ABOUT US
For Tony Mansolillo, food and friends have always been his passions. He enjoyed having people come to his home. He loved cooking and sharing meals with them. When Covid hit in early 2020 though, all that ended, and like many others, Tony spent more and more time online, but his passions never waned. Indeed, he found friends on the NextDoor app and began to exchange recipes. When one of his recipe buddies shared that she was disabled, Tony offered to cook a meal for her, and so began a new journey.
Tony’s friend shared his offer with a few friends, and soon Tony was preparing meals for six or seven people who would contact him through the NextDoor app. They were broke, out of work, and could see no prospects for future employment. And, they needed food. In his love for cooking and people, it seemed the natural choice to begin cooking his delicious homemade meals and delivering them himself.
Soon volunteers and supporters joined Tony, and his passion for food and friends continued to grow into a mission to serve as many people in need as possible each day no matter their circumstances. By mid-2020, Tony was delivering meals to over 150 people and Feed Thy Neighbor, Inc. was born.
This little organization that was founded in Tony’s kitchen became a true nonprofit as a community-owned 501(c)(3) non-profit. Today, Feed Thy Neighbor is cooking out of the commercial kitchen at St. Monica’s Episcopal Church in Naples and delivering meals to not only Collier County families, but also to Lee County families where the Bonita Springs Lions Club hosts a satellite kitchen. The organization has Federal IRS 501c3 status, a Florida State nonprofit certificate, and a Dun and BradStreet number. Feed Thy Neighbor is also being assigned a CAGE code by the Department of Defense and a SAMS.gov approval is in review. These designations will not only attest to the organization’s nonprofit status but will allow the organization to apply for federal grants.
Today Feed Thy Neighbor creates and delivers an average of 500 standard meals and 200 hundred hearty soup meals daily, and it will continue with the mission to feed all people in need without question.
MISSION STATEMENT
Feed Thy Neighbor, Inc. was formed to alleviate hunger through the gathering and distribution of food and prepared meals. While we were originally born of the hunger fueled by the pandemic, today we address the hunger of the underserved and homeless communities. We not only provide hot meals, but we have expanded to assist with comfort items such as sundries, clothing, and even toys. We do not want anyone, especially children, to go to bed hungry regardless of their circumstances.
Our organization is truly a community-based organization of volunteers, individual donors, corporate donors, community groups, and private grants that helps feed hungry individuals and children in our area. We are committed to volunteerism, building community relationships, and improving the quality of life for those in need. We go where no one else goes to feed the neediest.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tony Mansolillo
Chairman of the Board
Feed Thy Neighbor, President
Growing up in an Italian neighborhood in Rhode Island, Tony learned that the keys to a happy
life were food and family. Tony always had enough food and the love of a big, extended family.
Tony began his professional life in service of his country. Becoming a disabled veteran during
the Vietnam conflict, Tony was honorably discharged and came home to raise a family and
pursue various entrepreneurial ventures. As an antique and fine arts appraiser, owner of a real
estate and mortgage company, and a founding board member of Naples’ Nicaea Academy
(which at the time was just a small school needing some attention and a businessman), Tony
loved his kids and the kids in his life as his own. And, here, in Feed Thy Neighbor, Tony’s two
passions have come together once again as he serves the underserved families in Lee and
Collier Counties. Cooking and feeding the neighbor kids is where his heart is now and will remain.
Marc L. Shapiro Esq.
Vice President of the Board
The Law Offices of Marc L. Shapiro, Founder
Marc L. Shapiro, Esq. is an award-winning personal injury attorney with over 29 years of
experience. Marc’s dedication to his practice and his clients is based on more than his decades
of excellence as a personal injury attorney. Having personally dealt with the financial and
emotional hurdles associated with unexpected family medical issues, Marc truly understands
what his clients are going through after a traumatic accident. He takes personal pride in every
case that comes to the firm and ensures that each and every client gets results-oriented,
personalized advice and representation.
As Marc cares for his clients, so he cares for the community that has been his home for more
than 3 decades. Marc volunteers with Autism Speaks, several Autism awareness groups, and
the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund). Additionally, Marc has volunteered to serve as a
judge for both the Collier County public schools Mock Trial competition and the Ava Maria Law
School Moot Court competition. Finally, Marc is a board member for the House of Gaia
Community Learning Center.
