All Faiths Food Bank Presents Autumn Harvest Dinner and Campaign

August 28, 2024 | Sarasota

In Sarasota and DeSoto counties, many of our neighbors are struggling to make ends meet. And when there’s a cost-of-living crisis, healthy food can be the first to go.

Each year through its Autumn Harvest campaign, All Faiths Food Bank works to put millions of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables on the tables of people in our communities experiencing hunger. Of the more than 21 million pounds of food distributed last year, nearly 6 million pounds was fresh produce.

As part of the campaign, AFFB will host the Autumn Harvest dinner Saturday, October 5 at 6:30 p.m. in its Sarasota warehouse. Guests will enjoy a fun evening over an exquisite farm-to-table dinner, catered by Michael’s On East with music by Sheri Nadelman.

“Our Autumn Harvest campaign is founded on the belief that the bounty of the harvest belongs to all – especially those who need it the most. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help lower the risk of chronic health issues, such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer,” said All Faiths Food Bank President & CEO Nelle S. Miller. “We are so grateful to our generous donors for their support, and hope the community will be inspired to participate, so our neighbors can enjoy better health outcomes and brighter futures.”

The most common cause of food insecurity is low income; affordability and convenience impact access to foods that better support a healthy diet. According to the CDC, “people in minority communities and those with lower incomes are more likely to lack convenient places that offer affordable, healthier foods.”

In addition to its fundraising efforts, AFFB continues its “food rescue” operations, collecting, storing and distributing unsold produce from local farmers and grocery stores to reduce waste and reach even more people in need.
Hosts for this year’s event are Tom and Pam Gurrentz. Sponsorships range from $1,500 to $10,000. For more information, contact Becky Abraham at 941.549.8131 or events@allfaithsfoodbank.org.

The Autumn Harvest campaign runs through September 15. To learn more about AFFB’s work or how you can be a “Hunger Hero” to help our neighbors in need, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org.