As the holiday season approaches, most of us are looking forward to gift exchanges and delicious meals shared with friends and loved ones. But for too many of our neighbors, financial challenges mean that they could be facing empty plates during the holidays.

Hardworking people are struggling to afford basic necessities, like rent and gas. More than half of the community’s children rely on free and reduced-cost meals at school for the nutrition they need to help them grow and excel academically.

This year’s unprecedented hurricane season didn’t just cause widespread damage and destruction – it also exacerbated the crisis of hunger. The cost of home repairs, reduced hours at work (or even lost jobs due to businesses closing), and the spoilage of perishable foods due to power outages have added up to catastrophic impacts for the most vulnerable of our neighbors.

Sometimes, hunger is just a house over. Each year, nearly 200,000 people in the community need food. And, unfortunately, hunger doesn’t take a break for the holidays.

To help our neighbors experiencing hunger, All Faiths Food Bank is asking for the community’s help in turning empty plates into ThankFULL Hearts. This year, our goal is to share more than 3.6 million holiday meals through our own distributions, as well as through our network of more than 300 partner agencies and programs.

But we can’t do it without YOU! Hunger Heroes can make a difference by:

• Making a donation designated to All Faiths’ ThankFULL campaign, helping to turn empty plates into ThankFULL Tummies and Hearts. 
• Hosting a virtual fundraiser and encouraging friends, family, co-workers and neighbors to give.

The holidays offer the perfect opportunity to come together and showcase the true spirit of the season. Let’s ensure that everyone can be ThankFULL during the holidays this year!

All Faiths Food Bank
8171 Blaikie Court, Sarasota, FL 34240
941-379-6333
Allfaithsfoodbank.org