THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, MOSQUITOES ARE POSING MORE THAN A NUISANCE.

THEY ARE A THREAT TO YOUR HEALTH.

>> THIS WEEK ALONE, WE'VE HAD 3 CASES OF INTERNATIONAL DAN OR SUSPECTED CASES.

SO THAT IS AN ALERT FOR US TO KNOW THAT WE NEED TO TREAT IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THOSE MOSQUITOES BITE.

SOMEONE AND IT BECOMES LOCALIZED.

HERE IN LEE COUNTY.

>> THE MOSQUITO-BORNE ILLNESS THAT DANK A FEVER IS SPREADING IN FLORIDA.

WE'RE TALKING TO MOSQUITO CONTROL EXPERTS ABOUT KEEPING YOU SAFE.

WHETHER YOU DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT USES REGULAR UNLEADED OR USE DIESEL.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THE TOLL.

GAS PRICES HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD BANKS AND HELPING PEOPLE IN NEED.

AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SIGHT AT ANY AGE.

THIS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ORGANIZATION HAS MADE IT ITS MISSION TO FOCUS ON YOUR EYES AND EVERYONE IS WELCOMED.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

ONE OF THE WORST OUTBREAKS OF DENGUE, A FEVER IN DECADES IN FLORIDA HAS LEE COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL URGING SOUTHWEST FLORIDIANS TO BE ON ALERT.

THE DANGEROUS VIRUS IS SPREAD BY THE BACKYARD MOSQUITO WHICH BREED IN STANDING WATER, FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REPORTS THE STATE HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CASES IN THE COUNTRY WITH MORE THAN 330 SO FAR THIS YEAR AND RECENTLY CONFIRMED THE STATE'S FIRST DEATH FROM DAY IN ALMOST A CENTURY.

ALMOST 200 OF FLORIDA'S CASES ARE RELATED TO INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS WITH MOST COMING FROM CUBA.

BUT THERE'S ALSO A RISING NUMBER OF LOCALLY TRANSMITTED CASES IN THE STATE.

LEE COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL SAYS THEY'RE RAMPING UP EFFORTS AND HAVE WORKERS EVEN GOING DOOR TO DOOR TO HELP RESIDENTS GET RID OF STANDING WATER IN THEIR BACKYARDS.

JENNIFER MCBRIDE WITH THE LEE COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT JOINS US NOW IN STUDIO.

>> AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US IN PERSON TODAY.

ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

WE HAVE SEEN A CONCERNING NUMBER OF CASES OF DANK, A FEVER IN FLORIDA.

>> WE'VE EVEN HAD THE FIRST DEATH IN FLORIDA WHICH OCCURRED IN TAMPA.

THE VICTIM WAS AN 80 YEAR-OLD WOMAN.

WHY ARE WE SEEING THIS INCREASING NUMBER OF DANK, A FEVER?

>> SO RIGHT NOW WHAT HAPPENED THAT'S DIFFERENT TYPICALLY IS THIS BECOME LOCALIZED.

SO I CAN KIND OF EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT HAPPENS IS STARTS WITH AN INTERNATIONAL CASE WITH PEOPLE TRAVEL SOMEWHERE.

THEY'VE BEEN BITTEN BY A MOSQUITO THAT'S INFECTED WITH THEY COME BACK THE THING ABOUT DAN IS ABOUT 80% OF PATIENTS ACTUALLY ARE ASYMPTOMATIC.

THEY DON'T HAVE SYMPTOMS WHICH COULD PROBLEM.

SO SOME VERY THAT THEY COME BACK TO HERE AND MOSQUITO WILL BITE THEM.

IT BECOMES INFECTED WITH THE DAY IN DAY AND THEN IT WILL BITE SOMEONE THAT HAS NOT TRAVELED AND IT BECOMES A LOCALIZED AND VERY QUICKLY.

THEN THAT TAKES OFF.

