Recent grants support All Faiths Food Bank's BackPack program

Education isn't the only benefit of attending school: for children whose parents may be struggling to put food on the table, there is also access to free or reduced-cost meals. Approximately 45% of Sarasota County and 100% of DeSoto County students rely on this program. But when the weekend comes, or during holidays and breaks from school, children lose access to this critical nutrition.

To help fill the hunger gap, All Faiths Food Bank’s BackPack program provides pre-packed "backpacks" for weekly distribution to students for weekends and during holidays/school breaks. The program is targeted toward children who are living in households that are at risk of food insecurity; in 2023, more than 320,000 were distributed, an 8% increase over the previous year.

The BackPack Program would not be possible without considerable support from local organizations, corporations and foundations. Some notable recent contributors, with grants totaling $109,500, include: Bank of America Client Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee, $37,500; Harry Sudakoff Foundation, $25,000; Roberta Leventhal Sudakoff Foundation, $25,000; Solar Quest Foundation, $15,000; and the Harold C. and Jacqueline F. Bladel Foundation, Inc., $7,000.

“Children who are hungry are going to find it much more difficult to learn and thrive in school; there are also potentially lifelong impacts to their health and prospects for future financial stability,” said All Faiths Food Bank president and CEO Nelle S. Miller. “By providing healthy foods through the BackPack program, we can help children to be healthier and happier, and more likely to succeed in school. We are so grateful to the funders who are partnering with us in the fight against child hunger.”

For 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 nearly 200 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 4 stars by Charity Navigator and is a member of the Feeding America and Feeding Florida networks. For more information, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org.