All Faiths Food Bank Receives Match for Autumn Harvest

August 17, 2021 – Sarasota

For low-income households as well as those who have suffered financially due to the pandemic, the high cost of fruits and vegetables can make healthy eating difficult. But thanks to All Faiths Food Bank’s commitment to providing the community with high-nutrition foods, plus a generous matching gift to encourage donations during the Food Bank’s Autumn Harvest campaign, thousands of children, families, seniors and veterans in Sarasota and DeSoto County will have access to fresh fruits and vegetable through the fall.

The Rakay Family Foundation has offered up to $100,000 in 1:1 matching funds, for gifts made through September 30, for the Autumn Harvest campaign. Since 2006, the Rakay Family Foundation has aided local and national organizations working to improve their communities. The Foundation has supported the Food Bank with matching gifts in the past and this is its first matching gift to benefit Autumn Harvest.

Not only will contributions be doubled through the match, All Faiths will continue to maximize resources through its “food rescue” operations, where unsold produce from local farmers and grocery stores is rescued, stored in the organization’s warehouse, and then distributed through partner agencies and programs including mobile pantries.

According to a white paper published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2020, more than half of children and nearly half of adults have overall poor-quality diets. The paper also notes that more Americans are sick than healthy, in large part due to diet-related illnesses. This situation impacts everything from health care costs, productivity and government budgets to the U.S.’s economic competitiveness and even military readiness. 

“While having access to healthy, nutritious food is always important, this time of year is especially critical for children as they return to school. They need proper nutrition in order to be able to focus in class, stay healthy, and grow to their full potential,” said All Faiths Food Bank CEO Sandra Frank. “Regardless of economic status, everyone deserves access to healthy foods. And healthy eating benefits the entire community, as our neighbors enjoy improved health outcomes.”

In 2018 and 2019, nearly $578,000 was contributed to the Autumn Harvest campaign to provide fresh fruits and vegetables for people in Sarasota and DeSoto counties; All Faiths pivoted to a crisis campaign in 2020 to assist with pandemic response. All Faiths Food Bank is proud to distribute millions of pounds of produce – 43% of the total food the organization distributes – to people experiencing hunger each and every year.

For more information or to make a donation, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org or call 941-379-6333.