All Faiths Food Bank recently received $88,000 from four funders in support of its work to end hunger. Grants received and programs to which funding is designated include: Dave and Mary Peirce, $50,000, BackPack program and general operations; Gulf Coast Community Foundation, $18,000, Autumn Harvest campaign; Jane’s Trust Foundation, $10,000, general operations; and Achieva Foundation, $10,000, Mobile Pantry program.

More than 50% of Sarasota County students and 100% of DeSoto County students rely on free and reduced-cost meals at school. But when school is out, children lose access to this critical nutrition. To help fill the hunger gap, All Faiths’ BackPack program provides snack bags for weekly distribution to students for weekends and during school breaks. During the 2024-2025 school year, approximately 17,643 students received backpacks each week at 43 schools and 27 youth-serving organizations across the region.

The Mobile Pantry program helps to strengthen food security, providing thousands of neighbors in our community with reliable, nutritious meals. In 2025, the food bank held or supplied food for 870 food distributions each month, providing nearly 19 million meals to over 83,000 neighbors. Additionally, a twice-monthly Veterans Pantry is offered at Church of the Palms in Sarasota, helping hundreds of veterans each month.

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation grant was a challenge match offered to inspire guests at All Faiths Food Bank’s Autumn Harvest Dinner this past fall. The Autumn Harvest campaign raises funds for programs that provide fresh fruits and vegetables to people experiencing hunger in Sarasota and DeSoto counties. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help to lower the risk of chronic health issues such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer, and helps children to enjoy healthier futures.

“Thanks to the support of these funders, our neighbors receive a variety of healthy foods through the BackPack and Mobile Pantry programs and Autumn Harvest campaign, resulting in healthier futures for families in our community,” said All Faiths Food Bank’s President and CEO, Nelle S. Miller. “Powered by these recent generous grants, we will continue to lower the barriers to access to nutritious food for our neighbors — including children, seniors and veterans — who are experiencing or at risk of hunger.”

To learn more about All Faiths Food Bank, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org or call 941-379-6333. 

About All Faiths Food Bank

All Faiths Food Bank is the only food bank and largest hunger relief organization in Sarasota and DeSoto counties, providing millions of meals each year in collaboration with more than 300 agencies and programs throughout the community. All Faiths works not only to end hunger today, but also strives to end hunger – forever – by helping families and individuals gain long-term food security, enjoy better health outcomes, and achieve self-sufficiency. All Faiths is rated four stars by Charity Navigator and is a partner of the Feeding America and Feeding Florida networks. Visit allfaithsfoodbank.org.