Robert Sanchez
Robert Sanchez is the FTN Secretary. He is a retired attorney with a background in engineering and considers himself a Naples “local” since moving here over 8 years ago with his family. In the beginning of FTN (April 2020) Bob saw Tony’s plea for help to deliver meals and volunteered to drive. “It (delivering) is the best job! Tony and other volunteers cook all day and I get all the ‘Thanks Yous’ and smiles when I hand out the meals!” As demand for Tony’s home cooked meals increased, it became apparent that Tony’s personal funding and other contributors’ donations was not going to be enough. “Tony just cannot say ‘NO’ to people in need. Someone told us that we could get additional funding and supplies if we were a formal charity, so Mr. Sanchez helped file for 503c(3) non-profit incorporation status. Hence, his position as secretary was created in the corporate documents by default! “We quickly realized that our wonderful community supporters were not going to be enough, based on the need we were finding in the field!”
Secretary
Domenic Lucarelli
Vice President of the Board
Lucarelli Law Firm, Founder
Domenic was born and raised in Long Island, NY as a first-generation American. He grew up
speaking Italian and English and worked alongside his father in construction for many years
to help pay for schooling. After graduating from Touro Law School in New
York, Domenic moved to Florida to be closer to his family and worked as a prosecutor for
the State Attorney’s office before opening his own firm.
For Domenic, “Being a lawyer means being a helper and a problem-solver.” As a helper and
problem-solver, Domenic serves on several boards, including STAR Ability Foundation and
NAMI (The National Alliance for Mental Illness), organizations for special-needs children
and adults, and NIABA (National Italian American Bar Association). In his spare
time, Domenic enjoys hockey, and helped create the Naples Roller Hockey league for kids.
His commitment to kids and families is in all that he does.
Mark Batchelor
Vice President of the Board
Lucarelli Law Firm, Founder
A veteran of the United States Air Force, Mark’s 30-year business career included working for technical giants Xerox, Océ Business Systems, and Topcall Corporation, where he served as Director of Technical support for North and South America.
During his professional life, Mark conducted hundreds of RFPs (requests for proposals), which required the vetting of contractors’ quality of work, business experience, expertise, cost comparisons, and conducting background checks. This RFP experience has served him well.
After moving from Philadelphia to Naples in 2005 and earning his Community Association Manager license, Mark’s ability to quickly and efficiently vet vendors became a valuable asset to the communities he serves. To support his community, Mark participates in the Republican Men’s Club, CCRC (GOP Club of Collier), Knights of Columbus, East Naples Civic Association, Captains of Clean Water, National Rifle Association, American Legion. Mark has served on two homeowner association boards: as president of Fairway Villas and as director of Lely Country Club Homeowners Association.
Ada Wisniewski
Treasurer of the Board
Executive Administrative Assistant/Project Manager, Jax Spine & Pain Centers
A busy medical professional, Ada has been a part of Feed Thy Neighbor from its inception. Initially, Ada volunteered in all aspects of getting food to people in need. She served as the primary contact for those who reached out to request food on NextDoor and Facebook and by text. Ada would calculate the need, devise delivery routes, and then work with the volunteers
to coordinate shopping, cooking, packaging, and delivering meals five days a week to neighbors in need. Today, Ada is a fundraiser who manages grants, oversees campaigns on gofundme.com, keeps supporters up to date via social media, and coordinates finances with the bookkeeper.
Ada has always been a volunteer at heart. For many years, Ada provided services to the children and families of St Jude’s Hospital for Children.
Melissa Singer
Board Member
Melissa Singer is passionate about helping people and learning. From her early days at Boston College and Yale Divinity School, Melissa has looked for ways to help the community as a volunteer. Throughout the years, she has volunteered in many organizations including the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group and a number of churches and schools while working as a college professor. Today, Melissa is a wife, a mom, a teacher and a fundraiser. Melissa is wife to Bill who is recovering from a recent cardiac event, mom to young lawyer Will, teacher to doctors and nurses in hospital systems across the country, and fundraiser for Feed Thy Neighbor as well as former Development Director for Boys and Girls Club of Collier County.
As retirement approaches, Melissa is eager to share her time and talent to benefit those served by Feed Thy Neighbor.