SO THOSE MOSQUITOES ARE THEN TRANSMITTING A LOCAL CASE OF BANK DEBT.

>> AND IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, WE DID NOT HAVE LOCALIZED CASES, BUT I UNDERSTAND WE DO HAVE CASES MOST RECENTLY FROM INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO WE GET THAT.

WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

THEY CONTACT US WHEN SOMEONE'S TRAVELED AND THEY HAVE SYMPTOMS.

SO WHETHER IT'S CONFIRMED OR NOT, WE GO RIGHT INTO OUR DISEASE PLAN PROTOCOL TO PROTECT THEM.

SO THIS WEEK ALONE, WE'VE HAD 3 CASES OF INTERNATIONAL DAN OR SUSPECTED CASES.

SO THAT IS AN ALERT FOR US TO KNOW THAT WE NEED TO TREAT IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THOSE MOSQUITOES BITE SOMEONE AND IT BECOMES LOCALIZED.

HERE IN LEE COUNTY.

>> NOW WE'VE SEEN I THINK IT'S BEEN AT LEAST 150 CASES OF LOCALIZED CONFIRMED AND A FEVER DIAGNOSED IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT THIS CAN JUST SPREAD SOUTH?

WELL, IT CAN BECAUSE NOW WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THOSE MOSQUITOES ARE IN THE POPULATION.

SO THEY BECOME LOCALIZED.

AND NOW THE MOSQUITOES THAT ARE LOCAL HAVE THAT FIRE US.

>> SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO TO PROTECT PEOPLE AS WE'RE ACTUALLY TRAPPING THOSE MOSQUITOES, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE AREAS, AND THEN WE TEST THEM TO SEE IF THEY HAVE THE VIRUS.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS IS IT VERY QUICKLY BECOMES NOT JUST ONE PERSON, BUT MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S TRAVELING TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> HOW CONCERNED SHOULD WE BE IN LEE COUNTY AND COLLIER COUNTY IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY?

>> I THINK THE CORRECT TERM IS BE ON ALERT AND JUST MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW THAT IT IS A BACKYARD MOSQUITO.

IT'S AN URBANIZED MOSQUITO JUMPING OUT.

THE STANDING WATER IN YOUR BACKYARD IS THE VERY BEST THING YOU CAN DO.

SO I WOULD SAY JUST BE CAUTIOUS AS WE SHOULD BE ALWAYS, BUT CERTAINLY WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE TO PLACE HERE IN LEE COUNTY, WHERE A BLAST TO HAVE THE LARGEST MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT IN UNITED STATES.

WE HAVE AN INSIDE A LAB.

SO WE'RE ABLE TO TEST QUICKLY WHICH MANY OF THE COUNTIES DON'T, WHICH IS SOME OF THE REASONS IT BECOMES VERY QUICKLY LOCALIZED.

>> AND HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE SYMPTOMS THAT SOMEONE MIGHT BE FEELING THAT THEY DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S STAYING A FEVER.

WHEN SHOULD THEY GO TO THE DOG?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

SO IT'S ACTUALLY VERY MUCH LIKE THE FLU.

BASICALLY.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IS ALERTED YOU AND IT'S VERY MUCH LIKE YOU WOULD HAVE THE FLU.

YOU TYPICALLY START OFF WITH A HIGH FEVER AND THEN YOU GET THE BODY ACHES.

IT'S CALLED BREAK.

BONE FEVER IS ITS NICKNAME.

SO YOU FEEL REALLY MISERABLE.

ONE OF THE SYMPTOMS THAT YOU GET IS THE HEADACHE BEHIND YOUR EYES.

SO THEY'RE IT'S BASICALLY LIKE HAVING THE FLU.

I WOULD SAY THAT IF YOU'VE TRAVELED, CERTAINLY IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THOSE SYMPTOMS, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE SEEING YOUR PHYSICIAN SO THAT THEY CAN TESTED TO SEE IF YOU HAVE IT SO THAT IT DOESN'T BECOME A LOCALIZED IN YOUR AREA.

>> HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE LEE COUNTY IS HAVE LOCALIZED DANK, A FEVER?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE NEVER HAD A LOCALIZED CASE AND WE HOPE NOT TO.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ON ALERT AGAIN.

WE'RE NOT ALARMED OR NOT PANIC.

WE'RE DOING EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TRAINED TO DO, WHICH, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE INTERESTING THING IS IT'S A VERY SPECIALIZED PUBLIC HEALTH IT IS VERY SPECIALIZED.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE SPECIALIZED PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT TO DO FOR MOSQUITO-BORNE VIRUSES.

SO WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE TYPICALLY WOULD BE DOING.

>> AND AS FAR AS HOMEOWNERS AND RESIDENTS AGAIN, WHAT ARE THOSE PROTOCOLS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM TAKE REALLY JUST MAKE A PRIORITY RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE NOT BREEDING THESE MOSQUITOES IN THEIR BACKYARD.

>> YES, SO ACTUALLY THE NUMBER ONE WAY TO GET RID OF DANG IS DUMPING OUT STANDING WATER IN YOUR BACKYARD.

SO THESE ARE MOSQUITOES 80'S AEGYPTI THAT OUR DAYTIME BITER.

SO WE DON'T TREAT ADULT MOSQUITOES DURING THE DAY.

IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO THE HOMEOWNER TAKING RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT BREATHING IN YOUR BACKYARD.

THIS MOSQUITO DOES NOT TRAVEL VERY FAR.

IT ONLY TRAVELS MAYBE TO YOUR YARD OR A NEIGHBOR'S YARD.

THAT'S IT.

SO THE NUMBER ONE TO TURN IS ACTUALLY HOMEOWNERS.

SO WE NEED EVERYONE'S HELP FOR DOING WHAT WE CAN ON OUR OUR BEHALF.

BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS TO DUMP THAT.

>> AND WATER AND THERE ARE CERTAIN PLANTS.

I KNOW THAT ALSO WHAT?

>> YEAH, ACTUALLY, PEOPLE LOVE BRO MILLION ADSS PREMIER LI ADS ARE BEAUTIFUL BUT THEY ARE PROLIFIC BREEDER OF THE 86.

BUT THAT MOSQUITO THAT CAN CARRY A DANG A VIRUS AND YOU HAVE A PERSONAL PASSION FOR YOUR JOB.

YOU A CLEARER WONDERFUL ADDED, BUT YOU YOURSELF HAD AN ENCOUNTER WITH US WITH THE MOSQUITO-BORNE ILLNESS.

YES, I'M AN AVID TRAVELER.

LOVE TO TRAVEL I ACTUALLY WENT TO A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.

CAME BACK, FELT FINE.

AND WITHIN ABOUT 5 MINUTES, I WENT FROM FEELING FINE TO HAVING 104 FEVER AND I ACTUALLY CAUGHT SOMETHING CALLED CHICKEN.

GOOD.

YEAH.

SYMPTOMS ARE VERY SIMILAR TO WAS MISERABLE, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY SICK FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND ACTUALLY SICK FOR THE ENTIRE SUMMER.

SO IT IT TOM, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT REALLY MADE AN IMPACT FOR ME AND BEING PASSIONATE ABOUT PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH.

WE DON'T WAKE UP HERE AND SAY, GOSH, I HOPE I DON'T A MOSQUITO-BORNE VIRUS BECAUSE WE'RE PROACTIVE BECAUSE WE HAVE MOSQUITO CONTROL'S MOST COUNTRIES DON'T.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S ENDEMIC THERE.

WE DON'T WANT THAT TO BECOME ENDEMIC HERE.

>> AND THEN FINALLY IS LEE COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL?

ARE THEY STEPPING UP THERE PATROLS?

