All Faiths Food Bank Hires Senior Communications Leader

October 16, 2023 – Sarasota

With a new five-year strategic plan in its first year of roll-out, All Faiths Food Bank has created a new, senior-level communications position to help ensure the continued growth and success of the area’s only food bank and largest hunger relief organization in Sarasota and DeSoto counties. In early October, new hire Nina Harrelson began her work as All Faiths Food Bank’s Director of Strategic Communications.

In this role, Harrelson will be a thought leader and change agent for AFFB, identifying and evaluating opportunities to support the long-term success and enhancing AFFB’s position as a leading voice in ending hunger and its root causes. Her responsibilities will include strategic marketing planning and execution, development and implementation of the organization’s overall communications strategy, brand management, oversight of public and media relations, crisis plan management, and more.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to join such a crucial and well-respected organization,” said Harrelson. “The empathy and compassion this team feels for our community was evident to me from day one; I’m looking forward to sharing impactful stories and spreading the message far and wide about the incredible work we do, so we can impact even more lives.”

Harrelson comes to AFFB from HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital/HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital, where she served as the Director of Communications & Community Engagement. There, she led internal and external communications, public relations and community engagement efforts for two hospitals, two free-standing ERs and a rehab center while ensuring brand consistency, serving as hospital spokesperson during media and crisis events, and supporting the development and implementation of strategic PR and communications plans, among other duties. 

Prior to that, she served as the Public Relations Specialist for The Salvation Army of Memphis & the Mid-South and, from 2011-2021, she served in media roles including news anchor, producer, multimedia journalist and freelance TV host for stations in Nebraska, Texas, and Memphis, Tenn.

“As our organization has expanded its focus to ending hunger and its root causes, we understood that we needed a true strategic thinker to help support our continued growth and the engagement of multiple audiences in the service of our mission,” said AFFB’s CEO Sandra Frank. “This position will require creativity and vision as well as the ability to plan and manage the execution of complex, integrated campaigns and other efforts. We are thrilled to welcome Nina to All Faiths and look forward to her contributions as part of our team.”

To learn more about All Faiths, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org or call 941-379-6333.