Did You Know ….

AFFB distributed over 5.5 million pounds of food,which equates to nearly 4.6 million meals

  • 90% increase in food distribution since 2007
  • Over 88,000 meals distributed weekly
  • Over 190 partner agencies and programs
  • AFFB provides food to 1 out of 8 residents in Sarasota and DeSoto Counties
  • 91¢ of every dollar donated is allocated to product and distribution
  • With every $1 donated, we can buy enough food for 8 meals
  • Accredited by national food bank network Feeding America
  • Over 850 volunteers and 22 staff
  • 6 refrigerated trucks delivering to agencies and collecting food donations

Some Scary Statistics

50% of the school children in Sarasota County come from families that can’t afford the food they need to effectively learn in school.  In DeSoto County, the number is 90%.

1 in 4 children are food deprived.

AFFB now serves over 1,700 school-age children in the BackPack Kids Program.

There were 925 registered homeless children in Sarasota County during the 2011-2012 school year.

Sample of Programs AFFB Provides for Those Who Are at Risk for Hunger


BackPack Kids – food for school-age low-income and homeless children over the weekend and during school holidays (25 schools | 25 Volunteer Packing Sites | Over 50,000 backpacks distributed)

Cooking Matters – direct outreach for low-income children, teens, adults and families offering practical, hands-on cooking experience and nutrition education (18 Cooking Matters Courses | 108 classes | over 300 participants |Over 1,800 meals prepared in class | Over 7,200 meals provided in take-home bags)

Growing Healthy Kids – direct outreach for low-income preschoolers and families offering practical, hands-on gardening, physical activity and cooking experience and nutrition education at daycare and preschool sites (52 Preschools | 187 classrooms |2,571 participants | 297 teachers trained | 41 volunteers)

Kids Café – nutritious after school meals in a safe and supportive environment for children at risk of going hungry at night – complements afterschool tutoring

Mobile Cupboard - client choice food distribution in underserved neighborhoods

Staples Boxes – in an emergency situation enough food for a family of 4 for 2 days

Turkey Distribution - through our partner agencies over 6,000 turkeys to families in need at Thanksgiving

USDA Commodity Distribution – monthly food distribution to families in need

Veterans Appreciation – food for low-income veterans

Wellness Boxes – non-perishable food designed for clients with diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol or high blood pressure

Did you know that 35% of the people served by All Faiths Food Bank have at least one working member in their household? Many are single parents trying to raise their children on one income.

Statistically, of children under age six in female-headed families, 59% are poor.
If we want to break the cycle of poverty, children need to focus on education, not food.
Did you know that 48% of the people served by All Faiths Food Band are children?
Hungry children do not do as well in school as those that are well fed.

Did you know that 41% of the people  served by All Faiths Food Bank  have to choose between buying medicine or food?
Did you know that as per the latest figures 12.9% of Sarasota County residents are living below the poverty level and that 29.6% of single parent households (no father present) with children under 18, live below poverty line ?
The percentage of families in America living below the poverty line was 9.20% and that according to the most recent survey,1,506 families are living below the poverty line in Sarasota.
Did you know that 5 million pounds is the amount of food distributed by AFFB in fiscal year ending 2011?
Did you know that demands for services from AFFB has increased by 20% in the last year?
Did you know that children under 18 make up 39% of the homeless population? 42% of these children are under five years of age.
Did you know that according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 16.7 million children under 18 in the United States live in households where they are unable to consistently access enough nutritious food necessary for a healthy life.  Although food insecurity is harmful to any individual, it can be particularly devastating among children due to their increased vulnerability and the potential for long-term consequences.