ALL FAITHS FOOD BANK INC

FOOD DISTRIBUTION ALL FAITHS FOOD BANK IS THE ONLY FOOD BANK AND LARGEST HUNGER RELIEF ORGANIZATION IN SARASOTA AND DESOTO COUNTIES. THE FOOD BANK WAS FOUNDED BY A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO, THROUGH THEIR RESPECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS, WERE FEEDING THE HUNGRY. THEY COMBINED EFFORTS TO INCORPORATE AS ALL FAITHS FOOD BANK, A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. ALL FAITHS HAS BEEN A CERTIFIED MEMBER OF THE FEEDING AMERICA NETWORK SINCE 1990. MOBILE PANTRY PROGRAM: NEIGHBORS WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE CAN FIND FRESH PRODUCE, MEATS AND GROCERIES AT 35 LOCATIONS WHICH PROVIDES 46 DISTRIBUTION OPPORTUNITIES PER MONTH. THIS PROGRAM ENABLES ALL FAITHS TO MAKE FOOD MORE ACCESSIBLE IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, IN A MANNER THAT IS RELIABLE, QUICK AND FLEXIBLE. BY PROVIDING FOOD IN DIFFERENT AREAS, ON DIFFERENT DAYS, AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF DAY, THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM ADDITIONAL FOOD CAN FIND AND RECEIVE IT IN THE MOST CONVENIENT MANNER. VETERAN'S PANTRY PROGRAM: TWO TUESDAYS PER MONTH, AREA VETERANS ARE INVITED TO A SPECIAL MOBILE PANTRY AT CHURCH OF THE PALMS IN SARASOTA. VETERANS SAY THAT THEY ARE GETTING SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST FOOD: SURVEY RESULTS HIGHLIGHT THE VALUE OF CAMARADERIE AND COMMUNITY AMONG THE VETERANS SERVED THERE. LARGE-SCALE FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS: TO MAKE FOOD MORE ACCESSIBLE - AND LOWER THE BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION - ALL FAITHS HAS PARTNERED WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES AND VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ARTS HALL TO UTILIZE SITES WHERE HUNDREDS CAN BE REACHED DURING AN EVENT OF JUST A FEW HOURS, WITH NO PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED. IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 14,000 TURKEYS AND HOLIDAY MEAL FIXINGS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO LOW INCOME, AT RISK, NEIGHBORS. WHOEVER MIGHT BE IN NEED - A FAMILY FACING FINANCIAL CRISIS DUE TO AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, AN OLDER ADULT HAVING A HARD TIME MAKING ENDS MEET ON A FIXED INCOME, A VETERAN EXPERIENCING CHALLENGES AFTER YEARS OF BRAVE SERVICE, OR A CHILD WITHOUT ACCESS TO FREE OR REDUCED-COST MEALS BECAUSE SCHOOL IS NOT IN SESSION - OUR TOP PRIORITY IS TO FEED THE HUNGRY.