All Faiths Food Bank Fights Hunger Through the Community

All Faiths Food Bank is a non-profit organization that fights hunger in the communities that it serves by harnessing the resources of these communities, too. Basically, it operates in a three-step process with proven cost-efficient, results-effective outcomes:

• The food donations are secured from a wide range of organizations including government agencies, food and grocery companies, and local growers as well as from compassionate individuals and from food drives.

• The food items are inspected for safety purposes, which are then safely stored before distribution to the needy communities. To date, the organization has distributed more than 7.1 million pounds of food items from its warehouse every year.

• The food items reach those who are in need. The food bank distributes the food items to pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers, homeless and emergency shelters, youth organizations, veterans’ programs, and schools.

As one of the leaders in ending hunger in its community, All Faiths Food Bank has set an ambitious goal for itself – To establish an effective, efficient and visible regional food distribution system, which meets the high standards set by the US Department of Agriculture, Feeding America, and AIB.

All Faiths Food Bank’s distribution center will pick up the donated food, sort it according to categories, and fill the orders of its partner agencies; the food items are delivered to the 95-plus organizations that distribute the food to their beneficiaries. The food bank also hosts mobile pantries across the DeSoto and Sarasota Counties, which directly give the food to people in need.

Donors are encouraged to conduct their own food and fund drives into their special occasions, such as game day parties, weddings, birthdays, corporate events, and holiday gatherings. For example, local schools and corporate organizations have established creative “Can-Structio” drives, peabut butter and jelly drives, and friendly competitions. Donations can also be dropped off at the Sarasota County Goodwill branches while people in need can avail of free food at the food assistance sites.