Nauti Parrot hosts Chapin food bank benefit
Tables were piled up with food items and patrons enjoyed a day filled with music and fun as the Nauti Parrot bar and restaurant hosted an event to benefit the Harry Chapin Food Bank recently.
The event held two weeks ago featured giveaways, live entertainment, food and drink specials and more, while the Nauti Parrot donated 10 percent of the proceeds toward feeding the hungriest people in North Fort Myers, which has some of the poorest neighborhoods in Lee County.
The goal was to fill a truck with food items, and most who came during the early hours of the event did just that.
In the end, the event brought in more than 1,200 pounds of food and $1,055 in donations from raffles, tips and the silent auction.
Barry Grosso, event organizer said a steady stream of people came in with the hope of getting at least 1,500 pounds of food. So while he fell a little short on that goal, the event was still labeled a success.
“Overall, things went well. The transition between performers and our volunteers were great,” Grosso said. “We had to compete with Mango Mania this weekend, so we have to say the event was successful.
Grosso said it was successful enough for them to hold another Chapin food bank event around Thanksgiving.
Joyce Jacobs, associate director for the food bank, said the event came off with late notice, but with the need for food being the greatest in the summer when kids are out of school, the event came together quickly.
“People have a lot of empathy. They know their neighbors and the community, and to them it’s neighbors helping neighbors,” Jacobs said. “They got a chance to listen to good music and help their neighbors.”
Tyler Geib, whose parents own the Nauti Parrot, said the new owners wanted to give back to the community.
“They heard about the other food drives and we wanted to give to something that would help North Fort Myers. It’s cool to do something that will help people next door to us,” Geib said. “Vendors were nice enough to give us things to raffle off.”
Grosso said the Nauti Parrot did almost seven times the business for lunch as it usually does this time of year, making the event a win/win.
The bands included Chicago Heat, Ralph Marco and the Diamondaires and Double Barrel, and three DJs, Hollywood Frank, Tom and Bryan, filled in the dead spots, all donating their time to help the food bank.
Marco said he and Grosso worked together in similar events at Perico’s and his band holds three dates open for benefits like this.
“It’s about the food going to Harry Chapin. That’s why we do it. People need to come out and support this cause, then go home and watch golf and eat the food they bought,” Marco said.
There were raffles for prizes ranging from a game-used Minnesota Twins jersey to beach chairs to a $50 cigar, and there were some silent auction prizes as well.
These were of vital importance to the food bank, as one dollar can put six meals on the table of hungry residents.
“I can’t say enough about Harry Chapin, they’re giving back directly to the neighborhoods and that means a lot to me,” Grosso said.