AND THEY'RE SPRAYS?

>> BECAUSE WE'RE AT WE STEP UP THE THE SPRAYS WHEN WE HAVE THE INTERNATIONAL CASES COME IN.

THAT'S PART OF THE DISEASE PLAN.

PROTOCOL IS WE TRACK TO SEE IF THAT MOSQUITO IS IN THE AREA THAT THE PERSON LIVES.

WE DON'T HAVE AN EXACT LOCATION.

WE HAVE KIND OF A BROAD BECAUSE OF HIPPA LAWS.

SO WE KIND OF HAVE AN AREA THAT WE'RE TREATING A LARGE AREA AND THEN WE ACTUALLY TREAT BY TRAPPING TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE THAT SPECIES THERE.

AND THEN WE ACTUALLY SPRAY EXTRA IN THAT AREA.

WILL THANK YOU FOR JOINING US IN STUDIO A YEAR SHARING WITH US INFORMATION ABOUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TOPIC.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

JENNIFER MCBRIDE, LEE COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL.

>> JENNIFER MCBRIDE SAYS SO FAR THERE HAS NEVER BEEN RECORDED CASE OF LOCALIZED.

THANK A FEVER IN LEE COUNTY.

SHE SAYS THE ILLNESS IS ONE OF SEVERAL MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASES THAT THEY WORK YEAR ROUND TO PREVENT FROM IMPACTING SOUTHWEST FLORIDIANS AND VISITORS.

LEE COUNTY OPERATES THE LARGEST MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

>> IF THEY BITE RALLY TAKING APART THE PATROL GRAHAM.

>> RUN LIKE A MILITARY OPERATION FROM A FORMER WORLD WAR, 2 ARMY BASE, BUCKINGHAM FIELD.

THE DISTRICT'S 46 MILLION DOLLAR ANNUAL BUDGET FUNDING.

A LARGE AERIAL FLEET OF 6 CHOPPERS, 4 AIRPLANES AND 3 DRONES.

>> THIS ISLAND NOTE HERE FOR MOSQUITOES.

>> IT'S ROUND THE CLOCK WARFARE TO KEEP THE TINIEST ENTITIES FROM TAKING OVER.

>> AND IT'S ALL PART OF THE AREA.

I DIDN'T READ.

WHEN THEY COME OUT AND SUPPORT HIM.

>> IF LEFT UNCHECKED, THEIR QUEST FOR BLOOD MEALS COULD THREATENED TOURISM, HURT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SPREAD MOSQUITO-BORNE VIRUSES.

THEY GET THAT.

>> THE >> BATTLE PLAN TO KEEP MOSQUITOES UNDER CONTROL OFTEN DRAWN UP IN THE WAR ROOM AT HEADQUARTERS EACH WEEK.

THIS IS THE SERVICE REQUESTS CALLS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN IN THE LAST 3 DAYS.

>> IT'S BEEN A BUSY.

>> IT'S CARRIED OUT IN 2 PHASES LARVA CITING DURING THE DAY AND ADULT A SIGHTING AT NIGHT.

>> OUR OPERATION ARE MONDAY NIGHT.

AND YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE A FLORIDA MAN.

I DON'T.

>> ANY LARVAE MISSED MATURE IN 5 TO 7 DAYS TO ADULTS AND THEY CAN TRAVEL UP TO 20 MILES AWAY.

THANK YOU, ED HENRY IN ALL PARTS HERE.

>> PEOPLE IN FRONT OF YOU AND THAT AREA THAT YOU'RE ON THE GROUND, YOU DON'T REALIZE.

>> ON AVERAGE 4 CHOPPER PILOTS A DAY MAKE BETWEEN 5 AND 12 SURVEILLANCE CHECKS LANDING IN AREAS NOT ACCESSIBLE BY TRUCK.

