All Faiths Food Bank Adjusts Operations in the Face of COVID-19 Crisis
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic (COVID-19), All Faiths Food Bank has been forced to make significant changes to its operations. Because the food bank distributes millions of pounds of food, the potential for COVID-19 contamination is exponential; therefore, the organization has placed a temporary hold on consumer food donations, although it is still accepting cash contributions.
Additionally, as community members have been asked to practice social distancing and ordered to stay at home, the food bank has placed a temporary hold on group volunteering. There is currently one small group of longtime volunteers still assisting the organization while staff members fill significant gaps in operations, including food sorting, packing, boxing and distribution, as well as performing their regular duties.
Due to sanitation and social distancing requirements, the food bank is building pre-packed boxes of food that can be distributed with bags of produce or meat. With schools closed and children eligible for free or reduced-price meals unable to access them, the food bank has accelerated its Campaign Against Summer Hunger and is partnering with the Sarasota County School District to help feed children at eight area schools, as well as through area Boys & Girls Clubs, Children First, Girls Inc. and Early Learning Coalition. General food distribution has shifted to a drive-thru model at all locations in order to protect the health and safety of the community.