$126,000 dedicated to Mobile Pantry, Veterans Pantry and BackPack program
All Faiths Food Bank (AFFB) has received $126,000 from five funders in recent months in support of its work to end hunger, the nonprofit organization has announced.
Grants received this summer and programs to which the financial support is being designated are as follows, a news release says: Mosaic — $45,000, Mobile Pantry program in DeSoto County; Dr. Samir M. Shafie Charitable Foundation — $30,000, Veterans Pantry; Wolohan Family Foundation — $25,000, BackPack program; the MMDP Foundation Fund of the Miramar Charitable Foundation — $18,000, BackPack program; and the .Cook Family Foundation — $8,000, BackPack program.
Mosaic’s support for AFFB in DeSoto County began in 2012, focused on mobile pantries, the release explains. That soon expanded to include support for the BackPack program, “which provides students with ‘backpacks’ filled with nutritious foods for the weekends and during school holidays. Over the past 13 years, Mosaic has contributed more than $840,000 to AFFB in support of these programs,” the release points out.
“With the financial support provided by Mosaic, individuals and families obtained nutritious food on a regular basis from 11 mobile pantries located in their neighborhoods throughout the county,” the release notes. “Over the past 12 months, approximately 289,627 pounds of fresh produce were distributed through the Mobile Pantry program in DeSoto County,” the release adds.
“Mosaic is proud to support All Faiths Food Bank and programs such as the Mobile Pantry initiative in DeSoto County,” said Brent Anderson, the company’s public affairs and community relations manager, in the release. “For well over a decade, we’ve helped to ensure that families and children facing food insecurity have the resources they need to thrive,” he added. “We’re proud to partner with All Faiths to continue our commitment to building stronger, healthier local communities.”
Over 50% of Sarasota County students and 100% of DeSoto County students “rely on free and reduced-cost meals at school,” the release notes. However, “when the weekend comes, or during holidays and breaks from school,” the release points out, “children lose access to this critical nutrition. To help fill the hunger gap, AFFB’s BackPack program provides pre-packed ‘backpacks’ for weekly distribution to students for weekends and during holidays/school breaks.
“In 2023,” the release adds, more than 320,000 were distributed, an 8% increase over the total for the previous year.
“In the 2024-2025 school year, backpacks are available at 45 schools and youth-serving organizations in Sarasota and DeSoto counties,” the release says.
Additionally, a designated Veterans Pantry is offered twice a month at Church of the Palms in Sarasota,” the release continues. “Hundreds of veterans benefit from this service every month,” it notes.
“By sharing nourishing foods through the BackPack program, we can help children to be healthier, happier and more likely to succeed in school. The mobile pantries in DeSoto County are providing residents of all ages with critical nutritional assistance while the Veterans Pantry assists veterans who are at-risk of hunger,” said All Faiths Food Bank President and CEO Nelle S. Miller in the release. “We are so grateful to these funders for supporting our work to help individuals and families experiencing hunger in Sarasota and DeSoto counties.”
To learn more about All Faiths Food Bank, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org or call 941-379-6333.