THE BIOLOGIST DIPS, A COP IN THE WATER LOOKING FOR ANY SIGNS OF LARVAE OR BLACK WORMS CALLED WITH COLORS.

THIS INFORMATION HELPS THE TEAM DETERMINED WHERE TO RETURN TO LARVICIDE THAT SAY.

>> HERE.

THE JURY, HOW WATER AREA DURING THE DAY WE GO BACK TO DOING THAT.

THE CHECK TO MAKE SURE WHAT WE'RE DOING IT IN THE NECK IN THE WORKS.

>> WELL, MOST OF THE EFFORT IS SPENT ON LARVA CITING THE REST FOCUSES ON ATTACKING THE ADULT BITING POPULATION, DO IT IN.

WE HAVE AN ADULT PROM.

>> CATCH THE ALARM WILL NEED TO BE HERE.

NUMBER.

AND THAT HAS.

>> MCBRIDE SAYS THEIR RESEARCH SHOWS SUNSET IS THE IDEAL TIME TOO ADULT ASIDE.

>> USING FIXED WING AIRCRAFT TO CARRY OUT THE MISSIONS.

>> IT'S MUCH AS WE CAN.

>> WITH A BATTLEGROUND SPANNING MORE THAN 1200 SQUARE MILES AND DIVIDED INTO 5 ZONES.

THOSE FIGHTING THE WAR TO CONTROL.

54 SPECIES OF MOSQUITOES THRIVING IN LEE COUNTY KNOW THEIR MISSION WILL CONTINUE AS LONG AS HUMANS CHOOSE TO LIVE WORK AND VACATION.

AND ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE MOSQUITO HABITATS ON EARTH.

>> COMING UP, AS DIESEL PRICES SOAR TO ALL-TIME HIGHS.

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW THAT'S TAKING A TOLL ON FOOD BANKS WHO ARE SERVING SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S MOST DIESEL FUEL PRICES ARE HITTING RECORD HIGHS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT SPIKE IN THE MIDST OF THAT U.S.

WAR WITH IRAN, THE IMPACTS OF THESE COSTS ARE RIPPLING ACROSS MULTIPLE SECTORS.

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDED.

LATEST REPORTS SHOW DIESEL PRICES CLIMBING JUST 3 WEEKS AGO.

DIESEL WAS AVERAGING $5.05 PER GALLON.

TODAY.

AAA SAYS A GALLON OF DIESEL WILL COST YOU $6.34 ON AVERAGE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

WGC YOU REPORTER JAN TO PARK VISITED LOCAL FOOD CHARITIES TO CHECK OUT HOW RISING DIESEL PRICES ARE AFFECTING THEIR FINANCES.

>> OF FORT MYERS, GAS STATION, THE BILL FOR A DIESEL FOR A TOTAL OF HUNDREDS OF YEARS.

THE PAINFUL PRICES AT THE PUMP, 2 REACTIONS OF DISBELIEF FROM TRUCK DRIVERS.

AND THE SOARING DIESEL PRICES ARE ALSO AFFECTING FOODS.

CHARITIES, RICK'S OTHERS, VOLUNTEERS AS A SEMI TRUCK DRIVER FOR THE MIDWEST FOOD BANK, FLORIDA.

HE'S FAMILIAR WITH THE AVERAGE COST OF A DIESEL.

PHILIP.

>> I'M GOING UP TO $150 MORE.

WE'RE STILL UP.

>> WELL, NOW I FEEL I'M USING THE TO FEEL DIFFERENT PRICE.

>> EACH MONTH SOUTHERS LOCKS THOUSANDS OF MILES TO TRANSPORT FOOD FROM MIDWEST FOOD, BANK'S WAREHOUSE IN FORT MYERS, 2 DISTRIBUTION SITES THROUGHOUT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN COMMUNITIES LIKE IMMOKALEE, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS DEPEND ON THIS FOODS DELIVERY, ACCORDING TO AGENCY CORDINATOR JP ON A SEAT.

