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Sarasota, FL (November 5, 2018) – All Faiths Food Bank announced today an $81,724 grant from the Walmart Foundation to help end hunger in Sarasota and DeSoto counties through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) outreach and application assistance. SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps, is the largest federal program dedicated to providing aid to millions of low-income individuals and families in hunger insecure communities. Yet, 17 percent of Americans eligible for SNAP currently do not receive this benefit. Only 42 percent of eligible seniors are enrolled. With this grant, All Faiths Food Bank hopes to scale access to SNAP among eligible households, with emphasis on reaching seniors, families with children, and other vulnerable populations. This grant funding has allowed All Faiths to initiate a SNAP Application Assistance start-up program by utilizing community outreach and by providing application assistance at frequently visited Mobile Pantry sites. All Faiths prioritizes increasing access to nutritious food and improved diet quality through the implementation of mobile farm markets, freezer/cooler expansion, and nutrition/cooking education classes. In 2018, All Faiths Food Bank distributed over 10 million pounds of food to individuals. 40% of this food was fresh produce. The addition of SNAP application assistance will allow individuals and working families to access more nutritious food at grocery stores and demonstrate the Food Bank’s commitment to providing healthy solutions to end hunger. Integrating education into nutrition and cooking classes will allow us to provide education on maximizing their SNAP benefits. “Over 50% of students in Sarasota County qualify for free and reduced lunch. At, All Faiths we work tirelessly to help fill this need, but programs like SNAP can boost the supply of nutritious food in a child’s household, something our community really needs,” said Colleen Reinert, Strategic Programs Officer at All Faiths Food Bank. SNAP provides more than nutrition assistance; it helps improve families’ overall well-being. With lower grocery bills, people are better able to pay for other basic necessities—rent or mortgages, medical expenses, utilities, and transportation. According to the USDA’s Economic Research Service Report, SNAP is critical to moving families into long-term food security. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation provide donations of both food and funds to the Feeding America nationwide network of 200 food banks. Locally, this year All Faiths received a combined $4,500 from local Walmart’s to benefit its Mobile Pantry Program and in 2017 received a $50,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation to support its BackPack Program. All Faiths also received more than 1 million pounds of donated food in 2018. For more information about what All Faiths Food Bank is doing to end hunger, visit www.allfaithsfoodbank.org. About All Faiths Food Bank All Faiths Food Bank, awarded a consecutive 4-star rating by Charity Navigator, is a member of Feeding America, the hub of hunger relief in Sarasota and DeSoto counties and serves more than 66,000 neighbors in need through its member network that includes human services organizations, schools, faith-based and secular organizations, and other groups that serve the community. Programs include the Mobile Farm Market, which brings fresh produce to clients, Mobile Pantries, which delivers groceries to areas of highest need, the BackPack Program, ensuring students have food over weekends and holidays, School Pantries, the Campaign Against Summer Hunger, raising food and funds to feed children all summer long, and Cooking Matters, a six-week series of hands-on cooking, shopping and nutrition education classes for kids, adults and seniors. All Faiths Food Bank engages partners who nourish young minds and bodies, including the School District, libraries, the Jewish Federation of Sarasota County and child-centric organizations such as the YMCA, Eagle Academy, and the Boys and Girls Clubs. Last year, All Faiths Food Bank distributed 10.2 million pounds of food equating to 8.5 million meals through 188 pantries, soup kitchens, churches, community centers, schools, and programs. Mission: Together with our partners, we provide healthy solutions to end hunger in our community. For more information, call 941-379-6333 or visit www.allfaithsfoodbank.org.