As summer approaches, thousands of local children face the harsh reality of hunger once the final bell of the school year rings. This year, the situation has grown even more urgent: too many of our neighbors are facing stringent economic challenges, like rising grocery, gas and health insurance costs, and significant cuts to federal assistance programs – including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid. 

For neighbors already experiencing food insecurity – or on the brink of it – rising financial pressures are driving more families into hunger. 

For the third year in a row, Florida has opted out of the Sun Bucks program, depriving as many as 2 million eligible children of the $120 per child benefit available to combat summer hunger.

All Faiths Food Bank is rallying the community to help fill the “hunger gap” during its 13th annual Campaign Against Summer Hunger. The campaign kicked off March 28 with the Walk to End Summer Hunger at Riverview High School in Sarasota, drawing a crowd of nearly 350 compassionate supporters. During the event, Sarasota County Schools executive director of student services and Campaign chair Dr. LaShawn Frost, and All Faiths President and CEO Nelle S. Miller announced that generous investors had contributed $1 million in matching funds, doubling the impact of every donation made to the Campaign through May 15.

“Summertime should be the best part of the year for our community’s children, but for many facing hunger, the months will drag on and kids will miss out on critical nutrition,” said Miller. "While we're deeply concerned about the current economic volatility and the cuts to federal assistance programs, our immediate focus is ensuring every child in our community has enough to eat this summer.”

As they have since the inception of the Campaign in 2014, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation and Gulf Coast Community Foundation are, once again, leading the way as the Campaign’s lead investors.

“Each year, we are grateful beyond measure for the generosity of our community, which supports efforts to provide children with nutrition assistance over the summer,” said Dr. Frost. “We believe it is our responsibility to make sure students in Sarasota and DeSoto counties have access to the foods they need to grow and be strong and healthy – all year long.” 

Through a network of schools, libraries, early learning centers, summer camps and community organizations, the food bank provides children with healthy meals via mobile pantries, school-based food distributions, “BackPacks” filled with kid-friendly snacks, and enhanced meal services in partnership with the Sarasota and DeSoto County school districts.

Approximately 43% of students in Sarasota County – and 100% of students in DeSoto County – rely on free or reduced-cost meals at school. In 2025, with the support of 122 investors and 2,472 community donors, the Campaign raised $2 million, helping to provide thousands of local children with nutritious meals. Since 2014, donors have contributed more than $20 million to the Campaign.

To learn more and donate, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org.

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.