>> YOU KNOW, IF IT COMES DOWN TO OUR WAREHOUSE, IT'S GOING TO BE A FEW HOURS, RIGHT?

BECAUSE OF THE 40 MINUTE RIDE THERE.

45 MINUTE.

RIDE BACK.

THAT'S IF YOU'RE LUCKY.

RIGHT?

AN IMPLICIT TIME YOU'RE THERE.

IT TURNS OUT TO LIKE IT.

3 TO 4 HOUR TRIP.

>> EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DENNIS HALL SAYS HE'S MIDWEST FOOD, BANK PARTNERS WITH FOOD COMPANIES NATIONWIDE FOR DONATION PICKUPS SO THAT IT IN TURN CAN SUPPLY LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES FOR FREE.

>> THE TRANSPORTATION IS A LIFELINE.

WHAT WE DO, YOU KNOW, WE SOURCE FROM FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND WE TRAVEL FROM HERE TO, YOU KNOW, GEORGIA, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK.

>> YOU BUY YEAR DATA SHOWS HOW GAS PRICES IMPACT THE FINANCES OF A FOOD BANK.

FOR EXAMPLE, DIESEL PRICES IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR STARTED NEARLY 4% LOWER THAN LAST YEAR, WHICH REDUCED OVERALL GAS SPENDING BY THE FOOD BANK IN MARCH OF 2026.

WHEN DIESEL PRICES JUMPED MORE THAN 30% COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO, THE TOTAL EXPENSE FOR THE FOOD BANK INCREASED ALMOST THE SAME AMOUNT.

THE NEED FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE KEEPS GROWING AT THE COMMUNITY CO-OPERATIVE.

ACCORDING TO CHIEF PROGRAM, OFFICER REBECCA BUSBEE.

>> MEALS ON WHEELS HAS CLOSE TO 40 ROUTES AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WE DO 13 MOBILE PANTRY IS A MONTH.

WE HAVE 2 SCHOOLS THAT WE DELIVER TO DAILY IN LEE COUNTY.

AND WE HAVE OUR FOOD RESCUE PICKUPS.

WE HAVE OVER 20 PARTNER LOCATIONS THAT WE PICK UP FROM WEEKLY.

>> DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR JONELLE OLSON SAYS FOOD DONATIONS FLOW IN, BUT EVEN THEN THE COMMUNITY CO-OPERATIVE OFTEN NEEDS TO SUPPLEMENT ITS FOOD OFFERINGS DURING THE WINTER HOLIDAYS.

SO THAT FAMILIES CAN ENJOY A TRADITIONAL MEAL.

>> WE NEED TO KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF TURKEYS AND HAMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO JUST HOPE AGAINST ALL HOPE THAT IT JUST SHOWS UP AT OUR DOOR.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THE ITEMS THAT WE PLAN FOR IN ADVANCE.

AND THAT'S A VERY BIG GROCERY BILL.

>> REBECCA, BEST BE SAYS SOME EXTERNAL VENDORS HAVE STARTED TO APPLY A FEE OF $5 ALL THE WAY UP TO $15 FOR EACH FOOD DELIVERY.

RUN TO ACCOUNT FOR HIGHER DIESEL PRICES.

SHE SAYS IN THE PAST.

THAT NUMBER WAS 0.

>> THAT HAS AFFECTED OUR FUEL COSTS BY 45 PERCENT ACROSS THE BOARD.

WE ALSO ARE GETTING AHEAD WITH DELIVERY AND FUEL COST FEES NOW FROM VENDORS.

AND WE'RE WE'RE BUSY.

WE'RE EATING MORE.

PEOPLE WERE GOING OUT TO MORE PLACE, SAYS IT COSTS ABOUT $150 TO FILL UP ONE TRUCK.

AND WE HAVE 3 OF THEM.

AND THAT ONLY LAST A FEW DAYS, SOME OF THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES HAVE LED TO NONPROFITS.

