Mayors' Feed the Hungry Program

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Mayors' Feed the Hungry Program

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The Mayors’ Feed The Hungry Program is a volunteer organization. Membership is open to anyone who is interested to help.

Since its meager beginnings in 1987, the Mayor’s Feed the Hungry Program has collected and distributed over 600 tons of food and over $4,00,000 in food gift cards given to the hungry in Sarasota and Manatee counties Member organizations who regularly participate in meetings and activities are eligible to receive donations to distribute free to the needy in their communities.

11/01/2026

In 2023, 53% of Florida households in rural areas were below the ALICE Threshold, compared with 46% in urban areas.
When financial hardship is combined with geographic barriers, reaching essential resources can become even more challenging.
That’s why community support matters.

Your donation, time, or involvement can help Mayors’ Feed the Hungry continue connecting food assistance with neighbors who need it.

Help us reach more people. Help us fight hunger.
Learn how you can get involved through the link in our bio.

10/29/2026

Access to resources, employment opportunities, affordable housing, transportation, and other necessities can vary significantly based on factors such as age, household structure, geography, and experiences with discrimination.

In Florida, certain groups were more likely to live below the ALICE Threshold, including:
• 59% of Black households.
• 53% of Hispanic households.
• 69% of households headed by someone under 25.
• 55% of households headed by someone 65+.
• 77% of single-female-headed households.
• 62% of single-male-headed households.
• 53% of households in rural areas.

Understanding financial hardship means looking beyond assumptions and recognizing the barriers that can make financial stability harder to reach.

10/26/2026

Help us fill local food pantry shelves this Thanksgiving! 🥫🍂
Mayors’ Feed the Hungry is inviting local schools, businesses, churches, clubs, organizations, HOAs, and community groups to participate in our Thanksgiving Food Drive, November 9–20, 2026. We’re collecting non-perishable food items to help support families throughout our community. Collection boxes can be provided for participating locations. Food Drive Sign 2026
On the morning of Friday, November 20, donations will be brought to Nathan Benderson Park, where they’ll be sorted and packed for distribution to local food pantries. We also need approximately 124 volunteers to help make it happen!
Whether you host a collection box, donate food, volunteer, or help spread the word, every contribution makes a difference. ❤️
📅 Food Drive: November 9–20, 2026
🥫 Donate non-perishable foods
🙌 Volunteers needed November 20
📍 Sorting & packing at Nathan Benderson Park
Interested in participating? Scan the QR code on the flyer to learn more and donate!

10/24/2026

What started as a humble effort in 1987 has grown into a community-wide mission to help fight hunger across Sarasota and Manatee counties.

The Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program was implemented by former Sarasota Mayor Fredd Atkins and has continued to bring community leaders, donors, volunteers, and local organizations together around one shared goal: helping our neighbors in need.

Since our beginnings, we have collected and distributed:
🥫 650+ tons of food
🎁 $4.4M+ in food gift cards
And the work continues.

We’re proud of where we started, grateful for everyone who has helped us along the way, and committed to building an even stronger future for our community.

10/21/2026

You don’t have to do something huge to make a meaningful difference.

A can of food. A few hours of your time. A helping hand. A kind word. A donation.

Small actions can become something much greater when a community comes together. ❤️

At Mayors’ Feed the Hungry, every contribution helps us continue our mission of fighting hunger in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Do what you can. Do it with heart. And make it count.

10/18/2026

A paycheck doesn’t always mean financial security.
In Florida in 2023, 13 of the 20 most common occupations paid less than $20 per hour. Among workers in these occupations, 36% lived in households below the ALICE Threshold.
For cashiers, janitors, and cooks, that rate reached 50% or higher.

These are working people who are contributing to our communities every day, yet their household income may still fall short of what is needed to cover basic expenses.

Understanding ALICE means understanding that food insecurity and financial hardship can affect working households, too.

10/15/2026

So much generosity in one place. ❤️

Seeing our collaborators surrounded by donated supplies is a powerful reminder of what can happen when people come together with a shared purpose.

To every donor, volunteer, partner, business, and community member who has contributed to our mission: thank you.

Every box, bag, can, and contribution represents someone choosing to care for a neighbor in need.

Your generosity helps us continue putting food on tables throughout our community.

Thank you for helping us help them.

10/12/2026

Florida has grown significantly since 2010, but financial hardship has grown alongside it.
Between 2010 and 2023:
📈 Florida households increased by 27%
📈 Households in poverty increased by 8%
📈 ALICE households increased by 31%

Behind these numbers are real households navigating rising housing costs, basic expenses that continue to outpace low wages, and the everyday challenge of making ends meet.

Understanding these trends helps us better understand why food assistance remains so important in our communities.

At Mayors’ Feed the Hungry, we’re committed to helping our neighbors facing financial hardship.

10/12/2026

🎃 Pick a Pumpkin, Make a Difference! 🍂

Fall is here, and one of our wonderful food pantry partners, Family of God United Methodist Church in Palmetto, is hosting a Pumpkin Patch fundraiser to give back to our community!

Stop by to pick out your favorite pumpkins and gourds while supporting a great cause! Proceeds will benefit local outreach ministries, including Mayors' Feed the Hungry Program, helping us continue our mission of feeding neighbors in need. ❤️

🎃 October 14–31
⏰ 11 AM – 6 PM
📍 Family of God United Methodist Church
5601 16th Ave E, Palmetto, FL 34221

Bring the family, find the perfect pumpkin, and help make a difference in our community, one pumpkin at a time! 🍁

10/09/2026

Fall is here and so are cooler temperatures.
For someone experiencing homelessness, colder nights can make an already difficult situation even harder.
October also marks World Homeless Day, a time to recognize the challenges faced by people without stable housing and remind ourselves that everyone deserves dignity, nourishment, and compassion.

On any given night, an estimated 24,000 to 28,000 individuals experience homelessness across Florida.

This fall, let’s bring some warmth to our neighbors who need it most. A meal, a donation, or your time can make a difference.
Help us fight hunger and care for our community.

Address

PO Box 1992
Sarasota, FL
34230

Telephone

+19413506075

Website

http://www.mayorsfeedthehungry.org/

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