Sisters gathering, sharing food with others

Stacie Otto and her roommate and sister, Christie Otto, own their own businesses, and although they are temporarily out of work, they are making it their mission to make sure no one goes hungry during the coronavirus pandemic. The Horizon West residents have started a program designed to collect food and monetary donations and distribute them to local people in need.

Christie Otto has a hair studio in Dr. Phillips, which she closed down in mid-March amid the pandemic. Stacie Otto does hair maintenance for weddings, and her last day of work was more than seven weeks ago.

When Stacie Otto’s friends learned she was unable to work, they gathered bags of groceries, some wine, a Publix gift card and a few of her sons’ favorite things and delivered them to her doorstep.

She started thinking about all the people who might not be as fortunate and might not have anyone to help them. She also wanted something to do when she wasn’t helping her two sons with distance learning.

And Friends Food Share was born. The outpouring of support from the community has been overwhelming.

“This whole experience has been truly humbling,” Christie Otto said. “My other sisters, Laurie Otto in Clermont, Florida, and Tammy Otto, in Seattle, Washington, are involved as well, trying to spread our mission nationwide. We are using the power of social media as much as possible, especially since everyone seems to be on more than ever with stay-at-home orders and social isolation.”

The sisters operate the program from their house. Other family members have pitched in, too.

“The one thing we need is food,” Stacie Otto said. “Everything else can kind of go by the wayside, but we have to eat. There are so many people who have never had to do this before.

“How can we get our network of family and friends around us (to help) people who are in the same boat?” she said.

Once they settled on a plan, they solicited their friends and neighbors on Facebook, and the donations started almost immediately. Within 24 hours, $1,000 had been raised.

“People have dropped off stuff at our house to give to other people,” Stacie Otto said. “We have one girl who brought probably five bags of food that she bought at Aldi. Another woman rode her bike over and donated a whole bag of toilet paper. … These are people I don’t even know. There are a lot of clients and family and friends who have donated, but some are complete strangers.”

Christie Otto is the designated shopper for Friends Food Share. She said when they make deliveries, they travel with coolers and make sure the recipients are home so the food doesn’t sit outside.

“Our wish is to give families and those in need not just food, but items to make full meals, and keep it as nutritious as possible,” Christie Otto said. “Nutrition is especially important for all of us now to keep our immune systems strong.”

The Ottos are limiting their deliveries to the Winter Garden area because it’s just the two of them taking care of all the details. Sister Laurie Otto has helped with deliveries.

“If we can help people who need the help but don’t know how to ask for it, it’s the best feeling ever,” Stacie Otto said.

She also hopes to teach her sons a lesson in giving back, helping others and being kind. As a single mother with limited income at the moment, she said, she’s unable to give her boys everything they want.

“I think we are all learning a lot more about ourselves during this crazy time and really distinguishing the difference between what we want and what we actually need in life,” she said.

So far, the Otto sisters have collected financial contributions and food donations valuing more than $2,000.

“There is no form or application,” Stacie Otto said. “We’re taking whatever we can, and as long as we have supplies on hand or have the money to buy supplies, we’re going to keep going.

“I feel like there are so many people who need something,” she said.