>> LIKE THE MIDWEST FOOD BANK.

>> TO MODIFY THE STRATEGY OF ITS OPERATIONS.

>> ACCORDING TO DENNIS HALL.

>> YEAH, WE STARTED EU LAWS ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

WERE MAXIMIZING EVERYTHING WE CAN DO WITH OUR PLEA, MAKING SURE EVERYTHING'S A FULL LOAD AND WERE RETURNING WITH A FULL THOSE.

WELL.

>> BUT DESPITE MOUNTING CHALLENGES, CHANEL OLSON AT THE COMMUNITY CO-OPERATIVE SAYS SHE BELIEVES FOOD CHARITIES CAN WEATHER THE FINANCIAL STORMS OF HIGHER DIESEL PRICES THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH MORE THAN >> FUEL COSTS.

WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH RECESSIONS.

WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH NATURAL DISASTERS.

WE'VE BEEN THROUGH GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWNS.

WE'RE HERE FOR THE LONG RUN AND WE'RE GOING CONTINUE TO BE SO.

>> FOR WGC, YOU NEWS ON JAN JOO PARK.

>> COMING UP, A PLACE THE LIONS CLUB ESTABLISHED IN 1917 SAYS IT IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST SERVICE CLUB ORGANIZATION AND IT HAS MADE ITS MISSION EYESIGHT.

THE FLORIDA LIONS EYE CLINIC IN BONITA SPRINGS DRAWS PATIENTS FROM ALL AROUND THE STATE PROVIDING FREE.

I CARE WHETHER SOMEONE NEEDS AND EYE EXAMS AND GLASSES OR SURGERY.

I AM JOINED BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LIONS CLUB KYLE HARTMAN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

>> YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

WOULD BE HERE.

>> CAN YOU SHARE WITH US THE WHERE THERE IS SUCH A NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE EYE CARE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

SO OUR FOUNDERS, I WOULD SAY STARTED IN 2008 WHERE BACK IN 2 DOZEN WERE STARTED AND THEY THEY SAW THE NEED.

THEY WERE AHEAD OF THEIR TIME OF HOW VISION EFFECTS EVERY DAY LIFE AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.

AND THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED OR CAN'T AFFORD THE CARE GO WITHOUT IT.

AND THEY JUST LET THEIR VISION TO WHERE THEY CAN SEE THERE.

BUT, LARRY, THEY HAVE SO MANY ISSUES THAT AFFECT YOUR DAILY LIFE.

SO THEY SAW THAT THEY KNEW IT.

AND THERE'S ABOUT 2.3 MILLION FLORIDIANS WHO DON'T HAVE.

HEALTH INSURANCE OR 2.

AND SO WE SIT RIGHT IN THERE PERFECTLY AND HELP PEOPLE WITH I CARE.

>> AND ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA DO YOU SERVE?

>> YES.

SO LAST YEAR WE SAW WE DID OVER 3500 EXAMS.

WE DID 372 SURGERIES.

1200 PAIR OF GLASSES.

WE'VE GIVEN OUT.

AND WE HAVE WE DID 3.1 MILLION IN CHARITABLE SERVICES PROVIDED AND WE HAVE PEOPLE NOT JUST FROM SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, BUT THE WHOLE STATE OF FLORIDA COME TO VISIT.

WE HAVE ORLANDO, SARASOTA, WEST PALM BEACH BECAUSE WE'RE THE ONLY CLINIC IN FLORIDA LIKE THE FREESTANDING EYE CLINIC THAT DOES FREE.

I CARE.

SO PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER TO GET CARE.

>> AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMPREHENSIVE, I CARE WHAT KINDS OF SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE?

>> YES, OR SERVICES ARE, OF COURSE, THE EYE EXAM.

