED TO PRODUCE THE MEALS ON WHEELS, FOOD OR CAFE MEALS OR KEEP OUR SHELVES FULL.

OUR MOBILE FOOD PANTRY SHELVES FULL AS WELL.

>> AND WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT DO YOU NEED TO KEEP OPERATIONS GOING ACROSS ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS?

YOU OFFER?

>> WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT THAT WE NEED?

I WOULD SAY IT STARTS WITH THOSE DOLLARS.

THAT'S PHILANTHROPY.

DOLLARS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO US.

AND YOU CAN IMAGINE WITH THE CONTINUED COST OF FOOD RISING AND JUST THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS, THAT MAKES IT REAL REALLY HARD FOR ORGANIZATIONS LIKE US.

BUT WE FEEL IT ON BOTH SIDES SO NOT ONLY ARE WE FEELING IT INTERNALLY AS AN INCREASED EXPENSES, IF YOU WILL.

WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE INDIVIDUALS COMING TO US LOOKING FOR SUPPORT BECAUSE THEY'RE FEELING THAT PINCH AS WELL.

IN ADDITION TO DOLLARS, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO COME OUT AND HELP US WITH OUR WORK.

WE HAD AROUND 4,000 PLUS VOLUNTEERS LAST YEAR.

HELP US.

THEY'RE ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS AND WE REALLY RELY ON THAT GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT IS MEALS ON WHEELS.

WE'VE GOT ABOUT 60 DRIVERS THAT PROBABLY HELP US EVERY SINGLE DAY THROUGH MEALS ON WHEELS AND THEY DRIVE DONATING THEIR TIME AND GAS OVER 1200 MILES A DAY TO INJURE PEOPLE ARE GETTING MEALS THAT THEY NEED.

>> AND APPROXIMATELY HOW MANY PEOPLE DO USE THIS WITH YOUR PROGRAMS?

YOU HAD TOUCHED ON INFLATION, COST OF LIVING GOING UP.

HAS THAT NUMBER INCREASED OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AS THINGS CONTINUE TO SEE UPTICKS IN PRICE.

>> OUR NUMBERS HONESTLY HAVE CONTINUED TO RISE SINCE I WOULD SAY 2020 AND THE PANDEMIC THAT WE ALL HAD TO GO THROUGH EVERY YEAR AS AN ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS, ESPECIALLY IN AND THE HUNGER FIELD, IF YOU WILL.

I KEEP SAYING THIS IS THE YEAR WE'RE GOING TO LEVEL OFF.

BUT AS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA CONTINUES TO GROW, WE HAVE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE COMING HERE.

WE HAVE MORE MORE PEOPLE RETIRING HERE AND YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO NEED ASSISTANCE.

AND SO WE WILL BE HERE TO MEET THAT NEED NO MATTER WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

>> STEPHANIE, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING >> FOR PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS, TRANSPORTATION IS MORE ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY.

THEN AN AMENITY WITHOUT A RELIABLE VEHICLE GETTING TO WORK OR RUNNING DAILY, ERRANDS BECOMES A CHALLENGE.

WGCUS CULTURE AND CONNECTIONS.

REPORTER ELIZABETH AND RG.

THIS IS AN LABELLE TO SEE HOW THE COMMUTING EFFORTS THERE ARE OCCURING FOR THOSE IN NEED.

>> IN THIS AREA, IN PARTICULAR, WE HAVE A LACK OF OTHER SERVICES.

THERE'S A LACK OF UBER.

THERE'S A LACK OF LIFT.

THERE'S MINIMAL TAXI.

AND ANOTHER ISSUE.

IS THERE ANY RENTAL CARS IN THE AREA?

NO RENTAL CAR AGENCIES.

AND THAT'S AN ISSUE WITH LIKE THE AIRPORT TO.

THEY'VE STRESSED THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY RENTAL CARS.

SO PEOPLE COME INTO TOWN AND THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE MULTIPLE AVENUES IS TRANSPORTATION.

>> TO ME, FINNERTY IS THE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE HENDRY COUNTY TRANSIT IN RURAL COMMUNITIES GETTING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER IS AND ALWAYS EASY FOR RESIDENTS LIKE WHEN YOU SHOULD JOHNSON THE STREAM BUS.

IT IS THE ONLY OPTION.

>> I'VE BEEN TELLING A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU CAN IS IS NOT LIKE BEING IN THIS IN A CITY CITY.

CAUSE ON FROM MOM LIKE FORT LAUDERDALE WAY.

IT'S NOT LIKE HOW BEING OVER THERE, BUT IT'S IS STILL CONVENIENT.

>> THE BUS SYSTEM HAS HELPED HER KEEP HER OVERNIGHT JOB WHILE STAYING CONNECTED TO FAMILY IN LABELLE.

SHE SAYS WITHOUT THE SERVICE GIVING WHERE SHE NEEDS TO GO MIGHT BE CHALLENGING.

>> OR WILL BE.

>> WAY, WAY HARDER THAN WHAT IT ALREADY IS.

IT WILL BE WAY HARDER.

SO THIS REALLY COME IN HANDY.

>> MARY, BUT TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR AT THE CENTRAL FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL SAYS THE SERVICE IS CRITICAL FOR MEDICAL PATIENTS.

>> OUT THE STREAM, THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO THOSE CRITICAL MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, DIALYSIS, TRANSPORTATION AND TREATMENT.

AND SO HAVING STREAM HERE, AS YOU KNOW, REALLY FILLING THAT GAP FOR TRANSPORTATION AND PLAYS IN HENDRY COUNTY HAS BEEN REALLY BENEFICIAL.

>> LIKE NORMAL BUS SERVICES STREAM OFFERS FIXED ROPES, BUT ALSO PROVIDES DOOR-TO-DOOR PARATRANSIT SERVICES FOR QUALIFYING RIDERS AND PASSENGERS DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO WAIT AT A DESIGNATED BUS.

STOP.

MANY RIDERS ALSO RELY ON THE SERVICE BECAUSE SPECIALIZED MEDICAL CARE OFTEN MEANS TRAVELING.

WELL, OUTSIDE HENRY COUNTY IN CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE.

FINNERTY KNOWS THIS FIRSTHAND.

>> RIGHT NOW THE CRITICAL NEED WE HAVE IS DIALYSIS.

I'M GOING TO SAY PROBABLY 50% OF OUR TRIPS ARE JUST FOR DIALYSIS PATIENTS AND UBER TRIP TO FORT MYERS FOR A CANCER APPOINTMENT IS ABOUT $100.

ONE WAY.

IT WOULD COST EACH PATIENT AND $100 EACH WAY JUST TO GET TO A CANCER APPOINTMENT.

AND I'M ONE OF MY CANCER.

DOCTORS ARE IN MIAMI.

I CAN'T GET A CANCER DOCTOR OVER HERE FOR WHAT I NEED.

SO IF I DIDN'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION, I HAVE DIFFICULTY GETTING BACK AND FORTH TO MY DOCTOR.

>> RIDES COST $2 ONE WAY WITH DISCOUNTED FARES AVAILABLE FOR SENIORS FOR RIDERS LIKE JOHNSON STREAM HELPS KEEP HER MOVING.

WHEN GETTING A ROOM ISN'T ALWAYS SIMPLE.

IT MEANS A LOT.

HONESTLY.

>> BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION I'M GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW IN LIFE.

AND I.

>> IT'S BEEN HELPING NOW.

>> FOR WGCU NEWS, I'M ELIZABETH ANDARGE.

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.