Annual event kicks off Campaign Against Summer Hunger, raising awareness and funds to feed local children
All Faiths Food Bank (AFFB) announced plans this week for its signature event to raise awareness of child hunger and launch its annual fundraising effort to feed students over the summer.
On Sunday, March 30, AFFB will present its Walk to End Summer Hunger — the kickoff for the 12th annual Campaign Against Summer Hunger — at Nathan Benderson Park, near University Parkway in the northern part of the county.
“For more than 40,000 local children, summer is like an emptiness they can’t escape,” a news release points out. “More than 50% of Sarasota County and 100% of DeSoto County students rely on free and reduced-cost meals at school; when school is out, hunger begins.” The Campaign Against Summer Hunger, the release explains, “supports efforts to provide food for area children throughout the summer months.
“On top of challenging economic issues,” such as inflation, rising grocery costs and the continued impacts of last year’s hurricanes, “Florida has for the second year in a row opted out of the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (Summer EBT) program, which would have provided nearly $260 million in funding to help feed more than 2.1 million children from low-income families this summer,” the release adds.
Through its partners and summer programs, “AFFB works to make sure children receive the nutritional assistance they need,” the release continues. “Support from investors provides matching funds to inspire greater widespread giving”; then, from April 1 to May 15, “the Campaign accepts community contributions designated toward ending hunger for local children,” the release adds.
“AFFB is thankful for its lead investors,” the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, “for continuing to help fund the significant challenge match, as well as the hundreds of community partners — including schools, libraries, early learning centers, summer camps, community centers and numerous other organizations throughout Sarasota and DeSoto counties — that help the organization reach all who might be in need,” the release adds.
For the second year, the chair of the Campaign Against Summer Hunger is Lisa Krouse. While gratified that the continued fundraising for the effort is proving a success, the release notes, she understands that much more remains to be done to ensure healthful foods are available and accessible “for any child in the community who is experiencing hunger.”
“With our state opting out of the Summer EBT program, we’ve effectively lost millions in funding to help Florida families in need buy food,” said Krouse in the release. “It is incumbent upon us to make up the difference and make sure our community’s children have access to the foods they need to grow and be strong and healthy.”
“In 2024, the Campaign raised $2.1 million,” the release points out. “With the support of 113 investors and nearly 2,200 community donors, more than 35,000 local children received nutritious meals. Since its inception in 2014, donors have contributed more than $18 million to the Campaign,” the release adds.
The walk site at Nathan Benderson Park will open at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 30, the release says. Then a brief program will be held at 8 a.m. and the walk will start at 8:30 a.m. Participants can choose between a 1-mile “fun walk” or a 5K walk, it points out. The cost, which is $30 per adult and $15 per child, covers each participant’s receipt of a T-shirt and a light breakfast, the release says.
“Register by March 21 at affb.org/walk.”
For more information, email events@allfaithsfoodbank.org or call 941-549-8132. For more about All Faiths Food Bank, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org or call 941-379-6333.