BUT WE DO DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND PRESCRIPTION GLASSES, MEDICATIONS, TREATMENT FOR THE EYE CARE LASER PROCEDURES AND SURGERIES AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH SURGERIES SUCH AS CATARACTS.

WE WORK WITH PARTNERS OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT PERFORM THEM AT PRO BONO OR DISCOUNT RATE SO THAT OUR PATIENTS ARE ABLE TO HAVE CATARACT SURGERIES AND BE ABLE TO SEE AGAIN.

SO IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR, IF YOU HAVE CATARACTS FROM YOU AND AFFORD TO GO SEE A DOCTOR FOR TO PAY FOR THE SURGERY IS ABOUT $15,000.

SO OF COURSE, PATIENTS RECEIVED A CANNON FOR THAT.

SO THEY WOULD JUST GO WITHOUT AND LIVING IN A LARRY WORLD.

AND SO BY US BEING ON THE HELP AND THE PARTNERS ABLE TO SEE AGAIN, GET BACK TO WORK.

LIKE I SAID, READ TO THEIR CHILDREN KINDS OF THINGS.

>> HOW CAN SOMEONE QUALIFIED TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE SERVICES?

>> YES, OR FOR ELIGIBILITY IS BASED OFF OF YOUR FLORIDA RESIDENT.

YOU UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED AND YOU ARE AT OR BELOW THE 300% POVERTY LINE.

SO JUST TO GO INTO WHAT UNDERINSURED US, ESPECIALLY THE LANDSCAPE, THERE ARE NOW WE HAVE A LOT OF PATIENTS WHO ARE EITHER MEDICAID OR MEDICARE THAT HAVE THEIR PRIMARY DOCTOR IS IN TAMPA OR FAR AWAY.

SO TELL US THAT DOESN'T COUNT AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE YOU.

AND SO WE SEE ALL PATIENTS FROM CHILDREN TO SENIORS.

AND AS SOON AS YOU, WE VERIFY YOU AND YOU'RE ELIGIBLE THAT WILL THAT IS GOOD FOR A YEAR AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR VISION NEEDS AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE WANT YOU TO PEOPLE TO KNOW IS THAT WE WANT TO SEE YOU BEFORE YOUR VISION BECOMES A CRISIS.

SO A LOT OF OUR PATIENTS COME TO US WHERE THERE ALREADY HAVE A PROBLEM AND WE HAVE TO RESTORE THE VISION PROTECTED AND WE ARE HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT.

DON'T GET THAT FAR.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE HERE.

WE WANT TO SEE YOU FOR YOUR HIGH EXEMPT.

>> I CARE CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE.

HOW DO YOU AFFORD THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE FOR FREE?

>> YES.

SO THAT IS GREAT.

AND IT'S THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO OUR CARE IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH INDIVIDUAL DONORS.

THEY SHUNS GRANTS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, CORPORATE SUPPORTERS, AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE PHYSICIAN VOLUNTEERS THAT HELP US BE ABLE TO PULL THIS OFF.

WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS NETWORK OF PEOPLE WHO HELP IN OUR MISSION AND PROVIDE THE CARE.

BUT IT'S THANKS TO THOSE THE THAT I MENTION HELP US.

TO BE ABLE TO HELP WITH THE EXPENSIVE CARE.

AND SO IS NOT JUST EVERY DONATION IS NOT.

TRANSLATE TO SOMETHING ELSE.

IT'S TANGIBLE FOR IT.

IF THEIR DONATION GO FRONT EYE EXAM, PAIR OF GLASSES, MEDICATIONS, THE PROCEDURE OR SAVOR STORM WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT AND ITS THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THEM AND THEY'RE NOT JUST SUPPORTING AN ORGANIZATION.

YOU ARE SUPPORTING AND HELPING SOMEONE SEE MAY HELP US.

>> KYLE HARTMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> AWESOME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HAD A WGC YOU DOT ORG WHERE YOU WILL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES AND MUCH MORE.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN BACK HERE FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.