Interfaith Charities of South Lee Inc

Our mission and goal is to provide hope and help for those in need in our service area of South Fort Myers, Estero and San Carlos Park in SWFL. ICSL assistance lessens the financial burden clients experience and gives them a better chance to emerge out of their difficulties. Our primary focus is to provide food to sustain their families.

An additional program that helps a broader base is the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance). Individuals making less the $70,000 a year can get their income tax done for free. In 2021 our site completed 848 tax returns which netted $1,189,555 in returns. A young single mom was able to secure a $5000 return which gave her the ability to purchase a safer car to go to work.

As a United Way House other partner agencies can utilize our facility. The National Association for Mental Illness meets at ICSL once a week. Providing counseling to those suffering with mental illness.

English as a second language is also taught at the facility.

The children who normally receive lunch assistance during the school year present a burden during the summer months. ICSL works with the Lee Country Schools to provide these children with lunch and also send home fresh vegies, protein and dairy once a week.

Our strategy is to work together with other agencies in our area to minimize duplication of efforts. Working with a wide range of volunteers to minimize overhead costs.

As the Estero/San Carlos Park United Way House, ICSL is proud to host United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee partner agencies programs:
*Community Cooperative: Meals on Wheels delivery
*Girl Scouts: troop meetings
*Goodwill: Job-Link events
*Gulf Coast Literacy Moms & Tots: English classes
*Harry Chapin Food Bank: mobile food pantry
*Partners in Breast Care Mobile Mammogram
*Lee County Public Schools/USDA: summer lunch program
*Lee County Public Library: bookmobile
*Lee Health Blood Mobile
*National Association of Mental Illness: counseling
This is accomplished with 4 fulltime staff and staff and 400+ volunteers and the partnerships with United Way, Harry Chapin Food Bank, and Midwest Food Bank.

2021 Annual Report
ICSL served 954 Households representing 2473 people.
• 402 Volunteers worked 18,5187 hours.
• We continued to use a drive-thru pickup process to minimize contact with clients. Clients remained in their cars
and volunteers put food in trunks or backseats. Perishables and pantry items were given every week.
• Thanksgiving and Christmas food packages were distributed to clients. The packages contained holiday favorites plus kid friendly food for the extended school winter break. Additional food was also supplied during the spring and summer breaks for families with children.
•ICSL paid 151 client utility bills totaling $36,365.
• Our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) prepared 848 Tax returns. Total refunds for taxpayers
were $1,190,550.
• The summer lunch program, bookmobile visits, and NAMI group sessions were suspended due to COVID restrictions. Programs as scheduled to restart in Fall 2022