SARASOTA, FL (February 18, 2025) – All Faiths Food Bank (AFFB) has announced its signature event to raise awareness of child hunger and launch its annual fundraising effort to feed students over the summer. On Sunday, March 30, AFFB will present its Walk to End Summer Hunger – the kickoff for the 12th annual Campaign Against Summer Hunger – at Nathan Benderson Park.

For more than 40,000 local children, summer is like an emptiness they can’t escape. More than 50% of Sarasota County and 100% of DeSoto County students rely on free and reduced-cost meals at school; when school is out, hunger begins. The Campaign supports efforts to provide food for area children throughout the summer months.

On top of challenging economic issues, like inflation, rising grocery costs and the continued impacts of last year’s hurricanes, Florida has for the second year in a row opted out of the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (Summer EBT) program, which would have provided nearly $260 million in funding to help feed more than 2.1 million children from low-income families this summer.  

Through the food bank’s partners and summer programs, AFFB works to make sure children receive the nutritional assistance they need. Support from investors provides matching funds to inspire greater widespread giving; then, from April 1-May 15, the Campaign accepts community contributions designated toward ending hunger for local children. 

AFFB is thankful for lead investors Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation and Gulf Coast Community Foundation for continuing to help fund the significant challenge match, as well as the hundreds of community partners – including schools, libraries, early learning centers, summer camps, community centers and numerous other organizations throughout Sarasota and DeSoto counties – that help the organization reach all who might be in need.

For the second year, the chair for the Campaign Against Summer Hunger is Lisa Krouse. While gratified at the continued fundraising success of the effort, she understands there is much more to do to ensure healthy foods are available and accessible for any child in the community who is experiencing hunger.

“With our state opting out of the Summer EBT program, we’ve effectively lost millions in funding to help Florida families in need buy food,” said Krouse. “It is incumbent upon us to make up the difference and make sure our community’s children have access to the foods they need to grow and be strong and healthy.” 

In 2024, the Campaign raised $2.1 million. With the support of 113 investors and nearly 2,200 community donors, more than 35,000 local children received nutritious meals. Since its inception in 2014, donors have contributed more than $18 million to the Campaign.

The walk site at Nathan Benderson Park opens at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, March 30, followed by a brief program at 8 a.m. and the walk at 8:30 a.m. Participants can choose between a one-mile “fun walk” or a 5K walk. The cost, which is $30/adults, $15/children, includes a T-shirt and light breakfast. Register by March 21 at affb.org/walk.

For more information, email events@allfaithsfoodbank.org or call 941-549-8132. For more about All Faiths Food Bank, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org or call 941-379-6333.

PHOTO ID: Last year, 500 community members participated in All Faiths Food Bank’s Walk to End Summer Hunger | Photo by Nancy Guth

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.