Athena Giving Circle contributes $20,000 to All Faiths Food Bank for hygiene products in Newtown

For many families struggling to make ends meet, everyday hygiene products have become unaffordable. Thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Athena Giving Circle of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, All Faiths Food Bank will be able to provide essential feminine hygiene products to approximately 570 neighbors per month over the next year at Margie’s Market in Newtown.

Margie's Market by All Faiths Food Bank is a free, choice-style neighborhood market designed to improve access to nutritious food and other essential household items in Sarasota's historic Newtown community.

Toilet paper, soap and feminine hygiene products are everyday necessities – not luxuries. Yet for many local families, purchasing these basic items can mean sacrificing another essential expense. This growing challenge, often referred to as "hygiene insecurity," has become increasingly common as the cost of living continues to rise.

Personal hygiene products are among the most requested non-food items at All Faiths Food Bank. Neighbors frequently ask for essentials such as shampoo, soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste –items that can be costly for families already struggling to afford food and housing. Because SNAP benefits can’t be used to purchase these products, they often become unaffordable despite being everyday necessities.

Some of the products that are being purchased thanks to the Athena Giving Circle grant include tampons, menstrual pads and pre-packaged feminine hygiene kits consisting of menstrual supplies, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste, bar soap and body lotion.

"This generous grant helps ensure our neighbors have access to basic necessities that many of us take for granted," said All Faiths Food Bank President and CEO Nelle S. Miller. "For families already stretching every dollar, purchasing hygiene products often means sacrificing another essential expense. By providing these items at no cost, we're able to offer a more dignified experience while helping neighbors direct their limited household income toward necessities like rent, utilities and transportation."

To learn more about All Faiths Food Bank, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org or call 941-379-6333.

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 more than 300 agencies and programs throughout the community. All Faiths works not only to end 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. All Faiths is rated four stars by Charity Navigator and is a partner of the Feeding America and Feeding Florida networks. Visit allfaithsfoodbank.org.

About the Community Foundation of Sarasota County:
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is a public charity founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for caring individuals and the causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. With assets of $605 million in more than 1,600 charitable funds, the Community Foundation awarded grants and scholarships totaling $44.7 million last year in the areas of education, the arts, health and human services, civic engagement, animal welfare and the environment. Since its founding, the Community Foundation has been able to grant more than $542 million to nonprofits in our community thanks to the generosity of charitable individuals, families and businesses. For more information, visit cfsarasota.org or call 941-955-3000.