STAR OF THE SEA FOUNDATION INC

Star of the Sea Foundation (SOS) distributes Food, clothing and household items and Services to the indigent and underprivileged residents of the Florida Keys. Our emphasis is on food. Our services include providing access and information about applying for food stamps, temporary cash assistance, Medicaid and other services as needed and appropriate.In 2024, over 200 volunteers contributed a total of 24,420 hours to help us achieve our mission. 1.6 million pounds of food was donated to or purchased by SOS and redistributed to residents of Monroe County who were in need. During 2024, over 11,000 residents were served by our food pantries in Key West and Key Largo. Produce makes up 50% of the food distributed. In addition our community kitchen prepared meals for kids, adults and seniors. By pairing health-focused initiatives, like cooking education opportunities with the availability of healthy foods, our food pantries improve food security for thousands of Monroe County residents. 89,265 meals were prepared at SOS's Callahan Community Kitchen - an increase of 23% over prior year.With over half of Monroe County, Florida residents struggling with the cost of living and lack of affordable housing, SOS Foundation steps in to ensure that all families or individuals have the food support they need so they can concentrate on other aspects of life that will help them reach their goal of lifting out of poverty. We provide healthy food access along with nutrition education that benefits the health of our entire community. 40% of the food in the United States never reaches the dinner table and enters the waste stream to decompose. Utilizing food that would otherwise be wasted is the most efficient way to address the epidemic of hunger facing our community. Since 2006, the Star of the Sea Foundation has been recovering perfectly edible food from South Florida Farmers as well as local businesses and groceries, and redirecting it to our neighbors' dinner tables. Any food that can't be recovered for human consumption is given to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office Animal Farm for animal feed.In 2023, SOS launched the Eco Farm at the MARC House.With 60 Tower Gardens capableof producing thousands of pounds of produce each year, the SOS Eco Farm will provide our community with a sustainable stream of fresh, healthy fruits, vegetables, and herbs at our food pantries and in our meals programs. The SOS Eco Farm is maintained by SOS Staff and MARC House staff and clients, and it is open for the community to visit and learn.2023 also marked the launch of our Hands-On Childrens Cooking Classes. These interactive classes taught children important topics regarding nutrition and basiccooking skills. We are grateful to the many local chefs who helped lead these community classes.SOS was awarded the USDA's prestigious Farm to School Grant for the 2022-2023 school year and for summer sessions at the local Boys and Girls Club chapters. With the support of private foundations and generous individuals, SOS continued this curriculum through Fall 2023. The program consists of 16 weekly nutrition and agricultural education lessons at three Title One schools in Monroe County,school-wide taste-testing events, engaging field trips to Keys farms, and the use of local food items! In 2024, SOS expanded the educational outreach with new series of programs for cooking skills and modified version of the Smart Sprouts program at Montessori School and a Shop Smart, Save Big 5 week course.In June 2023, SOS began preparing and distributing freshly prepared, then frozen meals for children in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and for low-income, homebound senior citizens. This new equipment and methodology will help SOS increase healthy food access for more people in need than ever before.