SARASOTA, FL – The lives of many Floridians have changed dramatically since Category 4 storm Hurricane Ian made landfall in late September. All Faiths Food Bank mobilized before the storm arrived and has been working ever since to meet immediate as well as long-range needs of residents impacted by the hurricane; the Food Bank is grateful for the support of the numerous organizations, foundations and corporations (listed below) that contributed a total of $690,000 to support its hurricane relief efforts.
All Faiths Food Bank – the only food bank and largest hunger relief organization in Sarasota and DeSoto counties – is one of the lead emergency response organizations in Sarasota and DeSoto counties and the State of Florida. The organization plans year-round for disaster response and is prepared for immediate activation when a storm approaches.
Before Hurricane Ian had even reached our shores, All Faiths Food Bank initiated the movement of food and water to shelters and disaster relief organizations. Since the hurricane made landfall, All Faiths Food Bank has provided food and water to shelters and disaster relief organizations and continues to provide food and resources to storm victims in our community.
All Faiths Food Bank is a member of Feeding Florida, the state’s largest hunger relief organization and the only food bank network with an active presence, providing ongoing community-based food distributions in all 67 counties of Florida. Its efforts – in partnership with the Department of Emergency Management – are critical during times of crisis and natural disaster.
The organizations that contributed to All Faiths Food Bank for Hurricane Ian relief included: Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, DeSoto County Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Florida Blue Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, InstaCart via Feeding America, Louis and Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust, Shear Family Foundation, Southwest Airlines, Starling Group, Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation, and the Walmart Foundation.
“Especially with the challenges of the past few years – from the pandemic and its economic impacts to Hurricane Ian – it has been a tough road for too many of our neighbors,” said All Faiths Food Bank CEO Sandra Frank. “The food bank is committed to being here through disasters, the holidays and throughout the year – but we couldn’t do it without the community’s support. We are most grateful to all the generous organizations, foundations and corporations that contributed to help those whose lives were upended by the storm.”
For more about the Food Bank, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org.
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 nearly 200 agencies and programs throughout the community. All Faiths works not only to fight 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. For its efforts, All Faiths was honored as the 2021 “Nonprofit of the Year” by the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce; the organization was also recognized as a Top 4 Food Bank in the country in 2020. All Faiths is rated 4 stars by Charity Navigator and is a member of the Feeding America and Feeding Florida networks. For more information visit allfaithsfoodbank.org.